Knicks make NBA playoff history with largest halftime lead of all time (2:37)The Knicks’ lead at halftime over the Hawks is 47 points, the largest ever in NBA playoff history. (2:37)
NBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 30, 2026, 10:38 PM ET
(2) Boston Celtics tied with (7) Philadelphia 76ers 3-3
(3) New York Knicks eliminate (6) Atlanta Hawks 4-2
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (5) Toronto Raptors 3-2
The 2026 playoffs are underway, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game in the march to the Finals. Which top seeds are cruising and which could be in danger of a first-round upset? Which stars are shining and which players are breaking through on the playoff stage?
As the Eastern Conference playoffs continue, here’s what matters most and what to watch in all four series.
The Cavs responded in Game 5 by leaning on their stars: Evan Mobley led the way with 23 points, James Harden added 22 while Donovan Mitchell had 19. The Cavs also got a huge boost and 19 points off the bench from Dennis Schroder, an unheralded trade deadline acquisition, who scored 11 in the fourth.
The Cavs were nearly pushed to the brink of elimination, and they responded with a major comeback victory to take the first step toward moving past their playoff demons. — Jamal Collier
What to watch in Game 6: The Raptors nearly stole the game they needed to win in Cleveland on Wednesday night, but now they will return to Toronto to try to extend their season. After winning a game with the worst shooting performance in postseason history, the Raptors responded with their best offensive game of the series, scoring 103 through three quarters and leading the Cavs entering the final period.
Biggest takeaway from Game 5: A playoff duel broke out in Detroit between Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero, and the two put on a show.
Banchero scored 45 points, but it wasn’t enough as Cunningham wasn’t ready for his season to end. The Pistons point guard played like the star of the best team in the East in Game 5, and his 45 points kept Detroit’s season alive with an 116-109 win on Wednesday.
The Pistons came out like their season was on the line, attacking the paint and drawing five Magic fouls in the first three-plus minutes. And with no Franz Wagner (right calf strain) to guard him, Cunningham was almost unstoppable at times early. He scored 27 points, making 8-of-14 shots and 8-of-8 from the line, in the first half.
The game got chippy a couple of times with Desmond Bane in the middle of it both times. Despite falling behind by 17 with 8:22 remaining in the second quarter, the Magic kept battling. Banchero did his best to keep up with Cunningham, scoring 22 points in the first half to get the Magic within 66-60 at the break.
Orlando got within 71-69 early in the third as Ausar Thompson had to come out of the game briefly due to injury. But the Pistons kept holding off the Magic.
Orlando might not have Wagner for a second consecutive game. His status moving forward is uncertain.
Detroit will return to Orlando knowing that it was right there in the Magic’s wins in Games 3 and 4: Banchero hit a 3 that went high off the rim and in late during Game 3 and Bane banked in a late 3 to pull out Game 4.
Stat to know: The Magic are the sixth 8-seed to take a 3-1 lead over a 1-seed since NBA playoff seeding began in the 1983-84 season. Four of the previous five 8-seeds went on to win the series, with the lone loss being the 2002-03 Magic, who lost to the Pistons in seven games.
Biggest takeaway from Game 6: The 76ers have found a formula for success. Philadelphia finished with more shots, fewer turnovers and clamped down on Boston’s offensive rebounding, which was an issue for the 76ers earlier in the series. Add in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown being inefficient in isolation, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey scoring effectively and Joel Embiid becoming an excellent hub for the offense to flow around, the 76ers have dictated the run of play the past few games. The Celtics still have an immense advantage from 3-point range, and that could easily be the difference in Game 7. But if Philadelphia can replicate what it did in Games 5 and 6 Saturday, the 76ers have a chance — in the franchise’s 19th time being down 3-1 in its history — to finally complete a comeback. — Tim Bontemps
Biggest takeaway from Game 6: There’s no point in beating down the Hawks when you can wait for them to not show up. That’s what the Knicks did, crushing Atlanta’s spirit with three consecutive blowouts in Games 4-6. Thursday’s clincher featured the most physical defense the Knicks have played this series as they readied themselves for the next round, which could be a rematch with the Boston Celtics. It was a 51-point spread after a parade of Hawks turnovers, with OG Anunoby continuing his torrid play. He outscored Atlanta by himself at one point in the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns had yet another triple-double. The Knicks’ past three games have at least shown they’re ready for the next challenge and the second round. — Vincent Goodwill
Biggest takeaway from Game 5: In some ways, this series has felt like the Cavaliers are up against their own past playoff disappointments. Even after Toronto won consecutive games, Cleveland preached confidence, noting how its mistakes had let the Raptors back into the series. Yet, despite trailing entering the fourth Wednesday, the Cavs rallied to outscore the Raptors 24-17 in the final period, their first playoff win when losing to begin the last quarter since 2018 (also against the Raptors). They had lost their past 22 playoff games when trailing entering the fourth, according to ESPN Research.
Toronto is playing with a lot of confidence with contributions from up and down the roster — six players finished in double figures in Game 5 — and it might need an all-around effort to save its season after another injury Wednesday. All-Star forward Brandon Ingram’s status is in question after he played just 11 minutes in Game 5 before leaving with right heel inflammation. The Raptors are already missing their starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, who is out for the rest of the series with a hamstring strain. — Collier
Knicks make NBA playoff history with largest halftime lead of all time (2:37)The Knicks’ lead at halftime over the Hawks is 47 points, the largest ever in NBA playoff history. (2:37)
The Knicks’ lead at halftime over the Hawks is 47 points, the largest ever in NBA playoff history. (2:37)
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Round 2 opponent: Winner of Celtics-76ers series (Celtics lead 3-2)
Now Detroit has life and must win the two remaining games to advance. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Here are the previous 8-seeds that have taken a 3-1 lead on a 1-seed:
• 2023: Miami Heat over Milwaukee Bucks • 2012: Philadelphia 76ers over Chicago Bulls • 2011: Memphis Grizzlies over San Antonio Spurs • 2007: Golden State Warriors over Dallas Mavericks • 2003: Orlando Magic over Detroit Pistons
Magic grind out another win to push No. 1 Pistons to brink
Game 6: 76ers at Celtics (Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET, Prime)