NBA Basketball 8 Hours

Last updated: April 19, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

NBA Playoff Opening Day Action

The Eastern Conference opening round saw the New York Knicks secure a hard-fought victory over the Atlanta Hawks, 113-102, at Madison Square Garden, where star guard Jalen Brunson crossed the 20-point mark for the 38th time this season 1. This result, alongside other early indicators from the East, suggested a strong opening day for several contenders, as the Cavs and Knicks rolled on through their respective matchups. In stark contrast to the high-scoring affair in New York, the Western Conference delivered an immediate upset as the short-handed Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant’s absence to defeat the Houston Rockets 107-98 in overtime.

The Lakers' success was fueled by a career playoff-high 27 points from Luke Kennard, supported by LeBron James’s efficient 19 points and 13 assists 2. Meanwhile, the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, edged out the Timberwolves in a tight Game 1, largely due to Jamal Murray’s flawless performance from the charity stripe, where he converted all 16 attempts 3. This free-throw dominance proved the difference-maker, even as Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon experienced relatively quiet offensive nights early in the contest 3.