From The Sports Desk: Pistons In Peril?

The first information of nan NBA playoffs tipped disconnected complete nan weekend, and we saw tons of lopsided contests. Every crippled was decided by 9 points aliases more, and each higher seed won its game, isolated from nan Detroit Pistons, nan No. 1 seed successful nan Eastern Conference, who were stunned yesterday by nan eighth-seeded Orlando Magic.

Missed nan action? Our NBC News sports squad catches you up below. For continuing sum of nan NBA playoffs, beryllium judge to cheque backmost present and our website.

Eastern Conference

The Orlando Magic entered nan playoffs arsenic nan No. 8 seed successful nan East, coming disconnected a mostly disappointing regular play that put some their coach and prima players connected nan basking seat. Then yesterday, they upset nan top-seeded Detroit Pistons, 112-101. Paolo Banchero led nan Magic pinch 23 points, but it was a balanced effort from Orlando, arsenic each 5 starters scored astatine slightest 16 points.

The Pistons, meanwhile, only had 2 players people successful double figures: Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. There were concerns astir Detroit’s deficiency of secondary scoring headed into nan postseason, and those concerns played out. Who will measurement up to trim nan load connected Cunningham moving forward?

“We’re sick astir losing this one,” Cunningham said aft posting a playoff career-best 39 points. “It’s a agelong series.”

Earlier, nan Boston Celtics cruised past nan Philadelphia 76ers, handling their longtime rival 123-91. The duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 51 points. The Celtics outscored nan 76ers from down nan 3-point statement 48 to 12. Philly faces an uphill battle, arsenic halfway Joel Embiid is retired while he recovers from an emergency appendectomy.

The first crippled of nan play saw nan Cleveland Cavaliers conclusion nan Toronto Raptors 126-113, a coagulated commencement successful nan first playoff crippled for nan Cavs’ tandem of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Raptors prima Brandon Ingram scored only 17 points successful nan nonaccomplishment and said aft nan crippled he needs to sprout nan shot more.

Also connected Saturday, nan New York Knicks hit nan Atlanta Hawks 113-102. Jalen Brunson started nan crippled connected occurrence for nan Knickerbockers, scoring 19 points successful nan first quarter. He vanished pinch 28, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 25. Physicality was an rumor for nan Hawks, arsenic nan Knicks took 30 free throws to Atlanta’s 19.

New York Knicks defender Jalen Brunson goes to nan handbasket arsenic Atlanta Hawks defender Dyson Daniels defends during nan 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 18, 2026.Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images

Western Conference

Last night, Victor Wembanyama, nan 7-foot-4 French phenom, made his playoff debut pinch nan second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, and he did not disappoint. He made 5 3-pointers and poured successful 35 points, arsenic nan Spurs topped nan No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, 111-98.

In nan crowd were Wembanyama’s predecessors, nan Spurs legendary large men from nan ‘90s and 2000s Tim Duncan and David Robinson. NBC cameras trim to nan brace arsenic they admired 1 peculiarly awesome move from nan Frenchman.

“It’s truthful cool,” Wembanyama said of seeing them there. Having them astir nan squad facility, positive different Spurs legends, “it feels safe,” he said. “It feels for illustration if you trip, there’s a batch of hands that are fresh to drawback you.”

Victor Wembanyama of nan San Antonio Spurs drives to nan handbasket during nan crippled against nan Portland Trail Blazers during nan 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 19, 2026.Michael Gonzales / NBAE via Getty Images

Also connected Sunday, No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder blasted nan No. 8 Phoenix Suns by 35 points. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 25 points, acknowledgment mostly to his activity astatine nan free propulsion line, wherever he made 15 of his 17 attempts.

On Saturday, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray powered nan third-seeded Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 triumph complete nan No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic posted a triple-double, and Murray scored 30 points, a number that was besides inflated by his 16 made free throws.

Meanwhile, nan No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers edged retired nan No. 5 Houston Rockets, successful nan closest crippled of nan weekend. Just earlier nan game, nan Rockets ruled retired Kevin Durant pinch a knee injury. He’d apparently bumped his knee during believe earlier successful nan week.

The Lakers were missing injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, too. But 41-year-old LeBron James had a stellar crippled — 19 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds — and led Los Angeles to a 107-98 win.

Lakers guardant LeBron James shoots nan shot against Houston Rockets guardant Jabari Smith Jr. and defender Amen Thompson successful nan 2nd half during crippled 1 of nan first information of nan 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 18, 2026.Kirby Lee / Imagn Images

Newsletter Feedback

The Sports Desk newsletter has been going for a while now and we want to perceive from you, gentle reader. How’re we doing? What do you for illustration astir nan newsletter? What tin we do better? Send your comments to SportsDesk@nbcuni.com.

What We're Reading

The astir diversion players successful nan NFL Draft aren’t ever a judge thing. Sonny Styles mightiness be. A profile of nan talented linebacker, from our Ben Kamisar.

NBA MVP finalists are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.

Manchester City overwhelmed rivals Arsenal complete nan play and are now successful power of nan Premier League title race.

The Buffalo Sabres won their first playoff crippled successful 15 years aft rallying against nan Boston Bruins pinch four unanswered goals successful nan 3rd period.

A robot smoked nan competition astatine a half-marathon successful China complete nan weekend, beating nan people successful grounds time.

When will the Mets triumph again?

What We're Watching

The first information of nan NBA playoffs continues tonight, and location are 3 awesome games connected Peacock. Can nan Atlanta Hawks propulsion moreover pinch nan New York Knicks? They’ll request much from their bench, which only scored 13 points successful Game 1.

Also successful nan nightcap, nan Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves look off. Nikola Jokic vs. Anthony Edwards — what other could you inquire for? Watch nan officiating and free-throw discrepancy. The Nuggets took 14 much free throws than nan Timberwolves successful Game 1.

All times are Eastern:

7 p.m.: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors, connected Peacock

8 p.m.: No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, connected NBC/Peacock

10:30 p.m.: No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, connected NBC/Peacock

That’s it for now! We’ll beryllium backmost tomorrow.