NBA Basketball 8 Hours

Last updated: April 19, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

NBA Playoff Shocks & Series Openers

The NBA postseason immediately delivered major upsets as the Orlando Magic stunned the top-seeded Pistons in Game 1, extending Detroit's franchise-record home playoff losing streak in the process, while the Celtics dominated the Sixers to take an early lead in their perennial rivalry matchup. Out West, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Suns 119-84 in their opener, though OKC leadership acknowledged they expect Phoenix to improve significantly in Game 2. Meanwhile, the Spurs hosted the Trail Blazers in a highly anticipated return to the home playoff stage for San Antonio, which last hosted a postseason game in April 2019.

Off-Court Buzz & MVP Race

The atmosphere surrounding the opening playoff slate was electric, with numerous A-list attendees drawing attention courtside across the league as the games tipped off. In league-wide recognition, the race for individual honors heated up with the announcement of the MVP finalists: Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver's Nikola Jokic, and San Antonio's breakout rookie, Victor Wembanyama joined the elite trio. Adding to the pre-game spectacle in San Antonio, the Spurs players made a unified entrance, arriving at the arena wearing matching all-black suits ahead of their pivotal Game 1 matchup against Portland.