The Minnesota Timberwolves have advanced to the Western Conference semi-finals against the San Antonio Spurs after defeating the Denver Nuggets 110-98 to seal a 4-2 series victory.
Jaden McDaniels delivered a career-high 32-point performance to ensure the Minneapolis franchise progressed from their first-round match-up.
They will now host Monday’s series opener against San Antonio and could be bolstered by the return of Anthony Edwards from injury.
Jokic involved in another altercation
The Nuggets’ exit was marred by a tense scuffle with just under 10 minutes remaining in the final quarter.
Three-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic became entangled with Jaylen Clark and Naz Reid, resulting in technical fouls for all three players.
It was the second major incident involving the Serbian centre in this series, following his ejection for instigating a confrontation at the end of game four.
Despite registering a team-high 28 points and 10 assists, the Denver talisman took full responsibility for the elimination.
“I needed to play better. I must play better.”
Knicks make NBA post-season history
Over in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks shattered post-season records by thrashing the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 to clinch their own 4-2 series triumph.
The phenomenal 51-point margin of victory represents a franchise play-off record for the historic organisation.
They also established a new NBA post-season benchmark by opening up an unassailable 47-point advantage by half-time.
Karl-Anthony Towns orchestrated the offense with a brilliant triple-double consisting of 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Team-mate OG Anunoby led the scoring with 29 points as the New York side secured a fourth consecutive semi-final appearance.
76ers force decider against Celtics
The Knicks will now prepare to face either the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers in the next round.
Philadelphia kept their championship hopes alive by claiming a vital 106-93 victory to level their series at 3-3.
Tyrese Maxey exploded for 30 points, while veteran forward Paul George contributed 23 points to stave off elimination.
The two Eastern Conference rivals will now meet for a decisive game seven in Boston on Saturday.
Tyrese Maxey and Paul George combined for 53 points as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 106-93 on Thursday night to overcome a 3-1 series deficit and force a deciding Game Seven.
Maxey scored 30 points to lead the charge, while a resurgent George added 23 in what was Philadelphia’s most complete performance of the campaign.
The hosts led from start to finish to set up a winner-takes-all showdown in Boston on Saturday.
The Sixers have found new life following the early return of Joel Embiid from an appendectomy, rebounding emphatically from two earlier blowout defeats.
George finds vintage form
The 35-year-old George has endured a tumultuous season, missing 25 games due to suspension and struggling with injuries since signing his lucrative four-year contract last summer.
However, the veteran forward delivered a throwback performance when it mattered most, hitting five three-pointers to stretch the advantage.
His standout moment came in the third quarter with a dazzling behind-the-back pass to rookie VJ Edgecombe, who finished with a thunderous dunk to extend the lead to 15 points.
Embiid, still recovering from his early April surgery, contributed 19 points as the offence flowed smoothly through the supporting cast during his periods on the bench.
Celtics sweat on Tatum fitness
The momentum shift in this first-round matchup is a stunning turn of events given how comfortably the Celtics dominated their three earlier victories.
Boston’s night was further compounded by an apparent calf injury to star forward Jayson Tatum, who left the game in the third quarter after scoring 17 points.
Jaylen Brown was also hampered by early foul trouble, managing just 18 points as the Eastern Conference heavyweights went more than four minutes without scoring late in the third period.
The Celtics now face immense pressure to protect a flawless historical record, having won all 32 best-of-seven series in franchise history in which they have held a 3-1 lead.
The New York Knicks have set an NBA playoff record by establishing a 47-point halftime lead against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their first-round series.
Holding their opponents to just 36 points in the opening two quarters on Thursday, the visitors forced 14 turnovers during a ruthless defensive display.
At the other end of the court, the Eastern Conference franchise enjoyed their most productive offensive half of the postseason, shooting over 60% from the field to amass 83 points.
Anunoby outscores entire Atlanta roster
Forward OG Anunoby spearheaded the remarkable scoring surge, finishing the second quarter with 26 points to his name.
At one stage in the contest, the British-born wing had individually registered more points than the entire opposition lineup.
Mikal Bridges also found his rhythm following a difficult start to the series, contributing a crucial 16 points to comfortably surpass his previous high of 11 in Game 1.
Shattering historical postseason benchmarks
Atlanta initially led 11-9 in the opening minutes before suffering a devastating collapse, being outscored by 53 points over the subsequent 18 minutes of action.
The previous playoff benchmark for a halftime advantage stood at 41 points, a milestone jointly held by the 2025 Indiana Pacers and the 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers.
New York remarkably reached that 41-point margin with more than seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.
According to historical data, this represents the fastest any team has built a 40-point advantage in the play-by-play era.
