Eighth-seeded Orlando Magic survived a dramatic fourth-quarter collapse to defeat the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 113-105 and take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece as the Florida franchise nearly squandered a 17-point advantage.
The hosts appeared comfortable when leading 96-79 with just eight minutes remaining in the contest.
Late Detroit resurgence falls short
Cade Cunningham spearheaded a sensational 26-8 run for the visitors, scoring a game-high 27 points.
The former number one overall pick sank a clutch free throw with under three minutes remaining to give the Michigan side their first lead of the second half.
However, the Magic immediately responded by shutting out their opponents 9-0 during the final sequences to seal a vital victory.
Physical battle produces costly fouls
The tense playoff atmosphere boiled over repeatedly during a highly physical encounter marred by multiple infractions.
Detroit centre Isaiah Stewart was involved in several altercations, receiving a double technical foul alongside Goga Bitadze before committing a flagrant foul on Jalen Suggs.
Those disciplinary lapses ultimately proved decisive, gifting the hosts crucial points in a tightly contested finish.
Magic chase historic playoff upset
This marks only the 13th time since the current 16-team format began in 1984 that an eighth seed has secured a 2-1 first-round advantage over a top seed.
The play-in tournament survivors are now aiming to become just the sixth eighth-seeded roster in NBA history to successfully complete such an unlikely upset.
Game four of the best-of-seven series will take place in Orlando on Monday night.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka demanded his team “grow up” after a catastrophic late-game collapse saw them lose 112-108 in overtime to the Los Angeles Lakers, falling into a 3-0 deficit in their first-round play-off series.
The Texan franchise inexplicably blew a six-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Friday night’s devastating defeat leaves them on the brink of elimination from the Western Conference post-season.
“Horrendous mistakes. I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case.”
Ime Udoka, Houston Rockets Head Coach
James sparks dramatic late comeback
Houston initially appeared positioned to secure their first victory of the series despite playing without injured forward Kevin Durant.
The veteran superstar missed his second game of the match-up with a sprained ankle, having previously sat out the series opener due to a knee issue.
Back-to-back turnovers from LeBron James had allowed the hosts to build a commanding 101-95 advantage in the dying moments.
However, the Lakers capitalised on a late Houston error when Marcus Smart converted three free throws following a foul from beyond the arc.
Moments later, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer stripped the ball from rookie guard Reed Sheppard and drained a game-tying three-pointer with just 13 seconds left.
“It was a stupid turnover,” admitted Sheppard.
“I should have hit Alpie [Sengun] right over half-court and just made the simple play.”
Egregious errors frustrate Rockets boss
Alperen Sengun missed a potential game-winning shot for the hosts before James failed to connect on a buzzer-beater at the opposite end, forcing the extra period.
The Turkish centre had dominated for large stretches of the contest, producing a game-high 33 points and 16 rebounds.
Closing out games was a persistent issue for the Rockets during the regular season, a vulnerability that was ruthlessly exposed once again.
“It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish,” Udoka noted.
“The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can’t have those.”
Experience demands better execution
This marks the franchise’s second consecutive post-season appearance following their seven-game exit against Golden State last year.
Given that recent play-off exposure, their 46-year-old manager refused to accept youthful inexperience as a valid excuse.
“Grow up. You’re not that young anymore,” he told his locker room.
Udoka forced his squad to re-watch the final 30 seconds of regulation immediately after the buzzer to highlight their tactical failures.
It remains uncertain whether Durant will be medically cleared to participate in Sunday’s crucial Game 4, with his status described as “up in the air”.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for a dominant fourth-quarter performance as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 108-100 on Friday night to reclaim home-court advantage in their playoff series.
The star duo scored 25 points apiece during a thrilling victory in front of a raucous sellout crowd at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
They were directly responsible for scoring or assisting on their team’s first 27 points in the final period.
Tatum, who is continuing his return from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last year, added seven assists and four rebounds in 42 minutes of action.
The standout forward sealed the result with a crucial three-pointer off an offensive rebound with just 27 seconds remaining.
Experience shines through
Since entering the league in 2018, the Boston stalwarts have played in more postseason games than anyone else in the NBA.
That extensive playoff pedigree proved vital as they repeatedly answered the challenge posed by Tyrese Maxey.
The Philadelphia guard delivered an exceptional individual display, finishing the contest with 31 points and six assists.
