The Magic visit the Pistons in Detroit for the first half of Sunday Night Basketball’s doubleheader on NBC and Peacock. (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from Sunday’s action.
We’ve got a quadruple-header as the rest of our series get underway!
The slate opens with 76ers-Celtics (1 ET) and Suns-Thunder (3:30 ET) on ABC, followed by Magic-Pistons (6:30 ET) and Trail Blazers-Spurs (9 ET) on NBC.
Sunday’s scores
APRIL 19, 2026 / 7:09 ET
Magic up 35-27 after 1Q
Orlando responds to the 12-0 Detroit run with a 6-0 spurt of their own, and they take an 8-point advantage to the second frame. The second quarter is live now on NBC & Peacock!
APRIL 19, 2026 / 7:03 ET
Beef Stew says NOPE
Detroit is surging back in the first quarter, fueled by some staunch defense leading to easy buckets in transition. A 12-0 run for the Pistons has them trailing Orlando 29-27 with 1:03 remaining in the quarter.
Stewart MASSIVE REJECTION 🚫
Cunningham THROW DOWN 💥
Detroit firing on both ends in Q1 of Game 1! pic.twitter.com/1tuif5JaDb
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:47 ET
Hot start for Orlando
Jalen Suggs (8 pts, 2 3PM) and Paolo Banchero (5 pts, 1 reb) give the Magic a 13-5 lead over the Pistons with 8:27 to go in the opening frame on NBC & Peacock.
Back-to-back triples from Jalen Suggs to open it 🔥
MAGIC. PISTONS. GAME 1 is underway on NBC & Peacock! pic.twitter.com/iIHEiMAEt7
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:35 ET
Finalists for Kia Clutch Player of the Year
The 2025-26 Finalists for Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year.
Anthony Edwards
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jamal Murray pic.twitter.com/yLXEPZ3gan
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:34 ET
Finalists for Kia Most Improved Player
The 2025-26 Finalists for Kia NBA Most Improved Player.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Deni Avdija
Jalen Duren pic.twitter.com/cN0ydFsgNK
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:33 ET
Finalists for Kia Defensive Player of the Year
The 2025-26 Finalists for Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Chet Holmgren
Ausar Thompson
Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/C4cMnh1WFu
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:32 ET
Finalists for Kia Sixth Man of the Year
The 2025-26 Finalists for Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Keldon Johnson pic.twitter.com/JRNRtyWBSj
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:27 ET
Buckle up for what is sure to be a physical series between the Magic and Pistons.
first five out🪄 pic.twitter.com/vlhru8gc0D
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 19, 2026
Game 1 tips at 6:30 ET on NBC and Peacock!
Let the games begin.#DetroitBasketball | @Kia pic.twitter.com/9Bt8SjcJpo
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 6:15 ET
Thunder handle business to take 1-0 lead
Oklahoma City starts the postseason in dominant fashion, taking down the visiting Suns 119-84. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 pts, 7 ast, 3 blk), Jalen Williams (18 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) and Chet Holmgren (16 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk) were sensational in the convincing victory.
OKC WAS LOCKING UP IN GAME 1 🔒
They take Game 1 behind a dominant, all-around defensive effort!
🍿 Game 2: Wednesday, 9:30pm/et, NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/CnXS7OA3Tp
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
The Thunder’s defense was simply too much for Phoenix all afternoon, forcing 19 total turnovers en route to 34 points off for the defending champs. OKC held commanding leads in paint scoring (52-24), fast break points (18-2) and points off TOs (34-2).
THUNDER WIN GAME 1 AT HOME ⛈️ pic.twitter.com/NWPBc7I6MP
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
Devin Booker (23 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast), Jalen Green (17 pts, 5 reb, 1 stl) and Dillon Brooks (18 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast) finished as the only Suns in double figures. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:30 ET on ESPN.
APRIL 19, 2026 / 5:45 ET
Thunder up 31 heading to 4Q
It’s been a dominant showing to open the 2026 NBA Playoffs for the Thunder, as they take a 97-66 lead over the Suns as we head to the fourth quarter. OKC is shooting 46% from the field while limiting Phoenix to just 34% overall.
JDUB HAS THE BALL ON A STRING 🧵
Pump.
Drive.
Cross.
Up-and-under.
Score.
18 PTS after the pretty drive to the paint in Game 1! pic.twitter.com/etesMV4Z21
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
The star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 pts, 7 ast, 3 blk), Jalen Williams (18 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) and Chet Holmgren (16 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl, 2 blk) lead the way for OKC.
SGA GOES ⏫ FOR THE SWAT!
