Pistons erase 24-point deficit to stun Magic and force Game 7 (1:34)The Pistons pull off an incredible 24-point comeback to defeat the Magic, who score the fewest points in a half in NBA playoff history. (1:34)
NBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsMay 2, 2026, 06:00 PM ET
The first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs has provided a little bit of everything: a sweep, upsets, thrilling finishes and historic comebacks.
And for just the second time since the round went to best-of-7 in 2003, it will provide three Game 7s. (The 2014 playoffs’ opening round had five.)
This year, all the action is in the East, where the New York Knicks await the winner of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers series. The second round of the other side of the East bracket remains blank, as Sunday’s Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors showdowns will decide the other conference semifinal matchup.
What drama will Game 7 provide? NBA insiders Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Zach Kram and Ohm Youngmisuk examine the keys to each series finale and what each team must do to advance.
Deliver the first punch to Detroit with physicality on defense and in the paint. The blueprint to steal Game 7 in Detroit is there for Orlando.
They stole Game 1 with that formula. Jalen Suggs started that game flying around the court like a free safety. Wendell Carter Jr. was a bigger presence in the paint than Jalen Duren. Paolo Banchero knew when to score and distribute when needed.
The Magic, though, had Franz Wagner in Game 1. Wagner (right calf strain) is not expected to play in Game 7 on Sunday. With him out, the Magic will need role players like Tristan da Silva, Anthony Black and Jamal Cain to step up. — Youngmisuk
Cade Cunningham is the best player in this series and will be able to score when needed, especially if Wagner isn’t on the court to try to slow him down. But he needs help.
That starts inside with Duren, who has to win the battles in the paint and establish the physicality that made the Pistons the best team in the East.
But more than anything, the Pistons have to play that same suffocating defense that brought them back from down 24 in the second half of Game 6, so that they don’t need another stunning, come-from-behind win to avoid a disappointing first-round exit. — Youngmisuk
Detroit’s 3-point shooting. It’s common knowledge that the Pistons struggle from distance, ranking 28th in the regular season in 3-point makes (11.0 per game) and 17th in 3-point percentage (35.6%).
They’ve gotten much worse in the playoffs, ranking last in makes (8.7 per game) and percentage (29.7%). Duncan Robinson has shot to his usual standard, and Cade Cunningham has been average from deep, but every other Piston is in a major long-range slump.
Limit Toronto’s transition baskets. When Cleveland has avoided turnovers and prevented Toronto from racking up points in transition, the Raptors’ offense has stalled. The Cavs had only one turnover during their fourth-quarter rally in Game 6, and it was nearly enough to clinch the series.
Harden. His playoff track record is no secret, but the numbers are stunning nonetheless: In seven career Game 7s, Harden has averaged just 19.3 points on 35% shooting, including 22% on 3-pointers. He turned in a strong performance in his first career Game 7 — in 2011 with Oklahoma City — but has shot 41% or worse in every one since.
Harden’s season has ended in a Game 7 in three of the past five seasons; in 2023 and 2025, he failed to reach double digits in points.
Cleveland needs a better version of its point guard against Toronto’s stifling defense. Notably, Harden has scored more than 20 points in every win against the Raptors in this series, but he has been below 20 in every loss. — Kram
Stick to the script. Coach Nick Nurse has found a formula that works and is riding it. Joel Embiid is either kicking out of double-teams or attacking when guarded one-on-one. Boston doesn’t have an answer to slow down Tyrese Maxey, and the electrifying guard knows it. And Paul George, maybe for the first time as a 76er, looks like the max contract player the team signed almost two years ago.
Philadelphia has won without needing to outshoot Boston. Embiid was 6-for-18 from the floor Thursday, while the 76ers went 11-for-33 from 3-point range and missed plenty of open looks. If those go in, especially early, it is a game-changer for the 76ers’ chances.
But over the past two games — and especially the past six quarters — the 76ers have found something. If they can apply it one more time, perhaps they can finally beat Boston in a playoff series for the first time since 1982. — Bontemps
Hit their 3-pointers. During the past four playoffs under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics are 17-1 when they hit at least 40% of their 3s and 19-19 when they don’t. The Celtics’ success in this first-round series has also hinged on their 3-point accuracy.
Of course, it’s not that simple for the Celtics, who still have no answer for Embiid manipulating their defense over the past couple of games. They have to control the offensive boards and the possession game. But, more than anything, the Celtics have to make their 3s, which has become the foundation of Mazzulla’s offense. And they’ll have to do it without star Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out late Saturday afternoon with left knee stiffness. — Bontemps
Neemias Queta. Boston’s starting center was one of the most improved players in the NBA this season and a pleasant surprise for Boston after Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet departed last summer. The Celtics had a team-best plus-13.2 net rating with Queta on the floor in the regular season.
But Queta has struggled immensely against Philadelphia — thanks in no small part to matching up against Embiid. Through six games, Queta has racked up more fouls (24) than made shots (18). And if he can’t stay on the floor, Boston has to turn to Nikola Vucevic or Luka Garza, both of whom are overextended defensively in this series.
Nobody is expecting Queta to match Embiid’s production. But in Game 7, Queta needs to stay out of foul trouble and give Boston the rebounds, solid screens and stingy interior defense he provided all season. — Kram
Pistons erase 24-point deficit to stun Magic and force Game 7 (1:34)The Pistons pull off an incredible 24-point comeback to defeat the Magic, who score the fewest points in a half in NBA playoff history. (1:34)
The Pistons pull off an incredible 24-point comeback to defeat the Magic, who score the fewest points in a half in NBA playoff history. (1:34)
Jump to a Game 7: (1) Pistons vs. (8) Magic (2) Celtics vs. (7) 76ers (4) Cavs vs. (5) Raptors
Game 7 info Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC) ESPN Analytics: DET 78.9%
Game 7 info Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock) ESPN Analytics: CLE 60.1%
Game 7 info Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock) ESPN Analytics: BOS 74.5%