2026 NBA playoffs: Eastern Conference first-round takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsApr 22, 2026, 09:49 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.
More coverage:
West takeaways | Schedules and results | Offseason guides
(1) Detroit Pistons tied with (8) Orlando Magic 1-1
Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: The Pistons vowed to look more like the East’s best team that won 60 games by bringing the physicality. It showed at the start as Detroit swatted six shots in the first quarter alone.
The game resembled more of a rock fight in the first half as both teams, who play similar physical styles, went into the half tied at 46-46. Cade Cunningham picked up where he left off in Game 1 when he had 39 points. The Pistons star had 15 points in the first half, looking like the best player on the floor again.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs had another big first half, matching Cunningham in points to help the Magic offset Desmond Bane missing his first six shots. But Detroit slammed the door on any thoughts of a second-straight upset.
The Pistons imposed their will in the third quarter and Orlando buckled under a 30-3 Pistons avalanche in front of Bad Boys legends Isiah Thomas, Ben Wallace and Rip Hamilton. By the time the run was over, Detroit led 76-49 in the third.
Jalen Duren pledged to take more than the four shots he put up in Game 1 and while he didn’t score until nearly midway through the second quarter, the All-Star center finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Cunningham’s 27 points led the way. Paolo Banchero (18 points), Franz Wagner (12 points) and Wendell Carter Jr. (3 points) did not have the same impact inside as they did in Game 1. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Game 3: Pistons at Magic (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Peacock)
What to watch in Game 3: While Game 2 felt like Detroit delivering an emphatic reminder of who is the No. 1 seed in the East and restoring order to this series, Orlando accomplished what it needed to do in Game 1 by snatching homecourt advantage away. The Magic now return home where they hope to replicate their previous showing at the Kia Center where they demolished Charlotte last Friday in the play-in game that kept their season going.
Orlando has to put Game 2 behind them with a chance on Saturday in Game 3 to really apply some pressure on the Pistons. Detroit cannot afford to let the Magic explode out of the gate like they did against the Hornets and get the home crowd hyped. Detroit’s confidence, though, never wavered and it appears to have found its groove again. If the Magic are going to have any shot at winning this series, Banchero and Wagner will have to be at their best while Orlando tries to find a way to slow down Cunningham. — Youngmisuk
(2) Boston Celtics tied with (7) Philadelphia 76ers 1-1
Game 1: Celtics 123, 76ers 91
Game 2: 76ers 111, Celtics 97
Biggest takeaway: The 76ers had their worst shooting game of the season in Game 1, not only in makes and misses but in their mentality. After playing incredibly free and loose in their play-in win over the Magic last week, the 76ers looked tight from the jump Sunday.
The team vowed a different approach in Game 2, and it delivered. Philadelphia came out firing, particularly rookie VJ Edgecombe, who hit six 3-pointers en route to a team-high 30 points. It will take a lot more work for the 76ers to have a chance of winning this series, but things look a lot different than they did 48 hours prior. — Tim Bontemps
Game 3: Celtics at 76ers (Friday, 7 p.m., ET, Amazon Prime)
What to watch in Game 3: How will Boston respond? The Celtics were a staggering 14.5-point favorites heading into Game 2 after the demolition of the 76ers in Game 1 but proceeded to miss a ton of 3-pointers, stagnate at both ends of the floor and let a team off the mat. Heading to Philadelphia tied 1-1, we’ll see how the Celtics respond to their newfound adversity.
Another positive for the 76ers: Joel Embiid has begun a strength and conditioning program, so whether or not the former MVP can return from his emergency appendectomy less than two weeks ago will be a massive storyline as this series unfolds. — Bontemps
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76ers’ VJ Edgecombe makes history with 30-10 to stun Celtics
(3) New York Knicks tied with (6) Atlanta Hawks, 1-1
Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102
Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: 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 left. 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 New York’s 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
Game 3: Knicks at Hawks (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
What to watch in Game 3: 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 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 took home-court advantage with two games in Atlanta forthcoming. — Goodwill
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CJ McCollum leads late rally as Hawks stun Knicks to tie series
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers lead (5) Toronto Raptors 2-0
Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113
Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: 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
Game 3: Cavaliers at Raptors (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
What to watch in Game 3: 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
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Star trio leads Cavaliers to another dominant win over Raptors
(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
