The 2026 playoffs are underway, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each recreation within the march to the Finals. Which high seeds are cruising and which could possibly be in peril of a first-round upset? Which stars are shining and which gamers are breaking by means of on the playoff stage?
Because the Eastern Conference playoffs proceed, this is what issues most and what to look at in all 4 collection.
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Greatest takeaway from Recreation 6: The morning earlier than the Raptors confronted elimination, RJ Barrett famous how the win-or-go-home setting match the character of this workforce. “We have at all times been a workforce that fights and scraps,” he predicted. After which Barrett hit the most important shot of the sport, a 29-foot 3-pointer in additional time that bounced off the rim excessive within the air and at last landed by means of the rim to seal a 112-110 Toronto victory. The Cavs pressured additional time with a 23-12 rally within the fourth quarter, however the Raptors held on because of Barrett’s shot with 1.2 seconds remaining.
Regardless of lacking Brandon Ingram (heel) for Recreation 6, and being with out start line guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) all the collection, the Raptors pressured a decisive Recreation 7 in opposition to the closely favored Cavs. Scottie Barnes turned in one other all-around grasp class. He racked up a double-double earlier than halftime and completed with 25 factors, 14 assists and 7 rebounds whereas spending time guarding Cavs stars Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley. Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter every scored 24 as Toronto picked up the slack by committee in entrance of an lively house crowd. — Jamal Collier
Recreation 7: Raptors at Cavaliers (Sunday, May 3)
What to look at in Recreation 7: The Cavaliers have the highest-paid roster within the NBA with a celebrity duo in Mitchell and Harden, who’re making an attempt to beat their earlier playoff disappointments. The stress will likely be on the Cavs to win a recreation at house and keep away from a tumultuous offseason in Cleveland. After dropping the primary two video games, Toronto has been taking part in with elevated confidence because the starting of Recreation 3 and may now pull off a large upset with the primary highway victory of the collection. — Collier
Greatest takeaway from Recreation 6: It took an epic second-half comeback and a historic meltdown by the Magic, however the Pistons have lastly put collectively two straight wins on this collection, forcing a Recreation 7. Orlando was 23 minutes away from advancing to the second spherical, up 62-38 and cruising with 11:11 left within the third quarter. However then, slowly, the Magic vanished and Detroit used a 42-10 run and third-string heart Paul Reed to vary issues inside defensively to grab Recreation 6. At one level, Orlando missed 23 consecutive pictures, probably the most consecutive missed pictures by any workforce in a playoff recreation within the play-by-play period (since 1997-98), based on ESPN Analysis.
Paolo Banchero went 0-for-8 from 3 and completed with 17 factors after having 45 in Recreation 5. When the Magic offense utterly dried up, Desmond Bane could not make a giant shot when Orlando wanted it most. And as soon as once more, the Magic could not cease Cade Cunningham within the second half. He completed with 32 factors and 10 rebounds to maintain his workforce’s season alive. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Recreation 7: Magic at Pistons (Sunday, May 3 )
What to look at in Recreation 7: Can the Magic recuperate from this collapse? Detroit goes house assured, feeling and looking just like the No. 1 workforce within the East once more. The Magic have been resilient since their play-in rout of the Charlotte Hornets two weeks in the past, however this one will likely be exhausting to shake by Sunday afternoon.
Orlando received Recreation 1 in Detroit. However with Franz Wagner nonetheless in a strolling boot, nursing a strained proper calf, the Magic are taking a look at seemingly having to play a 3rd straight recreation with out him. The Magic have till 3:30 p.m. Sunday to shake this loss, or else their season may finish, having blown a 3-1 collection lead, which may actually imply an offseason of change.
If the Pistons lose Recreation 7 at house, it’ll even be a large disappointment after having one of the best common season within the East. There will likely be a ton of stress at Little Caesars Enviornment. — Youngmisuk
Greatest takeaway from Recreation 6: The 76ers have discovered a formulation for achievement. Philadelphia completed with extra pictures, fewer turnovers and clamped down on Boston’s offensive rebounding, which was a difficulty earlier within the collection. Add in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown being inefficient in isolation, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey scoring successfully and Joel Embiid changing into a superb hub for the offense to circulation round, the 76ers have dictated the run of play the previous few video games. The Celtics nonetheless have an immense benefit from 3-point vary, and that would simply be the distinction in Recreation 7. But when Philadelphia can replicate what it did in Video games 5 and 6 on Saturday, the 76ers have an opportunity — within the franchise’s nineteenth time being down 3-1 in its historical past — to lastly full a comeback. — Tim Bontemps
Recreation 7: 76ers at Celtics (Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET, Prime)
What to look at in Recreation 7: The story of this collection has been fairly easy: Within the three video games Boston has received, it has shot virtually 42% from 3-point vary. Within the three video games the Celtics have misplaced, they’ve shot below 30% from 3. It is harmful to simplify issues to that diploma, but it surely’s in step with how the Celtics have usually performed below coach Joe Mazzulla. Boston is now 17-1 when it shoots 40% or higher within the playoffs, and 19-19 when it shoots below 40% — together with 4-9 when it shoots below 30%. For all of the strategic issues that may be mentioned about this matchup, when you may predict Boston’s 3-point capturing proportion Saturday, you’d have a fairly good indication of how this recreation will go. — Bontemps
Greatest takeaway from Recreation 6: There is no level in beating down the Hawks when you possibly can look ahead to them to not present up. That is what the Knicks did, crushing Atlanta’s spirit with three consecutive blowouts in Video games 4-6. Thursday’s clincher featured probably the most bodily protection the Knicks have performed this collection as they readied themselves for the subsequent spherical, which could possibly be a rematch with the Boston Celtics. It was a 51-point unfold after a parade of Hawks turnovers, with OG Anunoby persevering with his torrid play. He outscored Atlanta by himself at one level within the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns had one more triple-double. The Knicks’ previous three video games have no less than proven they’re prepared for the subsequent problem and the second spherical. — Vincent Goodwill
Spherical 2 opponent: Winner of Celtics-76ers collection (Celtics lead 3-2)
