sports
Three Game 7s! What will decide each NBA first-rou...
Key takeaways
- The first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs has provided a little bit of everything: a sweep, upsets, thrilling finishes and historic comebacks.
- And for just the second time since the round went to best-of-7 in 2003, it will provide three Game 7s.
- This year, all the action is in the East, where the New York Knicks await the winner of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers series.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs has provided a little bit of everything: a sweep, upsets, thrilling finishes and historic comebacks.
And for just the second time since the round went to best-of-7 in 2003, it will provide three Game 7s. (The 2014 playoffs' opening round had five.)
This year, all the action is in the East, where the New York Knicks await the winner of the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers series. The second round of the other side of the East bracket remains blank, as Sunday's Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors showdowns will decide the other conference semifinal matchup.
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