From The Sports Desk: Pistons In Peril? - Beritaja

The first information of the NBA playoffs tipped disconnected complete the weekend, and we saw tons of lopsided contests. Every crippled was decided by 9 points aliases more, and each higher seed won its game, isolated from the Detroit Pistons, the No. 1 seed successful the Eastern Conference, who were stunned yesterday by the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic.

Missed the action? Our Beritaja sports squad catches you up below. For continuing sum of the NBA playoffs, beryllium judge to cheque backmost present and our website.

Eastern Conference

The Orlando Magic entered the playoffs arsenic the No. 8 seed successful the East, coming disconnected a mostly disappointing regular play that put some their coach and prima players connected the basking seat. Then yesterday, they upset the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, 112-101. Paolo Banchero led the Magic pinch 23 points, but it was a balanced effort from Orlando, arsenic each 5 starters scored astatine slightest 16 points.

The Pistons, meanwhile, only had 2 players people successful double figures: Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. There were concerns about Detroit’s deficiency of secondary scoring headed into the postseason, and those concerns played out. Who will measurement up to trim the load connected Cunningham moving forward?

“We’re sick about losing this one,” Cunningham said aft posting a playoff career-best 39 points. “It’s a agelong series.”

Earlier, the Boston Celtics cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers, handling their longtime rival 123-91. The duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 51 points. The Celtics outscored the 76ers from down the 3-point statement 48 to 12. Philly faces an uphill battle, arsenic halfway Joel Embiid is retired while he recovers from an emergency appendectomy.

The first crippled of the play saw the Cleveland Cavaliers conclusion the Toronto Raptors 126-113, a coagulated commencement successful the first playoff crippled for the Cavs’ tandem of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Raptors prima Brandon Ingram scored only 17 points successful the nonaccomplishment and said aft the crippled he needs to sprout the shot more.

Also connected Saturday, the New York Knicks hit the Atlanta Hawks 113-102. Jalen Brunson started the crippled connected occurrence for the Knickerbockers, scoring 19 points successful the first quarter. He vanished pinch 28, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 25. Physicality was an rumor for the Hawks, arsenic the Knicks took 30 free throws to Atlanta’s 19.

New York Knicks defender Jalen Brunson goes to the handbasket arsenic Atlanta Hawks defender Dyson Daniels defends during the 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 18, 2026.Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images

Western Conference

Last night, Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French phenom, made his playoff debut pinch the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs, and he did not disappoint. He made 5 3-pointers and poured successful 35 points, arsenic the Spurs topped the No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, 111-98.

In the crowd were Wembanyama’s predecessors, the Spurs legendary large men from the ‘90s and 2000s Tim Duncan and David Robinson. NBC cameras trim to the brace arsenic they admired 1 peculiarly awesome move from the Frenchman.

“It’s truthful cool,” Wembanyama said of seeing them there. Having them about the squad facility, positive different Spurs legends, “it feels safe,” he said. “It feels for illustration if you trip, there’s a batch of hands that are fresh to drawback you.”

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the handbasket during the crippled against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 19, 2026.Michael Gonzales / NBAE via Getty Images

Also connected Sunday, No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder blasted the No. 8 Phoenix Suns by 35 points. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 25 points, acknowledgment mostly to his activity astatine the free propulsion line, wherever he made 15 of his 17 attempts.

On Saturday, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray powered the third-seeded Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 triumph complete the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic posted a triple-double, and Murray scored 30 points, a number that was besides inflated by his 16 made free throws.

Meanwhile, the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers edged retired the No. 5 Houston Rockets, successful the closest crippled of the weekend. Just earlier the game, the Rockets ruled retired Kevin Durant pinch a knee injury. He’d apparently bumped his knee during believe earlier successful the week.

The Lakers were missing injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, too. But 41-year-old LeBron James had a stellar crippled — 19 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds — and led Los Angeles to a 107-98 win.

Lakers guardant LeBron James shoots the shot against Houston Rockets guardant Jabari Smith Jr. and defender Amen Thompson successful the 2nd half during crippled 1 of the first information of the 2026 NBA Playoffs connected April 18, 2026.Kirby Lee / Imagn Images

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What We're Reading

The about diversion players successful the NFL Draft aren’t ever a judge thing. Sonny Styles mightiness be. A profile of the talented linebacker, from our Ben Kamisar.

NBA MVP finalists are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama.

Manchester City overwhelmed rivals Arsenal complete the play and are now successful power of the Premier League title race.

The Buffalo Sabres won their first playoff crippled successful 15 years aft rallying against the Boston Bruins pinch four unanswered goals successful the 3rd period.

A robot smoked the competition astatine a half-marathon successful China complete the weekend, beating the people successful grounds time.

When will the Mets triumph again?

What We're Watching

The first information of the NBA playoffs continues tonight, and location are 3 awesome games connected Peacock. Can the Atlanta Hawks propulsion moreover pinch the New York Knicks? They’ll request much from their bench, which only scored 13 points successful Game 1.

Also successful the nightcap, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves look off. Nikola Jokic vs. Anthony Edwards — what other could you inquire for? Watch the officiating and free-throw discrepancy. The Nuggets took 14 much free throws than the Timberwolves successful Game 1.

All times are Eastern:

7 p.m.: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors, connected Peacock

8 p.m.: No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, connected NBC/Peacock

10:30 p.m.: No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, connected NBC/Peacock

That’s it for now! We’ll beryllium backmost tomorrow.