2026 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsMay 7, 2026, 12:33 AM 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. 2-seeded New York Knicks have opened their East series by beating the 7-seed Philadelphia 76ers twice for a 2-0 series lead. Meanwhile, the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons pulled away for a Game 1 win Tuesday over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the other East series.
In the West, the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who had Anthony Edwards (left knee injury) back for Game 1, stole a win over the 2-seed San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama on Monday. On Wednesday, the Spurs evened the series with a 38-point blowout victory over Minnesota. The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round, picked up where they left off with a win over the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
As teams chase the Larry O’Brien Trophy, here’s what matters most in both conferences and what to watch for in all four series.
Jump to a series:
Knicks-76ers | Pistons-Cavaliers
Spurs-Timberwolves | Lakers-Thunder
More coverage:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides
Eastern Conference
(3) New York Knicks lead (7) Philadelphia 76ers 2-0
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Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
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Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: The Knicks’ victory Tuesday wasn’t as pretty as the previous four games, but New York knows it can rely on Jalen Brunson down the stretch. While the 76ers struggled to get good looks late, Brunson kept the Knicks on task for the most part, hitting two critical buckets after the score was tied at 99 to give them an edge they wouldn’t relinquish.
It doesn’t mean the closing was perfect; 76ers coach Nick Nurse found ways to get the ball out of Brunson’s hands. But the Knicks did look fresh, with Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby staying efficient and surviving surges from Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. They kept the 76ers off-balance when it counted, taking a commanding 2-0 lead heading to Philadelphia on Friday for Game 3. — Vincent Goodwill
Game 3: Knicks at 76ers (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
What to watch in Game 3: First, injury updates. Will Joel Embiid be able to play after sitting out Game 2? And what is the status of Anunoby, who left Game 2 late and didn’t return after appearing to grab at his right leg. Anunoby, in particular, has been tremendous throughout New York’s run so far, and Philadelphia doesn’t have a great matchup for him.
Beyond that, the 76ers played much better in Game 2 than the Game 1 rout loss, but appeared to run out of steam down the stretch. Can they summon the energy to beat New York at home in Game 3? If not, it’s probably curtains for the 76ers. And, finally, what will be the makeup of the crowd? Expect plenty of Knicks fans: Two years ago, it felt like a New York home game at times. — Tim Bontemps
(1) Detroit Pistons lead (4) Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0
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Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101
Biggest takeaway from Game 1: This series is personal for Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. He kept his comments intentionally short before the game when talking about his former squad, acknowledging only that he “spent a lot of time” with many of the Cavaliers core and responding “yes” when asked if that will help him in this series.
His Pistons squad raced out to a 37-21 advantage in the first quarter and put together one of their best offensive performances of the playoffs. All five Detroit starters finished in double figures. Tobias Harris scored 20 points. Duncan Robinson hit five 3-pointers. But the Pistons were again led by Cade Cunningham, who put up 23 points with seven assists, extending his streak of scoring at least 20 points in the first 14 games of his postseason career. Even when the Cavs rallied back to tie the score at 93 with five minutes left in the fourth, Cunningham stayed poised under pressure, finishing three straight possessions with an assist to Jalen Duren that resulted in a dunk.
Game 2: Cavaliers at Detroit (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
What to watch in Game 2: The Cavs still haven’t won a game on the road during this postseason and they’re going to have to stop turning the ball over to do so. Cleveland had 19 turnovers in Game 1, including seven by James Harden. The Pistons scored 29 total points off the Cavs’ giveaways. Entering the series, the Cavs reported they believed their previous series with Toronto would prepare them for this series against the Pistons, another team that plays with a physical and swarming defense. But the same issues that hindered the Cavs in the first round showed up again Tuesday night and will send them back to the drawing board to avoid falling into a 2-0 hole. — Jamal Collier
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Pistons beat Cavaliers in Game 1 of Eastern Conference semis
Western Conference
(2) San Antonio Spurs tie (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 1-1
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Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102
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Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95
Biggest takeaway from Game 2: After San Antonio’s stunning loss to Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, De’Aaron Fox stood calmly in the locker room and described the mistakes San Antonio made as “very fixable.” The Spurs demonstrated as much in Game 2, dominating the Timberwolves 133-95 for the third-largest playoff victory in franchise history. San Antonio tied the series 1-1 and will head back to Minnesota, where the Spurs haven’t won in their past seven trips. The All-Star duo of Fox and Victor Wembanyama combined for just 21 points in Game 1 but had already surpassed that total midway through the second quarter by coming together for 28 points.
