The 2026 NBA playoffs continued on Sunday with a quartet of first-round video games.
The Toronto Raptors opened the motion with a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Sunday matinee, whereas the Los Angeles Lakers could not full the sequence sweep towards the Houston Rockets within the nightcap.
Here’s a take a look at Sunday’s outcomes and high highlights, in addition to the upcoming playoff schedule.
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Toronto Raptors def. Cleveland Cavaliers, 93-89 (Series tied 2-2)
San Antonio Spurs def. Portland Trail Blazers, 114-93 (SA leads sequence 3-1)
Boston Celtics def. Philadelphia 76ers, 128-96 (BOS leads sequence 3-1)
Houston Rockets def. Los Angeles Lakers, 115-96
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic, 8:00 p.m. ET (ORL leads sequence 2-1)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns, 9:30 p.m. ET (OKC leads sequence 3-0)
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. ET (MIN leads sequence 3-1)
The Raptors gained a defensive battle that noticed each groups shoot beneath 40 % from the sector.
At halftime, the Raptors took a 38-36 lead into the locker room for an abnormally low-scoring first half. Cleveland initially seemed to be pulling away within the third quarter earlier than a late run by Toronto helped keep the slight lead.
The Cavs later pulled forward by eight factors with 5 minutes left within the fourth quarter, however the Raptors refused to surrender in entrance of their residence followers. Toronto ended the sport on a 17-5 run to tie the sequence.
Five gamers scored in double figures for the Raptors, led by 23 factors apiece from Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. An analogous effort will help Toronto maintain the momentum when the groups meet for Game 5 in Cleveland on Wednesday.
The Spurs confronted a 17-point halftime deficit earlier than blitzing the Blazers with a second-half avalanche to safe the win. San Antonio outscored Portland 73-35 over the ultimate two quarters.
Star middle Victor Wembanyama was at his normal type in his return from a concussion that saved him out of Game 3. The NBA Defensive Player of the Year dropped 27 factors, 11 rebounds, three assists, 4 steals and a whopping seven blocks.
Veteran level guard De’Aaron Fox, who was held under 20 factors in every of the primary three video games of the sequence, exploded for 28 factors and 7 assists within the victory.
This marked the biggest playoff win for a group that trailed by 15 or extra factors at halftime. The Spurs will attempt to maintain the momentum on their aspect and shut issues out in San Antonio in Tuesday’s Game 5.
Sometimes basketball is an easy recreation—make photographs, rebound nicely, play stable protection. The Celtics did all of that on Sunday.
Led by Payton Pritchard’s 32 factors and 5 assists off the bench, the Celtics ran the Sixers off the court docket on Sunday and took a commanding 3-1 lead within the sequence.
The Celtics shot a blistering 24-of-53 from past the arc (45 %), out-rebounding the Sixers by an absurd 51-30 margin (14-6 benefit in offensive rebounds) and held the Sixers to simply 18 factors within the first quarter.
The sequence returns to Boston on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Rockets lastly confirmed some battle, blowing out the shorthanded Lakers 115-96, with all 5 starters scoring double-digit factors regardless of once more being with out Kevin Durant.
Houston was aided by DeAndre Ayton’s Flagrant 2 within the third quarter for a excessive elbow, resulting in his ejection. Ayton put up 19 factors and added 10 boards earlier than getting tossed.
The Lakers did not assist their trigger, turning the ball over 23 occasions. Eight alone got here from LeBron James, who struggled on Sunday (10 factors, 9 assists, 2-of-9 from the sector).
The sequence now shifts again to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday evening.
