2026 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsMay 17, 2026, 10:52 PM ET
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The second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs is here, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game of the Eastern and Western conference semifinals.
The No. 3-seeded New York Knicks swept the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the East. The fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers went ahead 3-2 in their series with the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons on Wednesday before the Pistons struck back in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7.
In the West, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves were knocked out by the 2-seed San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama in six games on Friday. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round, picked up where they left off with another sweep over the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers.
As the chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy heats up, here’s what matters most in both conferences and what to watch for in all four series.
Jump to a series:
76ers-Knicks | Cavaliers-Pistons
Timberwolves-Spurs | Lakers-Thunder
More coverage:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides
Eastern Conference
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers beat (1) Detroit Pistons 4-3
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Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
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Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavaliers 97
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Game 3: Cavaliers 116, Pistons 109
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Game 4: Cavaliers 112, Detroit 103
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Game 5: Cavaliers 117, Pistons 113 (OT)
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Game 6: Pistons 115, Pistons 94
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Game 7: Cavaliers 125, Pistons 94
Biggest takeaway from Game 7: The Cavs finally got over the hump. After losing in back-to-back seasons in this round, the core of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen has finally advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in their fourth season together.
Cleveland went all-in at the trade deadline to ensure they were more prepared for this moment, acquiring James Harden in a bold move aimed at fixing the reasons for their previous disappointments. But these Cavs were healthier, more experienced and ready to erase previous narratives with a Game 7 win on the road.
The Cavs were the more aggressive team from the opening tip, dominating the first quarter and taking a 17-point lead into halftime. When the Pistons made a run in the third quarter, Mitchell and Allen rebuffed it with a scoring barrage to extend the lead to 26. Mitchell finished with 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and will advance past the second round for the first time in his nine-year career. Allen is becoming a Game 7 riser, scoring 23 points and joining Mitchell and LeBron James as the only Cavs with multiple 20-point Game 7s in team history. And they got a huge boost from Sam Merrill, who knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 23 points off the bench.
The Cavs offense was too much for the Pistons to overcome. Detroit won 60 games and grabbed the top seed in the conference before stumbling in the postseason. The Pistons staved off elimination with four consecutive wins to rally from a 3-1 first-round deficit against the Orlando Magic, then forced this crucial game after a Game 6 win in Cleveland. A blowout loss at home in this decisive game will sting all summer. Still, the Pistons hadn’t won a playoff series before this season, exceeding expectations for a young team still growing. Their challenge this offseason will be getting Cade Cunningham the true second scoring option that he was lacking all postseason. — Jamal Collier
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Pistons stave off elimination again, top Cavs to force Game 7
(3) New York Knicks beat (7) Philadelphia 76ers 4-0
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Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
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Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
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Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94
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Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114
Biggest takeaway from Game 4: The Knicks are playing a cohesive brand of basketball, one they perhaps had been building up to all season long.
But even the most orange-and-blue-eyed optimist couldn’t have foreseen this: the capitalizing on mistakes, the torrid 3-point shooting, bordering on a record pace. The Knicks’ 25 3-pointers in their 30-point Game 4 victory tied for the most in NBA playoff history.
Now, their 0-3 record in Detroit this season doesn’t seem to matter, and nor does their 2-1 mark against Cleveland. Detroit beat them up, heavily motivated from last season’s first-round series, but are the Knicks a much tougher bunch this time around? The Cavs had the Knicks on the ropes on Christmas Day before New York put on a fourth-quarter run that seemed like the past seven playoff games.
Perhaps it was an omen. — Vincent Goodwill
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Knicks, fans feel right at home with sweep of 76ers in Philly
Western Conference
(2) San Antonio Spurs eliminate (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2
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Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102
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Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95
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Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108
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Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109
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Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97
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Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109
Biggest takeaway from Game 6: Minnesota buckled under the quandary posed by the distribution of talent on San Antonio’s roster in the Spurs’ 139-109 win in Game 6 that punched their ticket to the Western Conference finals. The Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday in Game 1 of the much-anticipated conference finals at Paycom Center.
Naturally, Minnesota loaded up to stop Victor Wembanyama, only for Spurs guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox to carve up the Timberwolves early. Castle and Fox scored or assisted on 28 of the team’s 36 points in a sizzling opening quarter. The duo shot a combined 7-of-8 on contested attempts in the first half, as the Spurs combined to shoot 18-of-30 over that span whenever Wembanyama didn’t get a touch.
San Antonio ate heartily off the Frenchman’s gravity, however. Then, it seemed the Spurs had broken Minnesota when they opened the second quarter on a 20-0 run that tied for the team’s third-largest postseason surge in the play-by-play era. Throw rookie guard Dylan Harper into the mix, and San Antonio’s trio of lead guards combined for 58.2% of the team’s scoring over three quarters. They combined to shoot 23-of-30 from the field and 9-of-12 from deep with 15 assists.
San Antonio led by as many as 29 points in the first half, but Minnesota clawed back with a 2-3 zone defense and a 12-point second quarter from Anthony Edwards. The problem? Nobody else in the Timberwolves’ starting lineup scored. — Michael C. Wright
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder eliminate (4) Los Angeles Lakers 4-0
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Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90
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Game 2: Thunder 125, Lakers 107
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Game 3: Thunder 131, Lakers 108
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Game 4: Thunder 115, Lakers 110
Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checked back into the game with 8:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, more than a couple of minutes earlier than his regular rotation. The goal was to get the MVP some extra rest by closing out the Lakers on Monday night. Mission accomplished, as the Thunder became the first defending champions since LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 to sweep the first two series of the playoffs.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine of his series-high 35 points in the fourth quarter to help send the Lakers into a summer of uncertainty. Austin Reaves, who enters free agency, had 27 points, six rebounds and six assists but missed a potential tying 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining. If this was LeBron James’ last game in a Lakers uniform — or even the NBA — he went down swinging with 24 points and 12 rebounds. — Tim MacMahon
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Thunder escape late Lakers charge to complete sweep
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