All articles tagged with #nba playoffs 2026
In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round, CJ McCollum exposed Jalen Brunson’s defensive vulnerabilities as the Knicks’ playoff hopes hinge on tightening their defense around their star.
After Victor Wembanyama’s record-setting 35-point playoff debut in Game 1, San Antonio looks to build on the win by evaluating how he follows up in Game 2, while Portland must boost its offense against a tough Spurs defense and Jrue Holiday/Shaedon Sharpe need more efficient shooting — all as Spurs coach Mitch Johnson faces playoff decision-making in the West First Round.
A New York Post column argues the Knicks’ 107-106 loss to the Hawks in Game 2 was caused by three players rather than Mikal Bridges, who missed a late game-winner after a largely passive offensive role. The piece notes Bridges’ missed shot sealed the defeat and frames the collapse as a broader breakdown by others, echoing a similar late-game misstep from last year’s Detroit series.
Day 1 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs features four First-Round Game 1s (Raptors-Cavaliers, Wolves-Nuggets, Knicks-Hawks, Rockets-Lakers) with four more on Sunday (Sixers-Celtics, Suns-Thunder, Magic-Pistons, Blazers-Spurs). marquee storylines include KD and LeBron meeting in the playoffs outside the Finals for the first time, Jokic vs. Ant Edwards in the West, and key East matchups as the Knicks host the Hawks and Cavaliers host the Raptors; Suns clinch the No. 8 seed to face OKC, while Orlando advances past Charlotte to set Detroit as its opponent.
Atlanta faces a Towns-sized mismatch in the Knicks-Hawks first round, with an undersized frontcourt (thinned by Jock Landale’s injury) struggling to contain Karl-Anthony Towns and prompting questions about how the Hawks will adjust defensively in the playoffs.