NBA Basketball 8 Hours

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

NBA Playoff Upsets & Series Updates

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a commanding 2-0 advantage over the Rockets in their first-round series Tuesday night, winning Game 2 by a final score of 101-94, despite Kevin Durant being cleared to play after missing Game 1 with a knee tendon bruise. The defensive effort proved decisive, as Marcus Smart successfully shadowed Durant, limiting the star forward enough to secure the victory and put Houston in a deep hole early in the postseason. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Celtics, as rookie VJ Edgecombe powered the upset victory, delivering 30 points and 10 rebounds while battling through back pain sustained from an early fall, with Tyrese Maxey contributing 29 points in the 111-97 triumph.

Western Conference Shakes Up

In Western Conference action, the Portland Trail Blazers managed to even their first-round series against the visiting Spurs, fueled by a breakout performance from Scoot Henderson, who posted a season-high 31 points as he continues to shake off lingering health issues from the 2025-26 campaign. This victory comes amid off-court scrutiny for the franchise, though interim coach Tiago Splitter deflected questions regarding reported cost-cutting measures by new owner Tom Dundon, stating only that the staff is focused on maintaining professionalism during the playoffs.