The first round of the NBA Playoffs commenced over the weekend, showcasing a series of one-sided matchups. Every game was decided by nine points or more, with all top seeds claiming victories except for the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, the Detroit Pistons, who suffered an upset against the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic.
If you missed the action, NBC News sports teams have you covered with the latest updates. Be sure to stay tuned for continuous coverage of the NBA Playoffs.
Eastern Conference Highlights
The Orlando Magic, entering the playoffs as the eighth seed, had a largely lackluster regular season, triggering speculation about coaching changes and player performance. However, in a stunning upset, they defeated the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 112-101. Paolo Banchero led the charge with 23 points, but it was a well-rounded effort, with all five starters scoring at least 16 points.
On the other hand, the Pistons saw only two players reach double figures in scoring: Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. Concerns about Detroit’s lack of secondary scoring proved valid as they fell short. The pivotal question remains: who will step up to alleviate the scoring burden on Cunningham in the coming games?
Following that game, the Boston Celtics emerged victorious against their longtime rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, with a decisive 123-91 victory. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 51 points, while the Celtics dominated from beyond the arc, outscoring the 76ers 48-12 in three-point shooting. The 76ers have an uphill battle ahead, especially with center Joel Embiid sidelined while he recovers from an emergency appendectomy.
Western Conference Highlights
In the Western Conference, 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama made a notable playoff debut for the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, scoring 35 points, including five three-pointers, leading the Spurs to a 111-98 victory over the seventh-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. Legendary Spurs big men Tim Duncan and David Robinson watched from the sidelines, recognizing Wembanyama’s impressive performance.
Elsewhere, the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder secured a commanding 35-point win over the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns, with reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributing a team-high 25 points—most of which came from an impressive 15-for-17 showing at the free-throw line. The third-seeded Denver Nuggets also made a statement with a 116-105 win over the sixth-ranked Minnesota Timberwolves, boosted by a triple-double from Nikola Jokic and a 30-point effort from Jamal Murray.
The fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets 107-98 despite being without stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. LeBron James, proving age is just a number, turned in a stellar performance with 19 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds. The Rockets, who ruled out Kevin Durant due to a knee injury sustained in practice, faced a challenging start to the playoffs.
The first round continues tonight, featuring three exciting matchups. Will the Atlanta Hawks find a way to compete against the New York Knicks? The Hawks will need their bench to step up significantly, as they only contributed 13 points in their first game. In another exciting clash, the Denver Nuggets are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in a highly anticipated showdown between Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards.
All times are in Eastern Time:
7 p.m.: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors on Peacock.
8 p.m.: No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks on NBC/Peacock.
10:30 p.m.: No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves on NBC/Peacock.