The relentless pressure continued as the lead swelled to 50 points by the 4:39 mark, setting another unprecedented milestone since tracking began in 1998.
Duke University has agreed a groundbreaking broadcasting and retail partnership with Amazon that will see three marquee men’s basketball games streamed exclusively on Prime Video starting in the 2026-27 season.
The historic agreement marks the retail giant’s first foray into broadcasting live collegiate sports.
Beginning next year, the streaming service will hold exclusive rights to three neutral-site non-conference fixtures per campaign.
The initial slate of high-profile matchups features clashes against UConn in Las Vegas, reigning champions Michigan at Madison Square Garden, and Gonzaga in Detroit.
A new era for collegiate broadcasting
This innovative enterprise partnership includes extensive Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes.
In an era where universities face intense financial pressure to compensate players, the collaboration offers the Blue Devils a significant new revenue stream.
Players will be permitted to actively promote the televised fixtures, while a broader retail partnership is expected to be unveiled soon.
The Seattle-based corporation has steadily expanded its live sports portfolio, already holding exclusive rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football alongside a recently acquired NBA package.
Balancing existing television commitments
The five-time NCAA champions collaborated closely with the Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN to facilitate this unique scheduling arrangement.
In exchange for participating in these standalone streaming events, the university has committed to featuring in select ESPN-owned showcases during the 2027-28 and 2028-29 campaigns.
Nina King, the university’s athletic director, praised the initiative as a major step forward for the global reach of the programme.
“As Prime Video’s first college sports partner, this collaboration not only expands the global reach of Duke Men’s Basketball, but also creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes in a way that reflects innovation and excellence.”
Continuing a tradition of demanding schedules
Under head coach Jon Scheyer, the North Carolina-based programme has consistently assembled one of the most challenging non-conference fixture lists in the nation.
Last season, the team tested themselves against elite opposition including Florida, Michigan State, Arkansas, and Kansas outside of their standard conference obligations.
Only one of those premium non-conference encounters took place at their storied Cameron Indoor Stadium home.
Industry experts believe this unprecedented streaming agreement could serve as a catalyst for other tech giants to aggressively pursue collegiate broadcast rights.
The 2026 NBA playoffs have seen a historic decline in scoring and offensive efficiency during the opening round, marking the steepest statistical drop-off since the 2003-04 season.
Through the first 39 games of the postseason, franchises have struggled significantly to reach the customary 100-point mark.
During the regular campaign, teams failed to reach triple digits in just 11% of fixtures.
However, that figure has drastically increased to 29% across the opening 72 playoff encounters.
Nuggets struggle as pace slows
The Denver Nuggets perfectly illustrate this dramatic offensive regression.
Having recorded just two sub-100-point games across the entire 82-game regular season, the former champions matched that unwanted tally in consecutive matches against the Minnesota Timberwolves last week.
Pace of play is a major contributing factor to the leaguewide scoring drought.
Fifteen of the 16 participating rosters are operating at a slower tempo than they did prior to mid-April, with only Denver bucking that specific trend.
Record-breaking efficiency plunge
The underlying metrics highlight an even more severe decline in overall shot-making quality.
Overall true shooting percentage has fallen by 2.3 points, representing the second-largest drop ever recorded behind the 1978-79 tournament.
Furthermore, offensive rating has plummeted by a staggering 4.3 points per 100 possessions.
This constitutes the worst efficiency decline between a regular season and playoffs in documented league history.
Stars shine amid injury woes
Beyond the widespread offensive struggles, the opening round has delivered several compelling individual storylines.
French center Rudy Gobert has enjoyed a redemptive run following previous postseason criticisms.
Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum has made a triumphant return to top form, while the Orlando Magic have orchestrated a Cinderella run as a bottom seed.
Despite these individual successes, a wave of star injuries continues to disrupt the ultimate title aspirations of several heavyweights.
Dennis Schroder sparked a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 125-120 to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round play-off series.
The 32-year-old guard scored 11 of his 19 points in the final period, playing every minute of the fourth quarter to seal a pivotal home victory.
Trailing 103-100 heading into the closing stages, the hosts relied heavily on their veteran mid-season acquisition to turn the tide.
It marked the first time the Ohio-based franchise has won a post-season game after trailing at the start of the fourth quarter since 2018.
Half-time intervention
Before dominating on the court, the experienced playmaker delivered a crucial locker-room message.
With his team down 74-67 at the interval, the German international urged his colleagues to play with greater energy and focus on feeding big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
“I felt like I had to say something to the group, so we can rise and go play Cavs basketball and play to our standards.”
Dennis Schroder
The impassioned plea clearly resonated, as the home side restricted their Canadian opponents to just 17 points in the concluding 12 minutes.
