NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 22, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NBA Playoff Shocks & Upsets

The opening weekend of the NBA playoffs delivered immediate drama, highlighted by the Orlando Magic stunning the top-seeded Pistons in Game 1 with an intensity that had been absent for much of their regular season. Meanwhile, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder opened their title defense convincingly, dominating the Suns 119-84 in their Sunday afternoon opener, though OKC expects Phoenix to improve In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers managed to steal a game on the road as VJ Edgecombe delivered a historic 30-point, 10-rebound performance while playing through back pain, helping the Sixers edge the Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night, despite Tyrese Maxey adding 29 points.

Star Performances and Series Leads

In the high-profile Western Conference matchups, the Los Angeles Lakers seized a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Rockets after Tuesday's 101-94 victory, largely thanks to Marcus Smart's stifling defense against Kevin Durant, who had been medically cleared to return from a knee tendon bruise after missing Game 1. Another unexpected lead shift occurred in the Portland-San Antonio series, where Scoot Henderson, after struggling with injuries during the 2025-26 season, exploded for a season-high 31 points to fuel the Trail Blazers' Game 2 victory and even the series. In the East, the Atlanta Hawks forced a 1-1 tie against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, powered by CJ McCollum's fourth-quarter heroics, continuing a trend of road teams making noise early in the first round.

Defensive Dominance & MVP Caliber Play

Defensive intensity took center stage in the Minnesota-Denver series, where Rudy Gobert, fresh off finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, held three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to just 1-of-8 shooting in the Timberwolves' 119-114 Game 2 win. This defensive effort prompted Wolves coach Chris Finch to express frustration over perceived officiating bias, arguing his team needs to start flopping to draw calls after Jamal Murray drew 16 free throws in Game. Separately, the league confirmed its individual honors, as Victor Wembanyama officially captured the DPOY trophy as the youngest recipient and the first unanimous winner in history, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic as finalists for the MVP award.

Offseason Uncertainty & Coaching Carousel

The league's offseason planning has already begun to take shape amid the playoff fray, with Golden State facing "massive uncertainty" as they contemplate a full reset, including the potential departure of coach Steve Kerr, a scenario Draymond Green noted "felt like that was it" after the season concluded. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls initiated sweeping organizational changes, with Billy Donovan stepping down as head coach after six seasons, while the organization simultaneously received permission to interview multiple high-level executives. In contrast to Chicago's upheaval, the Brooklyn Nets showed commitment by signing head coach Jordi Fernandez and his entire coaching staff to multiyear extensions.

League Business & Off-Court Narratives

Beyond the court action, administrative news included the NBA finalizing the 2026 draft tiebreaking procedures, establishing the order for picks 15 through 30 ahead of next month's lottery. In Portland, interim coach Tiago Splitter maintained focus on the games amid reports of cost-cutting measures by new owner Tom Dundon, which were further underscored by the team's decision not to give away promotional T-shirts for upcoming home playoff games. On a lighter note, league accolades continued, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding the Clutch Player of the Year award to his burgeoning résumé, and even figures like Charles Barkley confirmed that his long-standing rift with Michael Jordan is easing, with plans for a future golf outing currently in development.