{"id":398869,"date":"2026-04-18T15:26:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T15:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/398869\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T15:26:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T15:26:18","slug":"starting-5-nba-playoffs-start-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/398869\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: NBA Playoffs start today"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The 2026 NBA Playoffs begin today, as 16 teams begin their chase for the the Larry O\u2019Brien Championship Trophy.<\/p>\n

16 teams.<\/p>\n

One goal.<\/p>\n

With the field of 16 now locked in, one of the greatest journeys in sports starts today.<\/p>\n

The NBA Playoffs are here. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you gotta know.<\/p>\n

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5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Rockets-Lakers: Leading Playoff squads, KD & LeBron add to their head-to-head history<\/p>\n

Wolves-Nuggets: The next chapter in Ant & Joker\u2019s thrilling rivalry<\/p>\n

In The East: Brunson, Towns and Knicks host Hawks, Raptors face Harden & Mitchell for first time<\/p>\n

Suns Secure 8-Seed: Jalen Green goes off to sink Steph and Warriors\u2019 season<\/p>\n

Magic Make Playoffs: Paolo leads Orlando to big win over Charlotte<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

The road to the NBA Finals starts now\u2026<\/p>\n

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The 2026 NBA Playoffs begin today with four First-Round Game 1\u2019s:<\/p>\n

On Prime: The No. 5 Raptors and No. 4 Cavaliers get the action started (1 ET<\/a>), followed by the No. 6 Wolves visiting the No. 3 Nuggets (3:30 ET<\/a>), and the No. 3 Knicks hosting the No. 6 Hawks (6 ET<\/a>)
\nOn ABC: Day 1 concludes with the No. 5 Rockets taking on the No. 4 Lakers (8:30 ET<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Four more Game 1\u2019s arrive Sunday on ABC & NBC\/Peacock:<\/p>\n

No. 7 Sixers at No. 2 Celtics (1 ET, ABC)
\nNo. 8 Suns at No. 1 Thunder (3:30 ET, ABC)
\nNo. 8 Magic at No. 1 Pistons (6:30 ET, NBC)
\nNo. 7 Blazers at No. 2 Spurs (9 ET, NBC)<\/p>\n

1. SERIES PREVIEW: ROCKETS-LAKERS AND A PLAYOFF-FIRST FOR LEBRON AND KD<\/p>\n

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46 career head-to-head matchups.<\/p>\n

2,607 points scored against each other\u2019s teams.<\/p>\n

Three championships decided between them.<\/p>\n

Kevin Durant and LeBron James have a rivalry rich with history and consequence.<\/p>\n

And today, for the first time in that history, they\u2019ll meet in the Playoffs outside of the Finals.<\/p>\n

Durant leads the No. 5 Rockets into Los Angeles (8:30 ET, ABC), where the No. 4 Lakers look to James, beginning his 19th Playoff campaign, without top scorers Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves.<\/p>\n

Head-To-Head: While LeBron owns the advantage in 32 regular-season matchups (22-11), KD has claimed nine of 14 Playoff showdowns, all in the Finals
\nClassic Callback: The legendary pair hasn\u2019t met in the Playoffs since the last of four straight Cavs-Warriors Finals, in 2017-18
\nRing Count: KD earned his two rings in that rivalry, for a 2-1 head-to-head championship edge over LeBron. James\u2019 first career title came against Durant\u2019s Thunder
\nLots More Hardware: The two have combined to claim five MVPs, six Finals MVPs, seven Gold Medals, five scoring titles and 38 All-Star selections
\nAnd Points: Their series now will mark the highest combined career point total between two opponents in NBA Playoff history, at over 60,000<\/p>\n

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And after all that, both are still being asked to play significant roles for their playoff teams when it matters most.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re gonna need him to facilitate\u2026 score\u2026 defend and rebound,\u201d JJ Redick said of LeBron, who had a string of four straight 20+ point, 10+ assist games before the regular-season finale. \u201cHe recognizes the task at hand.\u201d
\nKD The Closer: For a young Houston squad looking to take the next step, Durant has been the answer in winning time, sinking the 4th-most clutch points this season (146)
\n\u201cThat\u2019s part of the reason we got him, for the efficiency he brings and the closing,\u201d Ime Udoka said of KD. \u201cOne of the best to do it and ultimate closers in the game.\u201d
\nX-Factors Elsewhere: Without Luka and Reaves, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson are the other duo to watch, each coming off career-best scoring seasons for their second Playoff run<\/p>\n

For more on this matchup, check out John Schuhmann\u2019s series preview.<\/a><\/p>\n

2. SERIES PREVIEW: ANT & JOKER\u2019S RIVALRY RENEWS IN WOLVES-NUGGETS<\/p>\n

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The 2025-26 regular season saw a few rivalries rise, hinting at the NBA\u2019s next wave of great ones.<\/p>\n

Now the 2026 Playoffs lead in with the next installment of a current classic: Anthony Edwards\u2019 Wolves and Nikola Joki\u0107\u2019s Nuggets.<\/p>\n