San Antonio limited Minnesota in the first half to its fewest points (35), worst field goal percentage (29.8%) and fewest 3-pointers (2) in any opening half this season, counting the regular season and the playoffs. The Timberwolves started the second half on a 9-0 run, but the Spurs quickly locked them down with suffocating defense.
San Antonio racked up 13 points off 19 Minnesota turnovers through the first three quarters, outscoring the visitors 40-24 in the paint over that span. Wembanyama and Luke Kornet held Minnesota’s shooters to 5-of-19 from the floor through the first three quarters on attempts they contested.
Meanwhile, Julian Champagnie, who missed the potential winning shot in Game 1, shot 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the third quarter as San Antonio drilled seven 3-pointers in the quarter, the club’s most in a playoff quarter over the past 30 postseasons, according to ESPN Research. After fouling out in Game 1, Stephon Castle scored a game-high 21 points for the Spurs.
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards came off the bench again but wasn’t as impactful as he was in Game 1. Edwards shot 5-of-13 for 12 points over 24 minutes. — Michael C. Wright
Game 3: Spurs at Timberwolves (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
What to watch in Game 3: More Anthony Edwards. Chris Finch and the Timberwolves slow-played him in San Antonio, bringing Edwards off the bench both nights to help manage his minutes and protect his healing left knee. He powered them to a Game 1 road win with 11 fourth-quarter points and his knee responded well during the 48 hours between games. Edwards would’ve gone longer than only 24 minutes in Game 2, but Minnesota entered the fourth quarter down 35. This was a low-pressure game for them, already securing the split with the Game 1 win. The next two won’t be. The pressure rises as the series shifts to Minneapolis and Edwards’ usage and minute totals should reflect that. All expectations are that he will re-enter the starting lineup for either Terrence Shannon Jr. or Mike Conley. — Anthony Slater
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (4) Los Angeles Lakers 1-0
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Game 1: Thunder 108, Lakers 90
Biggest takeaway from Game 1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a subpar performance by his MVP standards, but the Lakers still couldn’t stay within striking distance. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 18 points — his lowest total in any outing since a Game 3 loss in last season’s Western Conference finals — while attempting only three free throws and committing an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. Chet Holmgren (24 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks) was Oklahoma City’s best player in Game 1.
There’s a lot of pressure on Lakers guard Austin Reaves in this series, especially with Luka Doncic sidelined by a hamstring strain. Reaves, who quickly returned from an oblique strain suffered during an April 2 blowout loss in Oklahoma City, was held to only eight points on 3-of-16 shooting. He will have to be much better moving forward to give the Lakers any legitimate hope of making these conference semifinals competitive. — Tim MacMahon
Game 2: Lakers at Thunder (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
What to watch in Game 2: During a third-quarter timeout Tuesday, Drake’s “Search & Rescue” flowed out of the speakers in the packed Paycom Center. “I didn’t come this far just to come this far and not be happy,” an audio dub from Kim Kardashian says in the song.
The lyrics felt like an acutely appropriate way to describe the task the Lakers are undertaking against the defending champs. The timeout by coach JJ Redick came with 4:35 remaining in the third, after the Thunder had gone on a 7-0 run in just over two minutes to push what had been a four-point lead into double digits. For everything the Lakers accomplished to get to the second round without Doncic, Game 1 was a reminder that the Kevin Durant-less Houston Rockets are not the same type of opponent as the defending champs and their Canadian star, Gilgeous-Alexander. We’ll learn Thursday if the first 2½ quarters of the series opener was an indication of the Lakers figuring some stuff out against an OKC team that dominated them during the regular season — or if it was more of a wasted opportunity against a Thunder team that was only slightly out of sorts to begin the game because it hadn’t played in eight days. — Dave McMenamin
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