NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 19, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NBA Playoff Openers: East Dominance & West Showdowns

The NBA playoffs commenced with several first-round series kicking off, seeing the Knicks secure a victory at home against the Hawks, driven by Jalen Brunson who poured in 22 of his eventual 28 points before halftime in the 113-102 Game 1 effort, setting a tone for a tough series. This result contributed to a strong opening day for the Eastern Conference, as the Cavaliers also rolled to an opening-day win, while the Raptors suffered a setback with guard Immanuel Quickley sidelined due to a lingering hamstring injury, causing him to miss the Game 1 loss. Elsewhere in the East, the Orlando Magic ripped the Hornets by a commanding 121-90 margin, establishing a 35-point cushion early in the contest and locking up the 8-seed ahead of their first-round clash with the Pistons, showing the 'urgency' that team leadership has emphasized.

The reigning champion Denver Nuggets edged out the Timberwolves in a tight Western Conference opener, relying heavily on Jamal Murray's perfect performance at the charity stripe—he converted all 16 of his free throw attempts—to secure the win despite relatively quiet offensive nights from Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Meanwhile, the battle for the No. 8 seed concluded with the Suns dispatching the Warriors 111-96, earning the right to challenge the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, a matchup that our betting experts are already analyzing for potential series upsets regarding first-round matchups.

Offseason Moves & Player Status Updates

Team management provided clarity on several fronts following the close of the regular season, with LA Clippers president Lawrence Frank reaffirming commitment to Kawhi Leonard long-term during his end-of-season press conference, even as Leonard himself remained noncommittal on his future and stated he was "not stressing" the ongoing NBA investigation into his deal with Aspiration, which followed the team's play-in exit. The Clippers' season conclusion also drew commentary from former player Chris Paul, who poked fun at the franchise following their elimination, while the Grizzlies are reportedly moving toward the end of the Ja Morant era, with Morant now being the last remaining player from a previous core as the team looks to reset its direction this summer.

League Governance, Awards, and Tributes

The league addressed eligibility for season honors after several players appealed the 65-game minimum requirement, resulting in both Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham being approved for awards consideration, though Anthony Edwards' similar challenge was declined by the governing body. In administrative news, former player Damon Jones is expected to plead guilty in a high-profile gambling case that has ensnared over 30 individuals connected to organized crime and basketball figures. On a somber note, the basketball world mourned the passing of Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt, the Hall of Famer known as the "Holy Hand," who died Friday at the age of 68.

Future Outlooks and League Expansion

to the next season, the league announced an international matchup, confirming that the Nuggets and Pacers will play in Mexico City on November 7th as part of the regular-season schedule expansion efforts. In a unique situation involving team history, Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich, who is recovering from a stroke, addressed the Spurs team before their playoff series against the Trail Blazers, offering motivation to the squad. Furthermore, the Washington Wizards organization stated its expectation that Brian Keefe will return to coach the team as they continue their rebuild into the 2026-27 campaign, a season in which they are projected to feature Anthony Davis and Trae Young after an offseason overhaul that resulted in the league's worst record.