Starting 5: Sunday's Thrills Cap Epic Opening to 2026 Playoffs

2026 NBA Playoffs Starting 5: Sunday's Thrills Cap Epic Opening to 2026 Playoffs Victor Wembanyama and Paolo Banchero are among Sunday's standouts, plus we look ahead to Monday's trio of Game 2s.
NBA.com Staff | Updated on April 20, 2026 1:35 PM
Wemby makes history in postseason debut, Magic steal Game 1 in Detroit and more from Sunday's slate.
What does the opening weekend of Playoff basketball look like? What does the Spurs’ first postseason win in seven years look like? What does Victor Wembanyama’s record-setting Playoff debut look like?
This.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION
🏀 Opening Fireworks: Everything from the Playoffs’ opening weekend in two minutes
🛸 Alien Arrival: Wemby passes Duncan in historic postseason debut as Spurs beat Blazers
🔮 Opening Magic: No. 8 Orlando outmuscles No. 1 Detroit to take a 1-0 series lead
💫 Sunday Statements: Thunder and Celtics’ stars shine bright in big Game 1 wins
📺 Monday On NBC & Peacock: Why tonight’s three Game 2s are pivotal, and what’s next this week
BUT FIRST …
⏰ Three Game 2s tip off tonight across NBC and Peacock, with all three road teams looking to even the series, while Cleveland, New York and Denver look to go up 2-0.
• Raptors at Cavaliers (Peacock, 7 ET | Tap to Watch)
• Hawks at Knicks (NBC/Peacock, 8 ET | Tap to Watch)
• Wolves at Nuggets (NBC/Peacock, 10:30 ET | Tap to Watch)
Catch Up Quick: From the bracket, to schedules, to the latest news from every single series, tap here for the NBA Playoffs hub.
Award Finalists: The finalists for seven regular-season awards, including the Kia NBA MVP, were unveiled yesterday. See Section 1 for more ⬇️
1. WHAT’S TRENDING: PLAYOFFS OPENING WEEKEND IN TWO MINUTES
Playoff basketball hits different. From the atmosphere to the stakes to the stars — to how every moment goes up a level — there’s nothing like postseason hoops. And as the First Round tipped off this weekend with eight Game 1s, we got eight reminders of exactly that:
• Victor Wembanyama breaking records – and the Jackals shattering decibels – in the Spurs’ first Playoff win in seven years
• Orlando pulling off magic against the top-seeded Pistons
• The past two champs, OKC and Boston, opening with eye-popping wins
• A 41-year-old LeBron James igniting the Lakers – with some timely help from Luke Kennard
• Nikola Jokić & Jamal Murray doing what they do best
• East beasts collecting big dubs behind their star tandems
Weekend Rewind: Before we dive into Sunday’s highlights, let’s relive opening weekend in two minutes, starting with last night’s spectacle in San Antonio.
• Wemby Wows: With Frost Bank Center shaking, Wemby announced his Playoff arrival with 35 points – the most by any Spurs player in a postseason debut – to lift San Antonio over Portland.
• Magic Stun Pistons: Hours earlier, Orlando beat top-seeded Detroit in a win that hasn’t been matched in the play-by-play era.
• OKC & Boston Roll: The Thunder and Celtics each took a 1-0 series lead with 30+ point wins, powered by their championship cores.
Saturday Shine: The opening day of the Playoffs saw four duos electrify their respective home buildings:
• LeBron & Luke Lead Lake Show: With Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out, LeBron James (19 pts, 8 reb, 13 ast) and Luke Kennard (27 pts) lifted the Lakers past the Rockets.
• Denver Duo Takes Over: Nikola Jokić (25-13-11 triple-double) and Jamal Murray (30 pts) surged past the rival Wolves.
• Brunson & KAT Boost Knicks: Jalen Brunson (28 pts, 7 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (25 pts, 8 reb) combined for 53 in a win over Atlanta.
• Spida & Beard Ball Out: Donovan Mitchell (32 pts) and James Harden (22 pts, 10 ast) propelled Cleveland past Toronto.
Award Finalists: The finalists for seven awards were announced Sunday, led by Kia MVP candidates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama.
Announcement Schedule: Award Week begins tonight with the Kia Defensive Player of the Year at 6 ET on Peacock.
2. WEMBY DAZZLES IN PLAYOFF DEBUT AS SPURS BEAT BLAZERS
It was the Spurs’ first postseason home game since April 25, 2019. It was the first Playoff game of Victor Wembanyama’s NBA career. It was well worth the wait.
