NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 22, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

NBA Playoff Upsets & Star Turnarounds

The opening round of the NBA playoffs saw immediate drama, highlighted by the Trail Blazers evening their series against the Spurs after a tough start to the season for guard Scoot Henderson, who posted a season-high 31 points in Tuesday's victory. Meanwhile, the Portland front office faced scrutiny as reports surfaced regarding cost-cutting measures under new owner Tom Dundon, prompting interim coach Tiago Splitter to stress the team’s focus remains squarely on basketball despite off-court distractions. In the Eastern Conference, the 76ers stunned the Celtics in Game, as VJ Edgecombe delivered a historic 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through a painful back injury sustained early in the contest, even as Tyrese Maxey added 29 points to secure the 111-97 win over Boston, which subsequently saw Jaylen Brown draw a technical foul for aggressively posterizing center Adem Bona in Game 2 action during the ensuing contest.

Western Conference Battles Heat Up

The Western Conference matchups provided high-stakes drama, particularly in the Minnesota-Denver series where the Timberwolves took a 2-0 lead over the Nuggets. Following the victory, Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels took a direct shot at the reigning champions, asserting that the Denver squad is composed of "all bad defenders" after the narrow Game 2 road win. This defensive dominance was personified by Rudy Gobert, who, on the same day he finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, successfully held three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to just 1-of-8 shooting, fueling the Timberwolves' success while stifling the Denver offense. Wolves coach Chris Finch later vented his frustration over the officiating disparity in Game, suggesting his players might have to resort to flopping to draw foul calls after Jamal Murray attempted 16 free throws in that initial matchup.

Key Player Returns & Series Ties

Elsewhere in the postseason, the Houston Rockets received a major boost for their Game 2 road contest against the Los Angeles Lakers, as star forward Kevin Durant received medical clearance to play after missing Game 1 due to a knee tendon bruise. Out East, the Atlanta Hawks managed to tie their series against the Knicks by staging a major comeback at Madison Square Garden, fueled by CJ McCollum’s fourth-quarter exploits, which successfully cemented his role as the latest villain in the historic New York arena. In other playoff news, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions and top seed, opened their title defense with a commanding 119-84 victory over the Suns in Game, indicating the Suns expect to improve significantly Offseason Moves & League Accolades

The league recognized individual excellence prior to the final playoff push, confirming that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has added the Clutch Player of the Year award to his growing list of accolades as the reigning MVP continues to collect hardware. Simultaneously, the NBA confirmed the finalists for the MVP award, positioning Gilgeous-Alexander alongside Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, the latter of whom earned history as the youngest DPOY winner and the first to achieve the honor unanimously at just 22 years old. Off the court, the Chicago Bulls initiated sweeping organizational changes with coach Billy Donovan stepping down after six seasons, immediately receiving permission to interview multiple executives as they commence the search for a new head of basketball operations following the departure.

Coaching Stability & Off-Court Matters

While some franchises face coaching uncertainty, the Brooklyn Nets demonstrated confidence in their leadership by signing head coach Jordi Fernandez and his entire staff to multiyear contract extensions to secure long-term stability. Conversely, the Golden State Warriors face massive offseason questions regarding the future of Steve Kerr, with Draymond Green suggesting that the past season felt conclusive for the coach, even as Green expressed hope for Kerr's return amidst the team's search for a co-star for Stephen Curry. In team presentation news drawing ire, the Trail Blazers opted not to give away promotional T-shirts for their upcoming home playoff games in San Antonio, a move that drew further questions regarding the team’s operational approach following the owner’s reported cost-cutting directives.

Draft Order & Legacy Discussions

The league finalized logistical matters by conducting the tiebreaking process for the 2026 draft, successfully setting the order for picks 15 through 30 and resolving ties for teams positioned near the lottery bubble as the full draft order was established. Amidst the current postseason action, the legacy of retired point guard Chris Paul continues to resonate, as numerous players who benefited from his mentorship are currently competing for the championship trophy. Finally, in an unusual development outside of game action, long-time rivals Charles Barkley indicated that his rift with Michael Jordan is easing, reporting that the two plan to play golf together during the offseason after nearly 15 years of estrangement due to their lingering disagreements.