2026 NBA playoffs: Conference semifinals takeawaysNBA InsidersMultiple AuthorsMay 15, 2026, 09:43 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. 2-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 stole a win over the 2-seed San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama on Sunday to even their series at 2-2 before the Spurs won in a 126-97 rout on Tuesday. 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 tied (1) Detroit Pistons 3-3
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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
Biggest takeaway from Game 6: With their backs against the wall, the Pistons responded again. Detroit has now won four consecutive games this postseason when facing elimination.
Rallying from being down 3-1 in the first round against the Orlando Magic taught the Pistons lessons they have touted all throughout this series. It gave them confidence that despite facing elimination in Game 6, the task in front of them was simple: Win one road game. They did that by sticking with Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren despite their abysmal play on offense at times. And they were rewarded.
Thompson was all over the floor on both ends, tallying four steals, a block, nine rebounds, four assists and 10 points before he fouled out. Duren recorded 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting with nine rebounds in what was easily his most aggressive offensive game of the series. They provided enough help for Cade Cunningham, who hit five 3-pointers, scored 21 points and added seven assists. — Jamal Collier
Game 7: Cavaliers at Pistons (Sunday, TBD, Amazon Prime)
What to watch in Game 7: It’s winner-take-all with a lot at stake. Cleveland wasted a golden opportunity to advance to its first conference finals since 2018 by losing a clinching game at home. And the Cavs will need a victory in Game 7 on the road to avoid a disappointing second-round loss for the third year in a row. The Cavs made a win-now midseason trade at the deadline to acquire James Harden for this exact moment, but falling short of their goal once again will open a whirlwind of questions.
The young Pistons have been open about how the playoffs are still a learning experiment for most of their core experiencing this level of basketball for the first time. But after 60 wins in the regular season and a furious comeback in the first round, losing this winner-take-all game on their home floor will sting all summer.
Both teams played seven games during the first round and will need a seventh game to advance in Round 2. A taxing road series with the red-hot New York Knicks awaits the winner. — Zach Kram
(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 lead (6) Minnesota Timberwolves 3-2
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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
Biggest takeaway from Game 5: San Antonio unfurled a massive tifo near the southwest end of Frost Bank Center above the Jackals fan section with the words “Locked In” scrolled across the bottom. The Spurs lived up to the mantra early en route to a 126-97 victory in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead
Victor Wembanyama, who was fresh off his first career ejection, was especially focused. In addition to lighting up Minnesota for 21 points in the first half, which included 16 points in a span of six minutes, Wembanyama limited the Timberwolves to just seven points on 3-of-11 from the field on shots he contested, according to ESPN Research.
When Minnesota called for a timeout with 5:44 left in the first quarter, Wembanyama had singlehandedly outscored the Timberwolves 16-11. The Frenchman also became the first player this postseason to register a 20-point double-double (21 points and 11 rebounds) in any half. He’s also the second player to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks over his first nine career playoff games (since postseason blocks were first tracked in 1974), joining Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson.
At the team’s shootaround ahead of Game 5, forward Devin Vassell discussed the need for the Spurs to have Wembanyama’s back against the physical Timberwolves. De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson accomplished that mission by combining for 56 points as San Antonio nearly doubled Minnesota’s output in paint scoring — the Spurs’ 68 points in the paint were their second most in a playoff game since 1998. — Michael C. Wright
Game 6: Spurs at Timberwolves (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime)
What to watch in Game 6: Desperation. This is the first time in these playoffs the Timberwolves have faced an elimination game, and they’ll do so in front of their lit up fanbase on a Friday night. The Timberwolves will have an emotional boost, but Minnesota has problems to solve. Julius Randle is chief among them. He has had a bad offensive series, unable to consistently finish over Victor Wembanyama’s length, power through San Antonio’s young athletes or keep them off balance with his jumper. In all, Randle is 26-of-71 shooting with 18 turnovers through five games.
He might need his best game in two weeks on Friday night for the Timberwolves to survive. The extra rest for Anthony Edwards should also help. This is the first time all series there are two off days between games. Edwards, still icing both his knees after workouts, has played 40, 40 and 39 minutes the past three games. He could use the extra 24 hours to refresh before trying to save his season. — Anthony Slater
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Wemby’s bounce-back fuels rout as Spurs take 3-2 series lead
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Defiant Edwards says Wolves not worried with season on brink
(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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Seven days inside the Thunder’s basketball utopia