Spurs 111, Blazers 98: In an otherworldly atmosphere, Wemby’s alien arsenal was on full display with 35 points, 5 3s and 2 blocks. | Recap
• Wemby 🤝 Timmy: Wemby’s 35 points set a Spurs record for a postseason debut, topping Tim Duncan’s 32 from 1998.
• All-Time Arrival: First player ever with 35+ points and 5+ 3s in a Playoff debut.
• “It’s not that much,” said Wemby. “So it really reflects the spirit of the team.”
Supporting Stars: De’Aaron Fox (17-5-8), Stephon Castle (17-7-7) and Devin Vassell (15 pts) contributed heavily.
“Are You Kidding Me?!”: Wemby splashed a ridiculous fallaway 3 that had Reggie Miller in disbelief.
“The first time I stepped on the court, even for warmups, I felt the atmosphere was different. It’s probably the most excited I’ve seen this arena.” – Victor Wembanyama
Game 2: Tuesday, 8 ET on NBC & Peacock
3. SUNDAY MAGIC: NO. 8 ORLANDO OUTMUSCLES NO. 1 DETROIT
On Friday, the Magic were staring at elimination. Now, they hold a 1-0 series lead over the East’s top seed.
Magic 112, Pistons 101: Orlando kept rolling, overcoming Cade Cunningham’s 39 points with a complete team effort. | Recap
• Banchero Buckets: Paolo Banchero (23 pts, 9 reb) scored 17 in the 1st half.
• Then, Franz: Franz Wagner (19 pts) took over in the 4th, capped by three straight dimes in the final 2:13.
• Owning The Inside: Orlando outscored Detroit 54-34 in the paint and outrebounded them 45-39.
“There’s a physicality to this game that’s going to be real... It’s going to be a dogfight.” – Magic coach Jamahl Mosley
The Result: Orlando became the first No. 8 seed in the play-by-play era to win a Playoff opener over a No. 1 seed without ever trailing.
Game 2: Wednesday, 7 ET on ESPN
4. SUNDAY STATEMENTS: THUNDER & CELTICS ROLL IN GAME 1 WINS
Thunder 119, Suns 84: SGA (25 pts, 7 ast), Chet Holmgren (16 pts) and Jalen Williams (22-7-6) powered a commanding OKC win. | Recap
• Two-Way Chet: Holmgren scored all 16 points in the 1st half, hours before being named a Kia DPOY finalist.
• “We don’t have a great defense if we don’t have our highest-minute player being as good as he is.” – Coach Mark Daigneault on Shai.
Celtics 123, 76ers 91: Jaylen Brown (26 pts) and Jayson Tatum (25-11-7) were in complete control. | Recap
• Historic Jays: It’s Tatum & Brown’s 50th Playoff game where they’ve each scored 20+ points, becoming the eighth duo in NBA history to reach the mark.
• “That was Celtics basketball,” said Brown. “Winning the fight – being the harder-playing team, and just guarding.”
5. WHAT’S NEXT: THREE GAME 2s TONIGHT ACROSS NBC & PEACOCK
Teams that go up 2-0 at home in a best-of-seven First Round series are 283-23 all-time. That’s the opportunity in front of Denver, New York and Cleveland tonight.
Wolves at Nuggets (NBC/Peacock, 10:30 ET):
• Jokić & Murray combined for 55/18/18 in Game 1.
• Of the 40 duos to log 1,500+ minutes this season, they have the best OffRtg (127.8).
• “My shot just didn’t fall. They did their job… we’re gonna do our job the next game.” – Anthony Edwards.
Hawks at Knicks (NBC/Peacock, 8 ET):
• The Knicks went 30-10 at MSG this season with the NBA’s best home OffRtg (120.8).
• “It was everything I anticipated, being in this environment… You have to play physical.” – Hawks’ Jalen Johnson.
Raptors at Cavaliers (Peacock, 7 ET):
• Mitchell & Harden were responsible for 90 of Cleveland’s 126 points in Game 1.
• The Raptors were 3-0 vs. the Cavs in the regular season, holding them to 104.3 ppg.
What’s Next:
Tuesday: 76ers at Celtics (7 ET, Peacock) | Blazers at Spurs (8 ET, NBC) | Rockets at Lakers (10:30 ET, NBC)
Wednesday: Magic at Pistons (7 ET, ESPN) | Suns at Thunder (9:30 ET, ESPN)
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