However, crucial second-chance opportunities ultimately doomed the hosts to a disappointing home defeat.
Celtics capitalize from deep
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla has built a reputation for encouraging a high volume of three-point attempts.
His squad executed that tactical plan effectively, connecting on 20 of their 47 efforts from beyond the arc.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged that his team failed to secure vital defensive rebounds.
“I think they hit four or five threes off offensive rebounds so that’s kind of doubly bad,” Nurse said.
“We knew that was a big, probably the number one key coming into the series and we probably didn’t do enough.”
Embracing the pressure
The decisive moments of the game saw both sides exchange heavy blows in a tense finale.
For the returning Boston talisman, the intensity of the back-and-forth encounter was exactly what he had been missing during his injury layoff.
“Sometimes we had some moments where things didn’t go our way and then we had to fight back and get the lead,” Tatum explained.
“Just as a basketball player, being on a team where everybody’s just contributing and making plays, I just missed being a part of moments like that.”
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season following a spectacular breakout campaign.
The 6-foot-5 guard averaged a career-high 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds to go along with 1.3 steals per game.
He also recorded personal bests in blocks, overall field goal percentage, and three-point efficiency over the course of the year.
His scoring output increased by an astonishing 11.4 points from his previous season as a bench player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking the third-highest statistical jump over the past 25 years.
Historic back-to-back success for Atlanta
Alexander-Walker succeeds his teammate Dyson Daniels, who claimed the prestigious honour last season.
This unprecedented achievement represents the first time in NBA history that two consecutive winners have emerged from the same franchise.
The versatile playmaker arrived in Georgia during free agency after being actively recruited by former Hawks point guard Trae Young.
When Young sustained an early-season knee injury and was subsequently traded to the Washington Wizards, the newly acquired guard stepped up to ensure his squad remained a playoff team.
‘Tireless work ethic’ drives record-breaking season
The former Timberwolves rotation player established a single-season franchise record by connecting on 251 three-pointers, which ranked fourth overall across the league.
Hawks head coach Quin Snyder praised his player’s remarkable transformation and crucial contribution to their current campaign.
“Nickeil’s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award.”
Quin Snyder
Snyder also highlighted how his unselfish attitude as a teammate has positively impacted the overall success of the squad during a transitional year.
Atlanta’s general manager Onsi Saleh echoed these sentiments, pointing to the guard’s exemplary professionalism both on and off the court.
“He brings a high level of care and professionalism to everything he does associated with the game of basketball. Nickeil truly embodies what it means to be the best version of yourself and we are excited for his future growth in our program.”
Onsi Saleh
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson has announced his decision to enter the 2026 NBA Draft following a single, high-scoring season in college basketball.
The highly-rated guard confirmed his intention to turn professional via a statement published on Instagram on Friday.
Despite enduring an injury-hit campaign that limited him to just 24 appearances, the young American remained a dominant offensive force.
He averaged an impressive 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game during his brief tenure with the Jayhawks.
Those scoring exploits were ultimately enough to earn the standout prospect an All-America honourable mention.
Projected lottery selection
The explosive guard is widely expected to be selected among the very first names when franchises make their picks this June.
He is currently ranked as the number two overall prospect on ESPN’s comprehensive draft board.
Only Brigham Young University standout AJ Dybantsa is placed higher than the outgoing Kansas playmaker.
‘Lifelong dream’ realised
In his social media announcement, the departing star expressed immense gratitude to his teammates, friends, and family.
After much reflection and prayer, I am proud to announce my decision to declare for the NBA draft.
This has been my lifelong dream, and I am excited for the future. Rock chalk forever!
Nikola Jokic suffered the worst shooting night of his playoff career as the Denver Nuggets lost 113-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, falling 2-1 behind in their postseason series.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player missed 19 of his 26 attempts from the floor in Minneapolis on Thursday evening.
His offensive struggles saw the visiting team fail to reach the 100-point mark for the first time since January.
This dramatic collapse allowed the hosts to run away with a comfortable victory and pile the pressure on the defending champions.
Gobert marshals stifling home defence
A key factor in silencing the Serbian superstar was the imposing presence of French centre Rudy Gobert.
“They’re big, tall, long. They’re really good defensive players,” Jokic admitted following the heavy defeat.
The Denver outfit had seemingly controlled the series through its opening five quarters before a sudden momentum shift late in Game 2.
