first round of 2026 nba playoffs Provided a little bit of everything: sweeps, upsets, thrilling finales and historic comebacks.
And this is the second time since the round went to best-of-7 in 2003 it will provide three Game 7s. (There were five in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs.)
This year, all the action is in the East, where new York Knicks wait for the winner of boston celtics–philadelphia 76ers series. The second round on the other side of the East bracket remains empty as of Sunday. detroit pistons–orlando magic And cleveland cavaliers–Toronto Raptors The showdown will decide the other conference semifinal matchups.
What drama will Game 7 provide? NBA insiders Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Zach Cram and Om Youngmisuk examine the keys to each series finale and what each team must do to move forward.
Go to Game 7:
(1) Piston vs (8) Magic
(2) Celtics vs. (7) 76ers
(4) Cavs vs. (5) Raptors
game 7 information
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET (NBC/Peacock)
ESPN Analytics: BOS 74.5%
76 Players win if they _____.
Stick to the script. Coach Nick Nurse has found a formula that works and he’s using it. joel embiid Either taking out double teams or attacking defense one-on-one. Boston has no answer to slow down tyreese maxiAnd the electrified guard knows it. And paul georgeFor perhaps the first time as a 76ers player, the max contract resembles the player the team signed nearly two years ago.
Philadelphia won without needing to beat Boston. Embiid was 6-for-18 from the floor on Thursday, while the 76ers went 11-for-33 from 3-point range and missed too many open looks. If they go in, especially early, it would be a game-changer for the 76ers’ chances.
But over the last two games – and especially the last six quarters – the 76ers have found something. If they can execute it one more time, maybe they can beat Boston in a playoff series for the first time since 1982. — Bontemps
The Celtics win if they _____.
Hit their 3-pointers. During the last four playoffs under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics are 17-1 when they hit at least 40% of their 3s and 19-19 when they don’t. The Celtics’ success in this first-round series also hinges on their 3-point accuracy.
Of course, it’s not so He Easy for the Celtics, who still don’t have an answer for Embiid who has manipulated their defense over the past few games. They must control the offensive boards and possession game. But, more than anything, the Celtics need to make their 3s, which have become the foundation of Mazzulla’s offense. — Bontemps
The X factor of Game 7 is _____.
neemias quetta. Boston’s starting center was one of the most improved players in the NBA this season and was a pleasant surprise for Boston after al horford, kristaps porzingis And luke cornet Gone last summer. The Celtics had a team-best plus-13.2 net rating with Quetta in the regular season.
But Quetta has struggled mightily against Philadelphia – thanks in no small part to the matchup against Embiid. In six matches, Quetta has made more fouls (24) than taken shots (18). And if he can’t stay on the floor, it’s time to head to Boston Nikola Vucevic Or luca garzaBoth have been overextended defensively in this series.
No one is expecting Quetta to match Embiid’s production. But in Game 7, Cueta will have to stay out of foul trouble and give Boston the rebounds, solid screens and stingy interior defense he has provided all season. –Cram
game 7 information
Sunday, 3:30 PM ET (ABC)
ESPN Analytics: DET 78.9%
The Magic win if they _____.
Give Detroit the first punch with physicality on defense and in the paint. The blueprint for stealing Game 7 in Detroit is for Orlando.
They stole Game 1 with that formula. jalen suggs The game began with him flying around the court like a free safety. Wendell Carter Jr.. had a larger presence in paint than Jalen Duren. paolo banchero Knew when to score and when to distribute when needed.
However, there was magic franz wagner In Game 1. Wagner (right calf strain) is not expected to play in Game 7 on Sunday. With him out, the Magic will need players like tristan da silva, anthony black And jamal cain Step up. — Youngmisuk
The Pistons win if they _____.
They are more physical inside.
Cade Cunningham Has the best player in this series and will be able to score when needed, especially if Wagner is not on the court to try to slow him down. But he needs help.
It starts with Duren, who needs to win battles in the paint and establish the physicality that has made the Pistons the best team in the East.
But more than anything, the Pistons will have to play the same suffocating defense that brought them back from trailing by 24 in the second half of Game 6, so they don’t need another stunning, come-from-behind win to avoid a disappointing first-round exit. — Youngmisuk
The X factor of Game 7 is _____.
Detroit’s 3-point shooting. It’s common knowledge that the Pistons struggle from distance, ranking 28th in the regular season in 3-point makes (11.0 per game) and 17th in 3-point percentage (35.6%).
They have been much worse in the playoffs, ranking last in makes (8.7 per game) and percentage (29.7%). duncan robinson has met its normal standard, and Cade Cunningham Has been average at depth, but every other Piston is in a major long-range decline.
But there is no NBA team it Bad on 3-pointers over a large enough sample. Can Detroit finally move beyond the perimeter and make some shots at home in Game 7? –Cram
game 7 information
Sunday, 7:30 pm ET (NBC/Peacock)
ESPN Analytics: CLE 60.1%
The Raptors win if they _____.
Turn Game 7 into a defensive battle. Toronto has prided itself on winning by playing more solidly than Cleveland for most of this series, creating turnovers, diving for loose balls and closing the talent gap on defense. Toronto’s confidence has grown significantly as the series has continued, its young players have settled in and its defensive intensity has increased. The Raptors will enter Game 7 on the road, where all the pressure will shift to the home team. — collier
The Cavaliers win if they _____.
Limit Toronto’s infection basket. When Cleveland has avoided turnovers and prevented Toronto from scoring points in transition, the Raptors’ offense has stagnated. The Cavs only had one turnover during their fourth quarter rally in Game 6, and it was almost enough to win the series.
Cavs need more star guards Donovan Mitchell And james harden on offense, but the backcourt defense has kept the Raptors in control for most of the half court. If the Cavs can stop giving up easy baskets, they should secure another win at home to advance. — collier
The X factor of Game 7 is _____.
To make hard. His playoff track record is no secret, but the numbers are astonishing nonetheless: In seven career Game 7s, Harden has averaged just 19.3 points on 35% shooting, including 22% on 3-pointers. He had a strong performance in his first career Game 7 in 2011 with Oklahoma City, but has shot 41% or worse in every game since.
Harden’s season has ended in Game 7 in three of the last five seasons; In 2023 and 2025 he failed to reach double digits in points.
Cleveland needs a better version of its point guard against Toronto’s tough defense. Specifically, Harden has scored more than 20 points in every win against the Raptors in this series, but he has been below 20 in every loss. –Cram
