The NBA playoffs continue with the Cavaliers facing the Pistons and the Thunder hosting the Lakers on Tuesday. The Knicks and Timberwolves have already advanced in the second round.
Key points
NBA playoffs second round began on May 4, 2026
Knicks defeated the 76ers
Timberwolves won against the Spurs
Cavaliers will play the Pistons on May 5
Thunder will host the Lakers on May 5
New York KnicksPhiladelphia 76ersMinnesota TimberwolvesSan Antonio Spurs
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The second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs got underway Monday when the New York Knicks demolished the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the San Antonio Spurs with a narrow road victory. The other two series, featuring the No. 1 seeds in each conference, will begin on Tuesday.
Neither the Pistons nor the Cavaliers were particularly impressive in the first round. Detroit had to pull off a 3-1 comeback to escape the Orlando Magic, while Cleveland nearly blew a 2-0 series lead to the Toronto Raptors and also needed to win Game 7 at home.
As they prepare to meet in the second round, it's interesting that the Pistons will face a completely different challenge (Cleveland's offense is significantly better than Orlando's, but the Magic were better defensively and far more physical), while the Cavaliers will face a similar challenge (an extremely tough, athletic and defensive-minded team that can struggle to score).
The Cavaliers are a better and more talented team than the Magic, but in some ways this may be an "easier" series for the Pistons -- at least from a physicality standpoint. The Pistons won't want to drop Game 1 at home as they did in the Orlando series, and the Cavs didn't win a road game in the first round. Pick: Pistons -3.5
As expected, the Thunder cruised past the Phoenix Suns in the first round, completing their third consecutive first-round sweep with an average margin of victory of 17.3 points. The Lakers, meanwhile, jumped out to a surprise 3-0 lead on the Houston Rockets and eventually closed out the series in six games to advance to the second round for the first time since 2023.
Unfortunately, this series, like so many others in the playoffs over the last few years, will be marred by injury. Jalen Williams will not play in Game 1 due to a hamstring strain, and does not have an official timeline. And while the Lakers got Austin Reaves back from an oblique injury late in the first round, they remain without Luka Dončić due to his own hamstring strain. As of Sunday, Dončić had not even resumed running, per ESPN, and it's still unclear when, or if, he'll be able to play this postseason.
Everyone would pick the Thunder in this series and in this game. They're the better team and have a far greater ability to withstand Williams' absence than the Lakers do to withstand Dončić's absence. But can OKC cover a massive 15.5-point spread? That is an absurd line for a playoff game, and they only did so once in the first round against the Suns. Pick: Lakers +15.5