His second block of Game 1 to go along with 18 points! pic.twitter.com/5glj8zfwYa
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
Devin Booker (23 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) and Dillon Brooks (16 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) are the offensive engines for Phoenix, but they have a lot of ground to cover over the final 12 minutes if they want to be the first road squad to earn a victory this postseason.
APRIL 19, 2026 / 3:40 ET
Celtics dominate to take 1-0 lead
This 32-point victory marked Boston’s largest margin of victory to open the playoffs in franchise history. Joe Mazzulla’s squad put together a complete performance to take all the momentum in this series. Boston poured in 16 threes, four times as many as Philadelphia who finished just 17.4% from behind the arc.
CELTICS TAKE GAME 1 AT HOME ☘️ pic.twitter.com/7LFFbirEba
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 3:10 ET
Seeing green ☘️
Philadelphia was unable to shrink the halftime deficit in the third quarter, as the gap actually widened after another 12 minutes of play.
Three down ✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/siBWu2Zoth
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 19, 2026
Paul George added to his decorated resume with a second-half triple. He passed Paul Pierce on the all-time postseason rankings for made three. He now sits behind former Laker Derek Fisher.
Congrats to @Yg_Trece of the @sixers for moving up to 14th on the all-time playoff 3-POINTERS MADE list!
NBA Playoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/NHTecMqy47
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
Jaylen Brown is continuing his high level of play from the regular season. He has 26 points through 30 minutes of action as his team is up big late.
JB and PG exchange tough buckets 😤
Celtics hold a healthy lead in Q3 of Game 1! pic.twitter.com/Y34c5kc9Mj
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 2:25 ET
Back like he never left 🔥
Jayson Tatum was remarkable in the first half, ending with 21 point, 8 rebounds and five assists. It’s hard to imagine that he tore his achilles less than one year ago with the way he looks today.
TATUM ON THE BREAK 💥
GAME-HIGH 21 PTS AT HALF.
CELTICS UP 18 IN GAME 1! pic.twitter.com/cCfvKN3Mbd
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
The rest of Tatum’s team is following suit, resulting in an 18-point advantage at halftime. Philadelphia is searching for answers on both ends of the court. The 76ers are shooting 33.3% from the field, and only Tyrese Maxey is in double figures so far with 14 points.
at the half. @cryptocom pic.twitter.com/MxupoxgpsR
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 1:49 ET
Boston grabs double-digit lead
The first bit of separation settled in late in the first quarter as Boston continued to be active on defense and score in transition. The 76ers have seven turnovers, as the second quarter gets going. Meanwhile, the Celtics are turning those extra possessions into high-quality looks.
LET IT RIP pic.twitter.com/mFcpmSj6PM
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 1:38 ET
Sixers foul trouble early
Andre Drummond and Adem Bona have two fouls each, and there’s still several minutes to play in the opening quarter. Philadelphia is without Joel Embiid as well, forcing Head Coach Nick Nurse to go small early on.
APRIL 19, 2026 / 1:20 ET
9-1 C’s run, timeout Philly
fast break, no fake 🙅 pic.twitter.com/949JFFoEMO
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 19, 2026
Boston started clicking on both ends following z Paul George free throw that tied this one at six-apiece. The Celtics embarked on a 9-1 run to follow.
QUETA SLAM 💥
Celtics up early in Game 1! pic.twitter.com/g2Axzfx1hV
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2026
APRIL 19, 2026 / 12:30 ET
VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers face the Boston Celtics to open Sunday’s action on ABC.
Philadelphia:
PG Tyrese Maxey (31.2 ppg, 7.2 ast)
SG VJ Edgecombe (18.6 ppg, 6.8 reb)
SF Kelly Oubre Jr. (15.7 ppg, 5.6 reb)
PF Paul George (21.4 ppg, 6.6 reb)
C Andre Drummond (9.7 ppg, 12.5 reb)
Boston:
PG Derrick White (17.9 ppg, 5.9 ast)
SG Jaylen Brown (32.0 ppg, 8.0 reb)
SF Sam Hauser (9.2 ppg, 39.3% on 6.5 3PA)
PF Jayson Tatum (25.6 ppg, 11.8 reb)
C Neemias Queta (11.7 ppg, 9.6 reb)
What we know about Sunday’s games:
The Celtics and Sixers are the most familiar opponents in NBA history. They’ve played 116 times across their storied history — Boston’s up 66-50 in the series.
NBA teams that win Game 1 in the NBA Playoffs have gone on to win the series 77.8% of the time.
APRIL 19, 2026 / 12:15 ET
Joel Embiid is out, while Tyrese Maxey is available for the 76ers.
Grayson Allen and Mark Williams are questionable for the Suns.
Desmond Bane is probable for the Magic, while Wendell Carter Jr. is available and Jonathan Isaac is questionable.
Jordan McLaughlin is out for the Trail Blazers.