Conference Semifinals Tip Off: Knicks-76ers Renew Rivalry, Thunder Face Lakers Without Dončić

Key facts

• Game 1 of Knicks vs. 76ers is Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
• Game 1 of Spurs vs. Wolves is Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.
• Game 1 of Thunder vs. Lakers is Tuesday May 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
• Oklahoma City swept the season series 4-0 against the Lakers, winning by an average of 29.3 points per game.
• Luka Dončić (strained left hamstring) remains out for the Lakers; Austin Reaves returned in Game 5 of the first round.
• The Lakers were outscored by 56 points in the 59 minutes Dončić played against the Thunder this season.
• LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played together only once against the Thunder, posting a minus-16 in 17.9 minutes.
• The Thunder are defending champions and the West's No. 1 seed; the Lakers are the No. 4 seed.

East Semifinals: Knicks and 76ers Collide

The conference semifinals tip off tonight with a classic Eastern Conference rivalry: the New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Both teams advanced from competitive first-round series, setting the stage for a matchup featuring superstar guards and dominant big men. The series pits two of the league's most physical teams against each other. The Knicks and 76ers have a long history of postseason battles, and this edition promises high-intensity play from tip-off. Game 1 will be played at Madison Square Garden, giving New York home-court advantage.

West Semifinals: Spurs and Wolves Feature Elite Big Men

In the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. ET on Peacock. The series highlights a clash of standout big men: San Antonio's young, spry frontcourt against Minnesota's playoff-tested veterans. The Spurs emerged as a dangerous squad in the first round, while the Timberwolves leaned on their experience. The matchup is expected to be a battle of depth and athleticism, with both teams boasting deep rosters capable of adjusting on the fly.

Thunder vs. Lakers: Injury Uncertainty Looms Large

The marquee series of the West semifinals pits the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder against the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, beginning Tuesday May 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The Thunder enter as defending champions and swept the season series 4-0, winning by an average margin of 29.3 points per game — the largest regular-season point differential between two same-conference teams in 2025-26. However, those results came against a Lakers team that was rarely at full strength. LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves played together only once against the Thunder, logging a minus-16 rating in 17.9 minutes. Dončić (strained left hamstring) remains out, while Reaves returned from a strained oblique in Game 5 of the first round against Houston. The Lakers face steep offensive and defensive puzzles regardless of who is available.

Dončić's Absence and the Lakers' Uphill Climb

If Dončić returns during the series, the Lakers will have to overcome a troubling statistic: they were outscored by 56 points in the 59 minutes Dončić was on the court against the Thunder this season. That net rating suggests systemic issues beyond individual absences. The Lakers' path to competitiveness requires solving both ends of the floor. Offensively, they must find ways to score against Oklahoma City's top-ranked defense; defensively, they need to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder's balanced attack. The series schedule includes games on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday, with potential for more.

Playoff Power Rankings and First-Round Surprises

As the conference semifinals begin, NBA analyst John Schuhmann has released updated playoff power rankings for the eight remaining teams. The first round produced several surprises, including upsets and standout individual performances. The league's mailbag has been flooded with questions about the biggest surprises from the opening round. The Knicks-76ers and Spurs-Wolves series both feature compelling storylines, but the Thunder-Lakers matchup carries the highest stakes due to the defending champions' dominance and the Lakers' injury saga. The outcome could reshape the balance of power in the West.

What Comes Next: Series Schedules and Key Questions

The full schedule for the Thunder-Lakers series is set: Game 1 on May 5 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock), Game 2 on May 7 (9:30 ET, Prime Video), Game 3 on May 9 (8:30 ET, ABC) and Game 4 on May 11 (10:30 ET, Prime Video). The Knicks-76ers and Spurs-Wolves series also have games scheduled throughout the week. The central question for the Lakers is whether Dončić can return and make a difference. For the Thunder, the challenge is maintaining their dominant form against a desperate opponent. In the East, the Knicks and 76ers will test each other's resilience, while the Spurs and Wolves will determine which big-man corps prevails.

The bottom line

• The conference semifinals begin tonight with three Game 1s: Knicks-76ers, Spurs-Wolves, and Thunder-Lakers.
• The Thunder swept the Lakers 4-0 in the regular season by an average of 29.3 points, the largest differential between same-conference teams in 2025-26.
• Luka Dončić (hamstring) is out for the Lakers; Austin Reaves just returned from injury; the trio of James, Dončić and Reaves played only one game together against OKC.
• The Lakers were outscored by 56 points in the 59 minutes Dončić played against the Thunder this season.
• The Knicks-76ers series renews a classic rivalry with superstar guards and centers on both sides.
• The Spurs-Wolves series features standout big men and deep rosters from both teams.