As the first round chugs along, here\u2019s the biggest question remaining for each series, updated as each Game 3 is finished:<\/p>\n
Lakers-Rockets: Can the Lakers survive another series without Luka?![\"LeBron](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kq1fq2fd6fthzmzh87.jpg\" "\\"LeBron")
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LeBron James has carried the Lakers without Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
The Lakers lead the Rockets 3-0, thanks largely to the continued brilliance of LeBron James and Luke Kennard\u2019s shooting\u2014though it escaped him in Game 3. Kevin Durant\u2019s injury woes have helped L.A., but with Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves out, Houston should be firmly in control of the series. James and Co. have simply outplayed their opponents. That won\u2019t keep up.<\/p>\n
If the Lakers can get past the Rockets, they\u2019ll likely have to face the Thunder, and they won\u2019t have a chance without Don\u010di\u0107 and Reaves healthy. The latter appears close to returning from an oblique strain, but the former remains on the shelf with no timetable for return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While James has shown he can still stuff the stat sheet in the postseason, he\u2019s 41 and needs help shouldering the load. If Don\u010di\u0107 can\u2019t return soon, L.A. won\u2019t be around long.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Verdict: There\u2019s no chance the Lakers get out of the second round without Don\u010di\u0107. \u2013 Phillips<\/p>\n
Nuggets-Timberwolves: Does Nikola Joki\u0107 have an answer for Rudy Gobert?![\"Rudy](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kq1fke9gghseszj58g.jpg\" "\\"Rudy")
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The Timberwolves lead the Nuggets 2\u20131 in the first round | Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Nikola Joki\u0107 has had a forgettable series against the Timberwolves so far, as Minnesota leads 2-1. The three-time NBA MVP has been largely locked down by Rudy Gobert, who has taken his Defensive Player of the Year snub<\/a> pretty hard. It is the shakiest Joki\u0107 has looked in the past six seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through three games, he is averaging 25.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, but is only shooting 40.0% from the field and 20.8% from three-point range. That\u2019s down significantly from his 56.9% field goal percentage and 38.0% three-point percentage during the regular season. In Game 3, Joki\u0107 missed 19 of the 26 shots he took. That followed a Game 2 performance in which he was 1-for-8 with Gobert guarding him. It looks like one of the best centers of all time has found his kryptonite.\u00a0<\/p>\n Joki\u0107 has such a lengthy track record of success in the league and is still at the top of his game. He led the NBA in PER this season at 32.35, which was the second-highest mark in history. The top number is 32.85, which was set by, you guessed it, Joki\u0107 during the 2021-22 season. It would be shocking if he went out like this.\u00a0<\/p>\n Verdict: He\u2019ll find one. Joki\u0107 is one of the best players of his generation, and he is still in his prime. Gobert is an all-time defender, but I\u2019d bet heavily on Joker figuring this out at some point. \u2013 Phillips<\/p>\n Cavaliers-Raptors: Can Brandon Ingram bounce back enough to swing the series in Toronto\u2019s favor? Brandon Ingram has struggled thus far against the Cavs | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Ingram has had a rough go of it to start the postseason. He\u2019s averaged 12 points per night over the first three games of the series with Cleveland, which includes a seven-point night where he went 3-for-15 from the field in a Game 2 loss. The Raptors made it a series in Game 3 with a 126\u2013104 win as the home team has held serve thus far, but Ingram scored just 12 points and only took nine shots in the victory.<\/p>\n Simply put, Ingram hasn\u2019t been a factor yet, which is an issue as Toronto is without Immanuel Quickley for the rest of the series. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett have led the way as both scored 33 points apiece in the Game 3 win on Thursday. Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been good too, but the Raptors could certainly use Ingram\u2019s 21.5 points per game from the regular season to have a real shot at eliminating the Cavaliers.