In 28 matchups over the last four regular seasons and Playoffs \u2013 tying the Pacers and Bucks for most meetings in that span \u2013\u00a0these familiar foes have given us some of the league\u2019s highest highs:<\/p>\n

And if Ant and Joker\u2019s achievements this regular season are any indication, expect this rivalry, and series, to keep building on past thrills.<\/p>\n

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Bart Young\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Mr. Triple-Double, Again: Joki\u0107 (27.7 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 10.7 apg) is now just the second player ever to average a triple-double in back-to-back seasons
\nEscalating Edwards: Still only 25, Ant has increased his scoring by more than 1.0 ppg in each of his six seasons, reaching 28.8 ppg this season, 3rd-best in the league
\nOffensive Opposites: While Edwards looks to score his way to a third straight West Finals, Joki\u0107 is the first player since 1969-70 to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game
\nJoker gets others going, as the Nuggets\u2019 league-leading offense (122.1 ppg) had seven players average double figures this season
\nTop Target: That includes Denver\u2019s own top-12 scorer with a career-year in Jamal Murray, who logged highs in points per game (25.4) and 3-point shooting (43.5%)<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s going to work harder than me this summer. I\u2019ll tell you that much.\u201d \u2013\u00a0That was Ant\u2019s promise last offseason following a season-ending loss to OKC.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to see if that hard work will pay off on the path back to the West Finals and beyond.<\/p>\n

Escalation can be contagious though, and Ant\u2019s nemesis Nuggets rose up to be the highest scoring offense (122.1 ppg) in the league this season.<\/p>\n

For more on this matchup, check out Jeff Zillgitt\u2019s series preview.<\/a><\/p>\n

3. IN THE EAST: KNICKS HOST HAWKS, RAPTORS FACE HARDEN\u2019S CAVS
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Joe Boatman + Vaughn Ridley\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

April 6. 5:28 left to play. Scored tied at 90-90.<\/p>\n

New York was about to end Atlanta\u2019s longest home win streak since 1996-97 (13) to take the season series 2-1.<\/p>\n

But as James L. Edwards III for The Athletic and NBA.com writes, those five-plus minutes could also hold the keys to this next series, with more at stake:<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of two things was going to happen: <\/p>\n

The Knicks starters were either going to bring home a much-needed victory and end a monthlong winless drought against teams with winning records, or they were going to give doubters more ammo\u2026<\/p>\n

New York battled adversity in those final minutes, including a 5-point deficit. Conversely, it showed a resilience that has become a staple of this team since it was put together\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026The final 5:28 in Atlanta may be a moment we look back at down the line if the Knicks are on the cusp of achieving their postseason aspirations.\u201d | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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No. 6 Hawks at No. 3 Knicks (6 ET, Prime): Under head coach Mike Brown, New York is back to begin a Playoff push toward an elusive goal \u2013 its first Finals appearance since 1999. In its way first is an Atlanta team with one of the biggest turnarounds of the year.<\/p>\n

KAT Stands Out: Both Edwards III and Steve Aschburner, who wrote NBA.com\u2019s preview for this series, note that no Hawks defender has had an answer for Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a> this season (28.5 ppg, 63.0 FG%, 13.5 rpg in 2 gm)
\nClutch Co-Stars: Towns got 12 of his 21 points in the 4th quarter of that most recent meeting, following Jalen Brunson\u2019s lead (30 pts), who poured in 17 in that 4th
\nAtlanta\u2019s Duo: Nickeil Alexander-Walker rose up as a key offensive option during that Hawks win streak that fed the 18-2 turnaround, averaging a career-high 20.8 ppg and complimenting triple-double threat Jalen Johnson<\/p>\n

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No. 5 Raptors at No. 4 Cavaliers (1 ET, Prime): The 2026 Playoffs tip off in Cleveland, where the Cavs closed with the league\u2019s 6th-best record after adding former MVP James Harden, a wrinkle Toronto hasn\u2019t faced yet.<\/p>\n

Instant Chemistry: In a career-year, Donovan Mitchell (27.9 ppg) excelled alongside Harden, leading the league in total 4th-quarter points (513)
\nStill In His Bag: Harden didn\u2019t regress in the relationship either, ranking second in the league in total isolation points (443), behind only SGA (522)
\nDrive & Dish: Cleveland climbed to 8th in assists per game with Harden, who\u2019s also helped the Cavs capitalize with assists on 11% of drives, the 4th-best rate in the NBA
\nDial Up Defense: Both teams call on defensive cornerstones, drafted back-to-back in 2022, in reigning DPOY Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes, the only player in the top-10 for both blocks (116) and steals (114) this season<\/p>\n

For more on this matchup, check out Shaun Powell\u2019s series preview<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. SUNS SNAG 8-SEED: JALEN GREEN GOES OFF AGAIN TO ELIMINATE DUBS<\/p>\n

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Eight made 3s to tie a Play-In game record.<\/p>\n

