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The Orlando Magic built a 35-point lead in the first half on the way to a 121-90 rout of the Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament game Friday night and advanced to a first-round playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
Here's what to know for the first-round matchup between the Magic and Pistons.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs deliver a clash of titans this Sunday, April 19, as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round. This 4-vs-5 seed matchup features two of the most star-studded rosters in the league. Los Angeles (52-30) enters the postseason as the Pacific Division champions, while the Rockets (51-31) have completed a meteoric rise to elite status in the West. Catch the series opener live on Fubo. All eyes are on the legendary duel bet...
PHOENIX — They did it once. They couldn’t do it twice. A second double-digit deficit in as many play-in games proved to be enough to eliminate the Warriors, who scored the opening basket Friday night and never led again in a 111-96 loss to the Suns. In a star-studded showdown for the final playoff berth...
Jamal Murray scored 30 points, going 16 of 16 from the free-throw line, and Nikola Jokic had a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets shook off a sluggish start to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday in the opener of their first-round playoff series. Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and a bloody nose in a physical game between the Northwest Division foes. There were 42 fouls called, along with an unsportsmanlike technical on Jaden McDaniels for pushing Jokic in the ba...
The New York Knicks handled their business in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs after a win over the Atlanta Hawks.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs officially tip off this Saturday, April 18, with a highly anticipated 4-vs-5 seed matchup in the Eastern Conference as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena. Cleveland (52-30) enters the postseason with home-court advantage after a dominant regular season, while the Raptors (46-36) look to play the role of underdog spoiler in a series many analysts believe could go the full seven games. This series centers on the clash between Cleveland's star-...
The 2026 NBA Playoffs officially tip off this Saturday, April 18, with a massive Western Conference first-round clash as the Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Denver (54-28) enters the postseason as the #3 seed, riding the momentum of a 12-game winning streak. The Timberwolves (49-33) secured the #6 seed and are looking to avenge their regular-season series loss against the reigning powerhouse from the Mile High City. The health of both rotations is the primary hea...
The postseason begins now.
This in a series where the Lakers are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Jalen Brunson open their first-round series against the Hawks.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 53 points as they led the New York Knicks to a solid 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the first-round series on Saturday night. Going into the game, New York ended the regular season with a 53-29 record. This allowed them to secure the […] The post Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns lead Knicks past Hawks appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Suns knocked out the Warriors 111-96 on Friday night to secure the No. 8 seed and will face the top-seeded Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
The Cavaliers and Raptors open their first-round playoff series.
Jalen Green delivered 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting as the Phoenix Suns eliminated the Golden State Warriors 111-96 Friday, claiming the Western Conference's No. 8 seed and a first-round playoff matchup against defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder beginning Sunday. Green, who averaged just 13.3 points on 37% shooting against Golden State in last year's playoffs with the Houston Rockets, shot 8-of-14 from 3-point range in a pointed performance against the same opponent. "I remember what t...
The Cavaliers showed how dangerous they can be in the playoffs.
Booker was also ejected as the two verbally sparred following Green's hard foul
Now time for the real thing.
Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Eastern Conference's first round.
The Charlotte Hornets magical season came to an end on Friday night when the team lost their play-in game against the Orlando Magic. LaMelo Ball and Co. defeated the Miami Heat in Tuesday night’s thrilling overtime victory of the 9-10 play-in, advancing to the second play-in game against the loser of the Philadelphia 76ers/Orlando Magic […] The post 4 Hornets most to blame for 31-point Play-In loss to Magic appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Western Conference's first round.
Draymond Green ended the Warriors' final game of the season with a heated argument with Devin Booker.
Fans were over the moon with Paolo Banchero’s resounding performance in the Orlando Magic’s blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Banchero struggled in the 7-8 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, garnering serious criticism. He needed to bounce back in this game against Charlotte, which he pulled off in convincing […] The post Fans blast Paolo Banchero haters after leading Magic past Hornets appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Rockets star Kevin Durant was sidelined for Game 1 of the Lakers-Rockets first-round playoff series because of a right knee injury. Rockets coach Ime Udoka said pregame that Durant suffered...
Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, Max Strus had 24 off the bench and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-113 on Saturday in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the 2026 NBA Playoffs on Saturday evening, hosting the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round series. Unfortunately, the Lakers went into the postseason without their two leading scorers as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both continue to work their way back from injuries. The playing field was […]
Mike Brown went viral for his reaction towards a ringing phone during the postgame press conference of the New York Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. Brown was answering a question about Mitchell Robinson, who missed three of his four free throws as Atlanta attempted the “Hack-a-Mitch” strategy. He was […] The post Knicks’ Mike Brown hates ringing phones more than ‘hack-a-Mitch Robinson’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.
PHOENIX – Stephen Curry and Draymond Green won’t remember this season for what they weren’t able to accomplish. Amidst all the trophies, banners, and rings the duo has collected over their 14 years together, this season does not even scratch the surface of what they’ve been able to achieve. Instead, what they will take away from […] The post Warriors’ Steph Curry, Draymond Green reflect on ‘rollercoaster’ season after Play-In loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.
After a sluggish first half, Denver's all-time great made his presence known as the Nuggets rolled to a win in Game 1.
The middle of the Western Conference was in flux for much of the regular season as four teams were separated by just a couple of games. In the end, the Los Angeles Lakers wound up with the fourth seed and will take on the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The […]