Earning trust down the stretch
Head coach Kenny Atkinson attempted to substitute Donovan Mitchell and Mobley back into the action late on, but the duo insisted the hot hand stay on the court.
“This is working. We’re getting stops. And I think the biggest thing about this group is, it’s about the collective.”
Donovan Mitchell
Atkinson praised the February arrival, highlighting the extensive experience he brings from major domestic and international fixtures.
“He was, as we like to call him, Dennis the menace tonight.”
Kenny Atkinson
Looking ahead to Game Six
While much of the media attention earlier this year surrounded the headline acquisition of James Harden, this unheralded trade deadline move ultimately rescued a rocky start to the evening.
The vital victory gives Atkinson’s side significant momentum as they travel north of the border.
They will now look to close out the series and secure progression when Game Six takes place in Toronto on Friday.
Cade Cunningham scored a franchise playoff-record 45 points as the top-seeded Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-109 on Wednesday to stave off NBA playoff elimination.
The Eastern Conference leaders entered Game 5 with their season on the line against the eighth-seeded visitors.
However, their star guard delivered a masterful performance to ensure the series extends to a sixth game.
Historic duel at Little Caesars Arena
The contest developed into an unforgettable shootout between two of basketball’s brightest young offensive talents.
Orlando forward Paolo Banchero matched the Detroit playmaker blow-for-blow, keeping his team in the fight with 45 points of his own.
This remarkable scoring exchange marks only the second time in NBA playoff history that opposing players have both registered 45 points or more.
The only previous occurrence came inside the 2020 Covid-19 bubble, when Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray traded 50-point games.
“Not everybody is blessed with those types of opportunities to have pressure and things on the line like that,” Cunningham said.
“A lot of times I feel undeserving of how great of moments I get to be a part of. Just try to make the most of it.”
Late drama secures vital victory
Despite holding a 15-point advantage early in the fourth quarter, the hosts saw their comfortable lead rapidly evaporate.
Banchero, shouldering the offensive load in the absence of injured team-mate Franz Wagner, hit four three-pointers in the final period.
A catch-and-shoot triple from the visiting star reduced the deficit to just three points with slightly over a minute remaining.
Yet Detroit’s talisman responded with ultimate composure to finally put the game out of reach.
Driving down the right flank, Cunningham executed a perfect 16-foot fadeaway jumper over the defence with 32 seconds left on the clock.
“In the heat of the moment, you’re not really thinking about it, you’re just thinking about getting the win,” Banchero reflected.
“But sure, one day I’ll look back and be like, ‘That was a hell of a game’.”
Free-throw struggles cost visitors
While the Magic displayed immense resilience without Wagner, who was sidelined by a right calf strain, their inaccuracy from the foul line proved costly.
The Florida franchise missed 14 free throws overall, with their leading scorer squandering seven of his 12 attempts.
Conversely, the Pistons capitalised on a dominant 20-point second quarter from their point guard to establish a solid foundation for the win.
His 45-point total eclipses the previous Detroit playoff record of 44, set by Dave Bing in 1968.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr will decide his future with the franchise next week after holding productive discussions with team ownership on Monday.
The 60-year-old met with controlling owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy for two hours to determine his long-term viability at the helm.
While both parties described the initial dialogue as positive, a final resolution remains pending nearly two weeks after their season ended in Phoenix.
The long-serving tactician will embark on a previously planned golf trip before reconvening with the hierarchy.
Draft lottery crucial to future plans
Sources close to the situation indicate that the four-time NBA championship-winning coach remains torn over his next career move.
An unnamed source stated that there is no need to rush the evaluation process during the early stages of the off-season.
A major factor in the upcoming negotiations revolves around the May 10 draft lottery and the franchise’s subsequent ability to reconstruct an ageing squad.
The California-based outfit currently sit in the 11th lottery slot, holding a 9.4 percent chance of securing a top-four pick to assist their summer recruitment plans.
Reluctance to lead a youth rebuild
There is a mutual understanding that the veteran manager remains the ideal candidate to lead a playoff-contending team built around core stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
However, the former Chicago Bulls player is reportedly reluctant to oversee a sweeping, long-term youthful rebuild after 12 demanding seasons in the role.
Management’s desire to retain his services depends heavily on implementing fresh offensive philosophies and making targeted staffing adjustments.
‘Jobs have an expiration date’
Speaking immediately after their recent elimination, the experienced coach openly acknowledged the transitional phase facing the franchise.
“I still love coaching, but I get it,” Kerr stated.
“These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”
Crucially, team executives have not commenced a search for a successor and will only explore alternatives if their current leader officially opts to step down.