East playoff takeaways: Magic take 3-1 series lead with win over Pistons

April 28, 2026 No Comments

2026 NBA playoffs: Eastern Conference first-round takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 27, 2026, 11:04 PM ET

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.

More coverage:
West takeaways | Schedules and results | Offseason guides

(8) Orlando Magic lead (1) Detroit Pistons 3-1

Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83
Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4: Magic 94, Pistons 88

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Two of the best defensive teams traded blows as if the series were on the line — and neither backed down. Game 4 between the Pistons and Magic had the kind of defensive intensity — and ugly offense — akin to Knicks-Heat circa 1997. Possessions were drawn out, there were blocked shots, deflections, even some full-court pressing and plenty of fouls near the basket. That also meant that for the first time since their 30-3 third-quarter run that won them Game 2, the Pistons’ defense looked more like the team that won 60 games this season.

After falling behind 17-5 with the Kia Center fans in a frenzy, Detroit responded with a 35-13 run. But after making seven 3-pointers in Game 3, Desmond Bane was still feeling good from beyond the arc in the first half. With former Memphis teammates Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. seated courtside, Bane hit three of his first four 3s and helped Orlando go on its own run for a 54-52 halftime lead. Both teams were grinding early in the fourth until Jamal Cain woke up the building with a ridiculous one-handed poster dunk on Jalen Duren with 8:36 remaining. Cain delivered another one-handed putback dunk to snap an 85-85 tie.

With the teams shooting a combined 15-for-65 on 3s, the game fittingly came down to Bane banking in a 3 with 1:16 remaining to push ahead Orlando 92-86. Ausar Thompson missed two free throws with 27.5 seconds left, and now the Pistons’ season needs some help as the team faces the prospect of having to win three straight to advance. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Game 5: Magic at Pistons (Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

What to watch in Game 5: If Game 4 was the hardest-fought and most contested game of the series, then Game 5 will be even more nerve-racking for both teams. Orlando, though, returns to Detroit knowing it can win at Little Caesars Arena after taking Game 1.

The Magic would love to close this out, but they know they still have Game 6 at home if needed. And though the Pistons won Game 2, they are no lock to win at home. The Pistons just ended the longest NBA home postseason losing streak ever at 11 with their Game 2 win last week. For a young Pistons squad still learning how to win in the postseason, this will be a huge moment for Cade Cunningham and his teammates.

The East’s best team is on the ropes, and a 60-win season is nearing an incredibly disappointing end. One injury that could have a big impact on the game is Franz Wagner’s sore right calf. He was limited to 24 minutes and did not play in the fourth quarter of Game 4. — Youngmisuk

Magic grind out another win to push No. 1 Pistons to brink

(2) Boston Celtics lead (7) Philadelphia 76ers 3-1

Game 1: Celtics 123, 76ers 91
Game 2: 76ers 111, Celtics 97
Game 3: Celtics 108, 76ers 100
Game 4: Celtics 128, 76ers 96

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Joel Embiid made a remarkable return to the court less than three weeks after an emergency appendectomy — but that didn’t change the math problem Boston has presented Philadelphia in this series. The Celtics, as they have for years now under coach Joe Mazzulla, have launched one trey after another to the point where, through four games, they’ve made 29 more 3s than Philadelphia. That’s a staggering 87-point advantage. It’s nearly impossible to overcome that, and it’s the sheer weight of that difference that has powered so much of Boston’s run in recent years. And however long the Celtics are hanging around in these playoffs, they will keep that same approach. — Tim Bontemps

Game 5: 76ers at Celtics (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN)

What to watch in Game 5: What can Philadelphia do to keep this series alive? All told, Embiid’s return Sunday went about as well as could be hoped for — 26 points, 10 rebounds, six assists in 34 minutes, though he shot 9-for-21 from the floor and, not surprisingly, his jumper looked off. But if the 76ers are going to bring the series back to South Philadelphia for a sixth game Thursday night, they’re going to have to figure out a way to stop Boston’s advantage from behind the arc and be a million times better at rebounding the ball. The Celtics had more offensive boards in the first quarter than the 76ers had in the entire game; that’s not a way to win playoff games. — Bontemps

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers tied with (5) Toronto Raptors 2-2

Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104
Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Despite struggling from the field all afternoon, the Raptors made all the major plays down the stretch.

Brandon Ingram hit their only 3-pointer of the second half with just over two minutes remaining. RJ Barrett absorbed contact for a late layup. And the Raptors forced a turnover on an eight-second violation before taking the lead on a pair of Scottie Barnes free throws. Meanwhile, the Cavs’ stars struggled against Toronto’s defensive pressure: Donovan Mitchell shot 6-for-24, Evan Mobley went 4-of-11 and James Harden had seven turnovers.

Scoring was hard to come by all Sunday afternoon. Toronto missed its first 14 3-point attempts and went 4-for-30 (13.3%) beyond the arc in the first half while Cleveland shot 33% from the field in the first half with 11 turnovers. This was the first playoff game since 2015 in which neither team reached 40 points at halftime, according to ESPN Research. — Jamal Collier

Game 5: Raptors at Cavaliers (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

What to watch in Game 5: Who can make the bigger adjustment on offense? Scoring was a struggle for both teams in Game 4 with a Sunday afternoon tip-off and relentless defensive pressure for both sides. The Raptors double-teamed the Cavs’ backcourt much more aggressively and used their size to jump passing lanes and create turnovers while the Cavs’ bigs consistently made everything tough on Toronto at the rim, daring the Raptors to shoot from beyond the arc.

The Raptors went 1-of-20 on wide-open looks from 3, the worst shooting percentage (minimum 20 attempts) by a team in a playoff game since ESPN began tracking them in 2014, and they still managed to win. Mitchell has repeatedly emphasized one point that will make or break Cleveland’s season: How will the team respond to adversity? With the series at 2-2, the Cavs will have to respond to win a series in which they dominated the first two games. — Collier

(6) Atlanta Hawks tied with (3) New York Knicks 2-2

Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108
Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98

Biggest takeaway from Game 4: Ball movement. Defense. Physicality. All the things that had been missing in the previous six quarters of playoff basketball for the Knicks showed up in droves. They harassed the Hawks at every opportunity, limited their good looks and unleashed two elements that had been underutilized for some time: Karl-Anthony Towns as a facilitator and OG Anunoby as an offensive option. Towns had a triple-double — the first of his playoff career — hitting cutters and Anunoby continued his strong play as the best Knick in these two road games in Atlanta. Before, Anunoby was doing enough to keep the Knicks around. Saturday, his teammates joined him and tied the series. — Vincent Goodwill

Game 5: Hawks at Knicks (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

What to watch in Game 5: This series has seemingly turned back in the Knicks’ favor with such a decisive victory. And it happened without a Jalen Brunson explosion. He turned his ankle in the third quarter but came back to finish out the night following a trip to the locker room. His five turnovers were largely uncharacteristic, meaning he’s about due for a signature performance. At the very least, he’s due for an efficient game — he hasn’t been over 50% shooting for a game this series. Expect him to at least attempt to put his stamp on the series Tuesday night back in New York. — Goodwill