2026 NBA playoffs: Eastern Conference first-round takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 20, 2026, 11:09 PM ET
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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.
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West takeaways | Schedules and results | Offseason guides
(3) New York Knicks tied with (6) Atlanta Hawks, 1-1
Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Biggest takeaway: The Hawks kept playing. Period.
Atlanta was down 14 points in the third quarter after another Knicks onslaught, but New York left an opening. And playing the role of Trae Young, the object of Madison Square Garden’s twisted affections was CJ McCollum, who kept the Hawks in it when they were on the verge of getting run out of the building.
McCollum polished off a sterling 32-point performance with three late buckets, including a go-ahead baseline jumper in OG Anunoby’s face with 34 seconds remaining. He did miss two free throws with five seconds left with Atlanta up by one point, but Mikal Bridges missed a baseline jumper at the buzzer that could’ve won the game.
Atlanta’s shocker undid a dominant inside performance from Knicks bigs Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Robinson had a playoff career-high 13 points and Towns scored 18 with eight rebounds — all of that production coming before the Hawks’ big comeback. — Vincent Goodwill
What to watch in Game 3 (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET — Prime): A change in venue usually upgrades the energy, especially for the underdog. But it probably applies even more in this case because the games have gotten increasingly chippy. Robinson drew a technical foul after stepping over Dyson Daniels following an offensive foul. Then Jose Alvarado and CJ McCollum got into a verbal tiff in the third quarter that resulted in offsetting technical fouls. McCollum then went full wrestling heel to the Garden crowd, prompting them to chant an unsavory phrase usually reserved for Young.
Now, it’s the Knicks who have their backs against the wall after Hawks stole homecourt advantage with two games in Atlanta forthcoming. — Goodwill
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (5) Toronto Raptors 2-0
Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Biggest takeaway: Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson spent the days leading up to this series emphasizing how his team will have to be the aggressors and dictate the style of play. And through two games, the Cavs have looked absolutely comfortable in a pair of dominant wins.
Their best four players — Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — have gotten just about whatever they have wanted offensively. They all shot over 50% from the field in Game 2 as Mitchell led the way with 30 points and Harden and Mobley added 28 and 25, respectively.
It marked Cleveland’s fourth time in franchise history with three players scoring at least 25 points in a playoff game, according to ESPN Research. Allen put up 10 points to go with two steals and three blocks. — Jamal Collier
What to watch in Game 3 (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, Prime): The Raptors will be playing for their season as the series shifts to Toronto, trying to avoid a 3-0 deficit that no NBA team has ever overcome.
To have a chance in the series, Toronto’s offense will need a more inspired effort. Brandon Ingram was not happy with his usage after Game 1, and he used his postgame news conference to note how the Raptors’ recipe for success did not include him getting only nine shot attempts.
But the Cavs kept making things difficult for Ingram in Game 2: He finished the first half scoreless while missing all six of his field goal attempts, the most in any half of his playoff career without a make. Ingram finally got a few baskets to fall during the third quarter, but he finished the contest with seven points on 3-for-15 shooting and five turnovers. — Collier
(8) Orlando Magic lead (1) Detroit Pistons 1-0
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Biggest takeaway from Game 1: Orlando’s big win over the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in on Friday provided the Magic with the blueprint for an upset in this first round. Against Charlotte, the Magic played suffocating defense with brute physicality on both ends while being connected on the court with constant communication. They packed that with them to Detroit, racing out of Sunday’s tip on an 18-5 run. Jalen Suggs set the tone early, flying everywhere, going after every loose ball and sprinting down long passes for deflections.
The East’s top seed settled down, but Orlando’s message for Game 1 had been delivered. The Magic might have underachieved in the regular season while enduring injuries and inconsistency, but they showed no matter how they got here, they’re not afraid of the conference’s top team. Paolo Banchero was efficient, he didn’t settle for a ton of outside shots and he mostly made the right decisions on when to score and when to pass.
The Magic also played hungrier — and it showed on defense, where they took the paint away from everyone but Cade Cunningham, who put up 39 points for the Pistons. The Magic had an answer every time Detroit and Cunningham tried to make a run to get back in it; Franz Wagner (19 points) was a problem for the Pistons in the fourth, taking advantage of any mismatch in size in the paint. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Game 2: Magic at Pistons (Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch in Game 2: Detroit entered Game 1 trying to shake off the effects of a week off, while Orlando had competed in two play-in games during the week. While there is a two-day break before Game 2, the Pistons should be settled in now. Detroit has to be the aggressor in Game 2 and not let Orlando deliver the first punch.
The Magic were more physical and stifling inside on defense as they flipped the script on Detroit on Sunday. Detroit’s defense has to make things way more difficult for Banchero, who had 17 of his 23 points in the first half.
Detroit must find a way to get Cunningham more offensive help. The Pistons also have to figure out how to get All-Star big man Jalen Duren more involved. Duren was incredibly quiet with eight points and seven rebounds in Game 1. The loss doesn’t fall on Cunningham, but he and the Pistons have to get into Orlando more on defense and return to the intimidating team that earned them the top seed in the East. — Youngmisuk
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Magic stun top-seeded Pistons with upset in Game 1
(2) Boston Celtics lead (7) Philadelphia 76ers 1-0
Game 1: Celtics 123, 76ers 91
Biggest takeaway from Game 1: It was always going to be difficult for Philadelphia in this series — especially with Joel Embiid unavailable, potentially for the entire series, after his emergency appendectomy a week and a half ago. But there was a clear formula for the 76ers to at least be competitive in the series: hit 3s and have Tyrese Maxey be the best player on the court. Neither one came close to happening Sunday.
Philadelphia went just 2-for-16 from 3 in the first half and finished 4-for-23 from beyond the arc. Maxey registered 21 points and eight assists but was badly outplayed by both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics controlled almost every area of the game — seemingly with ease. The 32-point victory is their largest in a playoff opener in franchise history. But all that did was emphasize the gap between these two teams as presently constituted — and how fine the margins are if Philadelphia wants to make this a competitive series. — Tim Bontemps
Game 2: 76ers at Celtics (Tuesday, 7 p.m., NBA/Peacock)
What to watch in Game 2: Over the past few years, the Celtics have had a tendency to lull themselves into a false sense of security. Just last season, for example, the first two games of the conference semifinals against New York saw them blow back-to-back 20-point leads at TD Garden en route to losing a series Boston entered as massive favorites to win.
So no one, by any means, should assume the Celtics are going to cruise to the East semifinals. That mentioned, this is an opportunity for Boston to show that its attitude is different this year.
The Celtics of past years often went into series with overwhelming talent advantages that gave them massive margins of error. And while Boston has a clear edge there in this series, especially with Embiid out, this group has a different makeup to it and has a chance to show it’s got a different mentality to it, as well.
Will the Celtics win wire to wire and lead by as much as 35 in Game 2? Probably not. But another dominant victory in Game 2 would put Boston in a command position in the series, and the Celtics would be wise to not let that opportunity slip away. — Bontemps
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Sixers face familiar fate as Celtics, Tatum dominate
