Cavaliers and Pistons Advance as East Semifinals Take Shape; Thunder-Lakers Injury Drama Looms

Key facts

• Cavaliers defeated Raptors 114-102 in Game 7, with Jarrett Allen recording 22 points and 19 rebounds.
• Pistons eliminated Magic 116-94, finishing a 3-1 comeback to reach East semifinals for first time since 2008.
• Cade Cunningham scored 32 points in the closeout win against Orlando.
• Tobias Harris dropped 30 points to power Pistons past Magic in an earlier game.
• 76ers vs. Knicks East semifinals series begins with Game 1 on NBC & Peacock at 8 p.m. ET.
• Thunder swept Lakers 4-0 in regular season, winning by average margin of 29.3 points per game.
• Luka Dončić (strained left hamstring) remains out for Lakers; Austin Reaves returned from strained oblique in Game 5 of first round.
• Celtics' Jaylen Brown called out Joel Embiid and referees' 'agenda' during a live stream.

Cleveland Survives Game 7 Behind Allen's Dominance

The Cavaliers pulled away from the Raptors behind a dominant performance from Jarrett Allen, who dropped 22 points and 19 rebounds in the decisive 114-102 victory. Allen's double-double powered Cleveland to the second round, where they will face the Detroit Pistons. Toronto fought hard but could not contain Allen on the glass or in the paint. The Raptors now face an offseason of uncertainty after their first-round exit.

Detroit Ends 18-Year Drought with Comeback Over Orlando

The Pistons finished a 3-1 comeback to eliminate the Magic, advancing to the East semifinals for the first time since 2008. Cade Cunningham sealed the closeout win with 32 points, while Tobias Harris earlier dropped 30 points to power Detroit past Orlando. Orlando now heads into an offseason of soul-searching, unsure if the Banchero-Wagner pairing works. The Magic's early exit raises questions about their core's ceiling.

Knicks-76ers Rivalry Renewed in East Semifinals

Superstar matchups at guard and center highlight a classic rivalry as the 76ers take on the Knicks in the East semifinals. Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock. Celtics' Jaylen Brown called out Joel Embiid and referees' 'agenda' during a live stream, adding fuel to the already intense matchup. The series promises high drama and physical play.

Thunder-Lakers Series Defined by Health and History

The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder were 4-0 against the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers this season, with a convincing season sweep. The Thunder beat the Lakers by an average margin of 29.3 points per game, the largest regular-season point differential between two teams from the same conference in 2025-26. However, caveats abound. LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played together just once, posting a minus-16 in 17.9 minutes. Dončić and Reaves sustained injuries in the April 2 contest, and all three were out for the final meeting.

Dončić's Hamstring and Reaves' Return Cloud Lakers' Prospects

Luka Dončić (strained left hamstring) remains out, while Austin Reaves just returned from a strained oblique in Game 5 of Los Angeles’ first-round series against the Houston Rockets. If Dončić returns, another stat looms: the Lakers were outscored by 56 points in the 59 minutes Dončić was on the court against the Thunder. No matter who is available, the Lakers face offensive and defensive puzzles to make this series competitive against the defending champions. The series begins Tuesday May 5 at 8:30 ET on NBC/Peacock.

West Semifinals Set: Thunder vs. Lakers Schedule Released

The Thunder-Lakers series schedule is set: Game 1 Tuesday May 5 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock), Game 2 Thursday May 7 (9:30 ET, Prime Video), Game 3 Saturday May 9 (8:30 ET, ABC), Game 4 Monday May 11 (10:30 ET, Prime Video). All eyes will be on the health of Luka Dončić as the Lakers try to overcome a historically lopsided regular-season record against Oklahoma City.

Playoff Bracket Takes Shape as Second Round Begins

The 2026 NBA playoff bracket is taking shape with the Cavaliers advancing to face the Pistons and the 76ers meeting the Knicks. The Raptors and Magic have been eliminated, while the Thunder-Lakers series headlines the West semifinals. The Celtics' Jaylen Brown's comments about Embiid and the refs add a subplot to the East. Meanwhile, the Raptors face questions about their future, including the possibility of trading for Kawhi Leonard again.

The bottom line

• Jarrett Allen's 22-19 double-double was pivotal in Cleveland's Game 7 win over Toronto.
• Cade Cunningham's 32-point closeout performance ended Orlando's season and sent Detroit to the East semis for the first time since 2008.
• The Knicks-76ers series features a heated rivalry, with Jaylen Brown calling out Embiid and referees.
• The Thunder swept the Lakers in the regular season by an average of 29.3 points, the largest conference differential in 2025-26.
• Luka Dončić's hamstring injury and Austin Reaves' return are key factors in the Lakers' chances against Oklahoma City.
• The Lakers were outscored by 56 points in the 59 minutes Dončić played against the Thunder this season.