Game 7 of Celtics vs 76ers tips off today, May 2. In the West, the Timberwolves just eliminated the Nuggets despite being without Anthony Edwards. The Knicks beat the Hawks by 51 points in Game 6 — an NBA playoff record halftime lead. The 2026 NBA Playoffs first round has been extraordinary, and the second round is shaping up to be even better. This guide explains exactly what happened, who advances, and what to expect from the conference semifinals.
- The 2026 NBA Playoffs first round ends this weekend with the Celtics-76ers Game 7 on May 2.
- Minnesota eliminated Denver, New York beat Atlanta, and the Spurs and Lakers also advance.
- The conference semifinals begin next week; Oklahoma City Thunder are the heavy favourites in the West.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs First Round: What Happened
The 2026 first round opened on April 18 and has already produced some of the most dramatic moments in recent playoff history. Eight series, dozens of elimination games, and one record that stood for decades was smashed — all in fewer than three weeks. The playoffs are averaging 3.91 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Amazon Prime Video, according to NBA Communications, the highest numbers since 1993.
The headline result is Minnesota eliminating Denver. Jaden McDaniels scored a layup with 1.2 seconds remaining in Game 6 to complete a stunning comeback from 27 points down. Nikola Jokic physically confronted McDaniels after the buzzer — an incident that resulted in both Jokic and Julius Randle being ejected. The Timberwolves, missing Anthony Edwards to a hyperextended left knee suffered in Game 4, became the first team to advance to the conference semifinals as the sixth seed in consecutive seasons, according to Basketball-Reference data.
All Eight First Round Series Explained
Western Conference
The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-seed) dominated the Phoenix Suns and advance comfortably. The Thunder clinched a third consecutive number-one seed and enter the second round as the most formidable team in the West. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with a WinShares rating of 1.2 in the opening round, per Basketball-Reference.
The San Antonio Spurs (2-seed) eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers. Victor Wembanyama was placed in concussion protocol during the series, raising concerns for the second round. San Antonio's guard depth proved the difference. The Los Angeles Lakers (4-seed) beat the Houston Rockets and face a date with either Minnesota or San Antonio. LeBron James delivered a vintage Game 6 performance to close out the series.
Minnesota vs Denver was the series of the round. Denver won Game 5 with Jokic posting a 27-point, 16-assist, 12-rebound triple-double. Minnesota responded. Edwards returned to the bench for Game 6 but did not play. McDaniels scored 43 points in Game 4 before his calf injury; in Game 6, his buzzer layup ended Denver's eighth consecutive playoff appearance.
Eastern Conference
The Detroit Pistons (1-seed) were upset by the Orlando Magic in Game 1, pushed to Game 6 by a young team playing with nothing to lose. Detroit survived and advance, but the questions around their readiness for a deeper run are real. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat Toronto 3-2, closing out the series in Game 6. Follow all our NBA Playoffs coverage for full game-by-game breakdowns.
New York vs Atlanta produced the most lopsided result in recent playoff memory. The Knicks trailed 2-1 after three games before winning three straight. In Game 6, they set an NBA playoff record with a 47-point halftime lead over the Hawks — surpassing the previous record of 41 points held by the 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2025 Indiana Pacers. The Knicks advance to the conference semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.
The Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers series goes to Game 7 today. Boston won Game 1 by 32 points; VJ Edgecombe made history with a 30-point, 10-rebound game to keep Philadelphia alive in Game 6. The series is tied 3-3. Game 7 tips off at 7:30pm ET at TD Garden. Tyrese Maxey has been outstanding in this series despite the Celtics’ struggles from three-point range.
Conference Semifinals Preview: Who Do the Numbers Favour?
Source: NBA.com 2026 Playoffs Bracket
In the West, Oklahoma City meet Minnesota or San Antonio in the next round. The Thunder have been the class of the conference all season, winning a third straight Maurice Podoloff Trophy for the best regular season record. Without Edwards, Minnesota's path through the second round is extremely difficult. San Antonio, with Wembanyama in concussion protocol, face their own medical uncertainty heading into the semifinals. The Lakers’ run has been built on LeBron James in vintage form; that is both their greatest asset and their most fragile one.
In the East, the winner of Celtics-76ers inherits a matchup against New York. The Knicks, who hold the NBA Cup title from earlier this season, became the first Cup champion to reach the conference semifinals in the playoffs. Boston remains the most complete roster in the conference if they survive today. Read our full breakdown of the OKC vs Timberwolves Western Conference series for tactical context on the Thunder's chances.
The Storylines to Watch in the Second Round
The Wembanyama concussion situation is the most significant medical story in the playoffs. San Antonio managed without him at times during the regular season, but the Spurs' championship window depends almost entirely on the 22-year-old Frenchman being healthy. According to NBA.com, no update on his availability has been confirmed heading into the second round.
Anthony Edwards is a parallel story in the West. Minnesota beat Denver without him. Can they beat Oklahoma City? McDaniels has been extraordinary, and Jaden McDaniels carrying a short-handed Wolves team deep into the playoffs would be one of the great individual performances of this decade. But the Thunder are a different proposition from Denver.
For the Celtics, the question heading into Game 7 today is their three-point shooting. In Game 6, their long-range accuracy collapsed at the critical moment. VJ Edgecombe’s 30-10 performance kept Philadelphia in the series. If Boston survive — and they remain the slight favourites given home court — they will need to rediscover that shooting form against New York.
Key Takeaways
Here is what you need to know about the 2026 NBA Playoffs second round setup:
- Celtics vs 76ers decides one semifinal matchup today in Game 7 — the 27th straight playoffs to feature at least one Game 7.
- Minnesota eliminated Denver without Anthony Edwards, who suffered a hyperextended knee in Game 4.
- New York set an NBA playoff record 47-point halftime lead over Atlanta in Game 6, advancing to the conference semifinals.
- OKC Thunder are the heaviest favourites in the West entering the conference semifinals for the third consecutive season.
- Victor Wembanyama remains in concussion protocol — his availability for San Antonio's second round series is unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who advanced from the 2026 NBA Playoffs first round?
In the West, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves advanced. In the East, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and the winner of Celtics vs 76ers Game 7 (played May 2) advance to the conference semifinals.
When do the 2026 NBA Conference Semifinals start?
The conference semifinals begin the week of May 5, 2026. The bracket is finalised after the Celtics-76ers Game 7 on May 2. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin June 3, 2026, on ABC.
What happened between Jokic and McDaniels in Game 6?
With 1.2 seconds remaining and Denver's season effectively over, Jaden McDaniels scored a layup — considered poor sportsmanship by some when the outcome is decided. Nikola Jokic physically confronted McDaniels after the buzzer, leading to both Jokic and Julius Randle being ejected from the game.
Is Anthony Edwards playing in the second round?
Anthony Edwards suffered a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise in Game 4 against Denver. He was ruled out for the remainder of the first round. His status for the conference semifinals has not been officially confirmed by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The second round sets up as one of the best in recent years. The East could deliver a Celtics-Knicks matchup that draws enormous ratings. The West, with a short-handed Minnesota and an injured Wembanyama in the picture, is genuinely difficult to predict. Our view at Unicorn Blogger is that OKC win the West. But the East is wide open, and the team that survives today’s Game 7 could run all the way to the Finals.
