NBA Basketball 3 Days

Last updated: April 22, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

NBA Playoff Upsets & Early Series Action

The opening weekend of the NBA playoffs featured significant early drama, most notably the Orlando Magic stunning the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in Game, showcasing an intensity that had been absent for much of their regular season. Despite the initial setback, reasons remain to trust the young Pistons core though the Magic's turnaround—sparked by a three-minute highlight reel in a prior victory over Charlotte—suggests they are peaking at the right time. Meanwhile, in the West, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder opened their home title defense with a dominant 119-84 performance over the Suns in Game, though they anticipate Phoenix will improve in Game.

The highly anticipated first-round series between the Lakers and Rockets saw Los Angeles seize a commanding 2-0 series lead on Tuesday night, largely due to Marcus Smart effectively shadowing Kevin Durant, who had been cleared to return after missing Game 1 with a knee tendon bruise. In another Eastern Conference contest, the 76ers managed a stunning Game 2 victory over the Celtics, 111-97, as VJ Edgecombe battled through back pain from an early fall to post 30 points and 10 rebounds, overshadowing a 29-point effort from Tyrese Maxey. This win momentarily halted Boston's momentum after Jaylen Brown’s aggressive play, including a poster dunk over Adem Bona that resulted in a technical foul, characterized their Game 1 dominance.

In the Northwest Division clashes, the Minnesota Timberwolves took a 2-0 lead over the Nuggets after their Game 2 win, during which Rudy Gobert, fresh off finishing fourth in DPOY voting, held three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to just one-of-eight shooting. Following the contest, Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels publicly declared that the Nuggets roster consists of "all bad defenders," a statement that drew frustration from coach Chris Finch, who lamented the disparity in foul calls, suggesting his team needs to start flopping to draw whistles. Elsewhere in the playoffs, CJ McCollum delivered a fourth-quarter masterclass in New York, helping the Hawks claw back to tie their series against the Knicks, while the Trail Blazers evened their series against the Spurs after Scoot Henderson, overcoming prior health issues, exploded for a season-high 31 points.

League Honors & Offseason Management

The league recognized individual excellence just as the postseason began, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander adding the Clutch Player of the Year award to his reigning MVP hardware, placing him alongside Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama as finalists for this season's MVP trophy. Wembanyama himself secured a major milestone, becoming the youngest and the first unanimous winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award. Off the court, the Chicago Bulls are initiating a significant overhaul following the departure of head coach Billy Donovan after six seasons, with sources confirming the team has received permission to interview multiple executives for their top basketball operations role.

For the Golden State Warriors, the offseason arrives shrouded in uncertainty regarding both roster construction and coaching stability, as Draymond Green suggested that the past season might have been Steve Kerr's final run, while the team searches for a co-star alongside Stephen Curry. In contrast, the Brooklyn Nets demonstrated organizational commitment by signing head coach Jordi Fernandez and his entire staff to multiyear contract extensions. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers are facing external scrutiny over cost-saving measures, evidenced by the decision not to distribute giveaway T-shirts for upcoming home playoff games against the Spurs, prompting interim coach Tiago Splitter to state he is merely trying to be a pro amidst the reports.

Player Narratives & League Tidbits

Beyond the box scores, several individual narratives are capturing attention, including the rise of OKC guard Jared McCain, who, alongside his on-court contributions, has cultivated a substantial social media following thanks to his viral dance moves since 2020. In Detroit, the atmosphere around the Pistons is being amplified by local artist Gmac Cash, whose team-specific victory anthem has now become a fixture at Little Caesars Arena. On the business front, the NBA concluded its draft tiebreaking procedures, officially setting the order for picks 15 through 30 for the 2026 draft, which confirmed the Utah Jazz retained their protected pick. Finally, in a lighter update, Charles Barkley reported that his long-standing rift with Michael Jordan is easing, confirming that the two plan to play golf together in the offseason.