A 7-0 personal 4th-quarter flurry to seal the win.<\/p>\n

A second consecutive 35+ point performance to join Steph Curry alone in Play-In history.<\/p>\n

With the West\u2019s No. 8 seed on the line, Curry-like numbers won the night \u2013\u00a0but they all belonged to Jalen Green, as the Suns stifled the Warriors.<\/p>\n

Suns 111, Warriors 96: Green (36 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk<\/a>) caught fire again and Devin Booker (6 reb, 8 ast) added 20 points to help clinch the 8-seed for Phoenix and send them on to face the defending champs in OKC in a best-of-seven series starting Sunday (3:30 ET, ABC).<\/p>\n

Brandin Podziemski (23 pts, 10 reb) led Golden State\u2019s efforts, with 17 points from Curry in a season-ending loss. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

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Jumping out to a 13-2 start, Phoenix\u2019s defense settled in, limiting Golden State to 1-of-9 shooting from distance in a 33-15 1st-quarter
\nJordan Goodwin (19 pts, 9 reb, 4 3s) hounded Curry and the Dubs for a Play-In record six steals, as Steph was held to 4-of-16 from the field
\nCurry got loose early in the 4th with two of three Warriors 3s in the first 2:30, cutting the lead to 85-78. That\u2019s when Green closed the contest
\nJalen rattled off a layup, a trey and a running floater, unanswered, in under two minutes to push the lead back to 14 and keep Phoenix ahead by double digits for good<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in my squad. I think we can do anything we put our minds to,\u201d Green said postgame. \u201cWe lock in, we come out and play hard, trust each other, the sky\u2019s the limit for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green and Curry (2021) are the only players in Play-In Tournament history to log back-to-back 35+ point games
\nThe Suns guard\u2019s 71 total points are the 2nd-most in any Play-In Tournament run, behind Steph\u2019s 76 from that 2021 hot streak
\n\u201cHe was just telling me \u2018Go handle business in OKC,\u2019\u201d Green said of Curry\u2019s message to him<\/a> postgame. \u201cComing from Steph, it means a lot.\u201d
\nSteph also shared a moment<\/a> with Draymond Green and Steve Kerr, as the Warriors turned their attention to next season<\/p>\n

5. MAGIC MOVE ON: EARLY ERUPTION ENDS HORNETS\u2019 RUN<\/p>\n

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Midway through the 1st quarter, 4-point game.<\/p>\n

A loose rebound off a Charlotte miss bounced out between Brandon Miller\u2019s legs.<\/p>\n

It rolled to Jalen Suggs, alone at midcourt.<\/p>\n

Suggs swished a transition long-ball (foot on the line), unknowingly igniting Orlando\u2019s final run to the East\u2019s 8-seed.<\/p>\n

Magic 121, Hornets 90: Surging on to take that opening period 38-16, Orlando led by double-digits the rest of the way to punch its ticket to a third straight Playoff appearance and a First-Round date with No. 1 Detroit. Paolo Banchero (25 pts) led all scorers.<\/p>\n

LaMelo Ball\u2019s 23 points paced the Hornets, who are now eliminated from postseason contention, last making the Playoffs in 2016. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Fast Fire: Suggs\u2019 (12 pts, 6 ast) transition make was followed by back-to-back Wendell Carter Jr. triples, and then five consecutive Banchero points, in a 13-0 burst
\nDecisive Quarter: It spurred Orlando to close the final 6:07 of the 1st on a 24-6 run, for its 4th-highest scoring opening quarter (38 pts) of the season
\nCarter Jr. finished the frame with 10 of his 16 points, connecting with Paolo<\/a> on his second triple, who powered his way<\/a> to 12 points in the period
\nWhile shooting 61% in the 1st half, the Magic\u2019s defense leveled up<\/a> to hold the Hornets to their 2nd-lowest 1st-quarter (16 pts) and 1st-half (37 pts) totals this season<\/p>\n

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Orlando\u2019s 31-point halftime lead was its largest in any game this season, and the largest in Play-In Tournament history.<\/p>\n

The Magic protected their 1st-half work with physical play, allowing only 12 points in the paint before halftime while blocking five shots and doubling Charlotte on the boards
\n\u201cIf we were gonna be able to win the game, it was gonna have to be by being extra physical and setting the tone with the physicality,\u201d Banchero said
\nBane Dives, Cain Flies: When LaMelo\u2019s 21 3rd-quarter points started chipping away at the gap, Bane dived to save a loose ball<\/a>, setting up a game-sealing Jamal Cain oop
\n\u201cGamechanger,\u201d coach Jamahl Mosley said<\/a> of Bane\u2019s physicality. \u201cHe\u2019s just finding ways to win\u2026 He sets the tone in a lot of ways for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orlando will look to match that physicality with No. 1 Detroit as their series begins Sunday (6:30 ET, NBC\/Peacock). The Magic split four games with the East leaders this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that\u2019s gonna be a dog fight,\u201d Banchero said of Detroit. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen them plenty of times, so we know what\u2019s on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n