Evan Mobley and the Cavaliers host the Raptors for Game 2 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs series at 7 ET on Peacock.
Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from Monday night’s action.
Our slate begins with Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting Brandon Ingram and the Raptors for Game 2 (7 ET) on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
That’ll be followed by Jalen Johnson’s Hawks taking on Jalen Brunson’s Knicks (8 ET) and Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves facing Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets (9:30 ET) on NBC and Peacock.
The Cavs, Knicks and Nuggets hold 1-0 leads in their respective series entering Monday night.
What we know about Monday’s games:
The Nuggets and Timberwolves are now tied 9-9 in NBA Playoffs action since 2023, as they vie for supremacy in the Western Conference.
A team with a 2-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs goes on to win the series 92.7% of the time.
APRIL 20, 2026 / 7:58 ET
Harden shakes loose
James Harden just made Scottie Barnes touch Earth, putting the Cavaliers up 50-40 with 3:20 to go in the second.
Harden has 16 pts on 6-of-8 shooting, including two 3-pointers made.
APRIL 20, 2026 / 7:37 ET
Cavs up 26-19 after one
Donovan Mitchell (7 pts) leads all scorers so far.
For his career, he’s averaging 28.4 ppg in the NBA Playoffs, raising it by putting up 29.6 ppg in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
SPIDA BEATS THE SHOT CLOCK!
One-legged fadeaway 😤
Cavs seek a 2-0 lead in Round 1 🍿 pic.twitter.com/MZU9mApaJZ
— NBA (@NBA) April 20, 2026
APRIL 20, 2026 / 7:27 ET
Cavaliers’ vets exerting influence
The Cavs are big enough to bother the Raptors at basically every position — one of the main advantages of the James Harden-for-Darius Garland swap — and experienced in the Playoffs.
Harden, Mitchell and Allen are still the only Cavaliers to score, as Cleveland methodically works its way to a 19-12 lead with 4:02 to go in the first quarter.
Neither Brandon Ingram nor Scottie Barnes has scored so far for Toronto.
APRIL 20, 2026 / 7:17 ET
Cavs hot early
12-7 Cavaliers with 8:14 to go in the first quarter, as Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Jarrett Allen have put in four points apiece, going 6-for-8 from the field.
The Raptors had the fifth-best defensive rating in the NBA (112.1) during the regular season, but don’t have a ton of quick defenders to track Mitchell. RJ Barrett’s drawn the early assignment here.
APRIL 20, 2026 / 6:30 ET
Starting Lineups: Cavaliers-Raptors
Brandon Ingram and the Toronto Raptors are looking to even their 2026 NBA Playoffs series against the Cavaliers on Peacock.
Stats listed from Saturday’s Game 1, which the Cavaliers won 126-113.
Toronto:
PG Jamal Shead (17 pts, 5 3PM)
SG Brandon Ingram (17 pts, 56 FG%)
SF RJ Barrett (24 pts, 3 3PM)
PF Scottie Barnes (21 pts, 7 ast)
C Jakob Poetl (6 reb, 2 blk)
Cleveland:
PG James Harden (22 pts, 10 ast)
SG Donovan Mitchell (32 pts, 4 3PM)
SF Dean Wade (5 pts, game-high +20)
PF Evan Mobley (17 pts, 7 reb)
C Jarrett Allen (10 pts, 7 reb)
Watch out for Max Strus off the Cavaliers bench.
The sharpshooter had 24 pts in 24 minutes in Game 1, including four 3-pointers and an 8-of-10 mark from the free throw line.
APRIL 20, 2026 / 6:15 ET
Tonight’s injury report
Immanuel Quickley and Thomas Bryant are out for the Cavaliers.
Jock Landale is out for the Hawks. Onyeka Okongwu is available. OG Anunoby is probable for the Knicks.
Anthony Edwards is questionable for the Timberwolves.
Peyton Watson is out for the Nuggets.