A blistering 11-0 run by the Timberwolves during that second encounter completely altered the complexion of the matchup.
Historically poor offensive display
The visitors managed a mere 11 points in a disastrous opening quarter, converting just three of their 21 field goal attempts.
It marked the lowest-scoring quarter of the entire season for a roster that finished the regular campaign with the second-highest offensive rating in NBA history.
The home side quickly established a double-digit advantage and stretched their lead to 27 points at one stage.
“I’ve never seen him shoot what he shot today,” guard Jamal Murray said. “That’s an outlier type of game.”
Supporting cast falters under pressure
The usually reliable 29-year-old centre also registered four turnovers compared to just three assists, marking a statistical anomaly for the brilliant playmaker.
His primary offensive partner was equally subdued, with the Canadian guard making only five of his 17 shots on a frustrating night.
Nuggets coach David Adelman believes the team’s lacklustre screen-setting heavily contributed to their inability to create open looks.
Crucial adjustments required
“He had a tough night,” Adelman said of his star player.
“This guy’s played a million playoff games. There’s nights that are poor. He’ll bounce back.”
The Colorado franchise must now regroup rapidly as they fight to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes both scored career playoff highs of 33 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-104 to halve their first-round series deficit.
Cleveland still lead the best-of-seven tie 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Toronto.
The Canadian franchise produced their best performance of the postseason, pulling away from a halftime tie with a dominant 43-23 fourth quarter.
Record-breaking rookie aids historic duo
Toronto-born Barrett and his fellow forward Barnes became just the third Raptors pairing to each register 30 points in a single playoff game.
They join legendary franchise duos Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, as well as Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, in achieving the prestigious feat.
“A night like tonight was good to build some confidence and just show that we’re here,” Barrett said.
“When we play like how we did today, everybody together, everybody’s playing hard, locked in on the game plan, we can make some noise.”
The hosts were heavily bolstered by a sensational shooting display, hitting 61% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Off the bench, Collin Murray-Boyles set a team rookie record with 22 points, while Jamison Battle sunk four three-pointers in his series debut.
Defensive discipline stifles Cavaliers stars
At the other end of the court, Toronto completely nullified Cleveland’s formidable attacking trio.
Donovan Mitchell was restricted to just 15 points, whilst James Harden managed 18 points alongside eight costly turnovers.
Evan Mobley was similarly contained, finishing with 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic praised his team’s defensive structure, singling out Barnes for his relentless defensive shifts against both Harden and Mitchell.
“He did everything for us tonight,” Rajakovic noted.
The 23-year-old All-Star also contributed 11 assists and five rebounds in a magnificent all-around display.
“Those guys are really talented scorers. You just got to try to be physical, show bodies and try to play super hard,” Barnes explained.
CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining to secure a 109-108 victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday.
Following his stellar performance in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, the veteran guard delivered again by sinking a 15-foot shot to finish with 23 points.
The hosts had controlled the majority of the contest at State Farm Arena, establishing a commanding 18-point advantage in the first half.
Late drama seals dramatic finish
However, the visitors mounted a fierce comeback, edging ahead 108-105 when Jalen Brunson completed a crucial three-point play with just over a minute left.
Jalen Johnson, who top-scored for the Georgia franchise with 24 points, subsequently closed the gap with a composed finish inside the paint.
A missed three-point attempt by Josh Hart gave the home side an opening, and despite securing the offensive rebound, the away side committed a costly shot-clock violation.
Kuminga impact stunts Knicks revival
Following McCollum’s decisive strike, Jonathan Kuminga stripped the ball from Brunson to ensure time expired before a final response could be launched.
Kuminga proved instrumental off the bench, contributing 21 vital points to halt the momentum of the recovering New York roster.
OG Anunoby was the standout offensive performer for the losing team with a game-high 29 points, while Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns added 26 and 21 respectively.
First-half dominance establishes foundation
The foundations for the narrow victory were laid early, as the home team outscored their opponents 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the first quarter.
That commanding stretch featured three consecutive shots from beyond the arc, initiated by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye.
The defensive prowess of the match-winner was also on full display, notably blocking a clear drive to the basket by Hart to regain possession during a crucial exchange.
Game 4 of this tightly contested postseason battle will take place on Saturday in Atlanta.
The result leaves the Eastern Conference challengers facing a crucial weekend clash to avoid falling into an almost insurmountable 3-1 series deficit.