<\/p>\n Verdict: Yes, if Ingram can be more aggressive. He led the Raptors in scoring this year while taking 16.7 shots a night and putting up 4.6 three-point attempts. He already has two games this series where he\u2019s only taken nine shots, which isn\u2019t a winning recipe for the Raptors even if Barnes and Barrett continue to shine. Either way, however, it will be difficult for Toronto to get past Cleveland. \u2013 Silverman<\/p>\n Hawks-Knicks: Can the Hawks legitimately turn into this year\u2019s version of the Pacers? CJ McCollum has starred for the Hawks over the postseason | Brett Davis-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Hawks are out to a 2\u20131 lead on the Knicks in their first-round series. While Atlanta\u2019s early success may be a surprise if you look at the Eastern Conference standings, the Hawks were one of the NBA\u2019s best teams after the All-Star break and appeared to be one of the biggest upset candidates entering the playoffs.<\/p>\n So far, so good through three games. Veteran guard CJ McCollum, who was acquired ahead of the trade deadline in the Trae Young deal, has starred over the first three games of the series. He turned into Madison Square Garden\u2019s newest villain<\/a> in Atlanta\u2019s Game 2 win. He\u2019s averaged 27 points per game thus far as he\u2019s provided some much-needed scoring alongside young star Jalen Johnson and newly minted Most Improved Player Nickeil Alexander-Walker. A little Tyrese Haliburton-esque as the Hawks hope to play spoiler to the Knicks like last year\u2019s Pacers.<\/p>\n Atlanta\u2019s early postseason success isn\u2019t much of a surprise. The Hawks posted the second-best defensive rating and the fourth-best net rating across the NBA following the All-Star break. They looked solid without Young all year and McCollum\u2019s arrival coupled with the continued emergence of Johnson and Alexander-Walker makes the Hawks a true postseason threat.<\/p>\n Verdict: Yes, the Hawks could make a run through the Eastern Conference. A win over the Knicks would pit Atlanta against the winner of the Celtics-76ers series. On the other side of the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers and top-seeded Pistons are Finals threats, but each contender in the East has shown its flaws to start the playoffs which makes the conference wide open for a team like the Hawks. \u2013 Silverman<\/p>\n Celtics-76ers: Does rookie guard VJ Edgecombe need to be the Sixers\u2019 x-factor? VJ Edgecombe had 30 points in the Game 2 win over the Celtics | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Philadelphia\u2019s offense is always centered around Maxey, but especially so without Embiid.<\/p>\n Although it\u2019s a small sample size, the 76ers\u2019 sole win thus far came in a 30-point, 10-rebound performance from standout rookie VJ Edgecombe. The No. 3 pick in last summer\u2019s draft averaged 16.0 points per game in his rookie season and has cemented himself as half of the franchise\u2019s backcourt of the future alongside Maxey.<\/p>\n In Philadelphia\u2019s two losses to Boston this series, Edgecombe was inefficient from the field. Paul George has been solid, but he hasn\u2019t provided the scoring pop needed as a true No. 2 to Maxey. Other supporting cast members Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond have contributed, but the biggest question that faces Philly for the rest of the series is who can be Robin to Maxey\u2019s Batman.<\/p>\n Verdict: Edgecombe doesn\u2019t need to go off each night, but it certainly helps while Embiid remains on the shelf. You can\u2019t expect a rookie to pop each game, so Oubre, George and Co. have a lot on their shoulders while Embiid\u2019s status remains up in the air. \u2013 Silverman<\/p>\n More NBA Playoffs from Sports Illustrated<\/p>\n Listen to SI\u2019s NBA podcast,\u00a0Open Floor, below or on\u00a0Apple<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Spotify<\/a>. Watch the show on\u00a0SI\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Brandon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kq1fj23skbq4hmtkt4.jpg\" "\\"Brandon")
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<\/p>\n![\"VJ](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01kq1ffdw2a9bnxptv4j.jpg\" "\\"VJ")
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