Cade Cunningham and the Pistons are looking to stave off elimination against the Magic on Prime.
Welcome to Wednesday night!
Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from tonight’s action.
Our slate tonight begins with Paolo Banchero’s Magic looking to become the seventh No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed by defeating Cade Cunningham’s Pistons (7 ET, Prime).
That’ll be followed by a pivotal Game 5 in the Raptors-Cavaliers series (7:30 ET, ESPN) and LeBron James’ Lakers looking to advance to the second round by beating the Rockets (10 ET, ESPN).
APRIL 29, 2026 / 8:08 ET
Cavs on a 14-2 run
Cutting the Raptors lead to 27-24 with 2:57 to go in the first quarter.
Sandro Mamukelashvili (3 pts) just cooly hit a 3-pointer, validating our pick-to-click analysis, while James Harden (11 pts) is off to a hot start.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 8:04 ET
Feistiness in Magic-Pistons
Desmond Bane and Ausar Thompson just got entangled, prompting the Pistons and Magic to go chest-to-chest.
“This is the way Playoff basketball should be,” said Stan Van Gundy. “Especially when you get to Game 5… the first few games, you’re just playing basketball. Now, you’re tired of the other people.”
50-41 Pistons with 5:37 to go in the half.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 7:44 ET
Donovan Mitchell and Scottie Barnes lead the Cavaliers and Raptors into a pivotal Game 5 tonight on ESPN.
Toronto:
- PG Scottie Barnes
- The Raptors do-it-all wing shifts to the point tonight. He’s averaging 20.0 ppg and 6.3 apg in this series.
- SG Ja’Kobe Walter
- The Baylor alumni had seven rebounds and three steals in Game 3 as he entered the starting lineup.
- SF Brandon Ingram
- Ingram’s shooting just 33.9% from the field in this series.
- PF RJ Barrett
- The former No. 3 pick is shooting 47.6% from 3-point range in this series — a huge factor for the Raptors.
- C Jakob Poetl
- Poetl has to continue to hold up against the Cavs’ front line of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Cleveland:
- PG James Harden
- Harden is playing in his 178th career Playoff game — one behind Michael Jordan for 20th all-time.
- SG Donovan Mitchell
- Spida’s averaged 17.5 ppg over the last two games, both Cavs’ losses, well below his season average of 27.9 ppg.
- SF Max Strus
- The sharpshooter shifts into the starting lineup for Game 5. He’s averaging 11.5 ppg on 43.5% 3-point shooting in the series.
- PF Evan Mobley
- Mobley’s defensive impact has limited Brandon Ingram in this series. His length and shiftiness are hard to find in someone his size. But he could step up his offensive impact — it’s always huge for Cleveland.
- C Jarrett Allen
- Allen is averaging 8.8 ppg in this series — he’ll need to find his chemistry with James Harden on the pick-and-roll to make things comfortable for Cleveland.
Keep an eye on Sandro Mamukelashvili off the Raptors’ bench. The former Spurs big man has looked very comfortable dealing with the Playoff stage.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 7:39 ET
Detroit up 38-26 after one
Cade puts the ‼️ on a huge Pistons’ opening quarter!
They lead 38-26 in a MUST-WIN Game 5. pic.twitter.com/nfkikMckdX
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026
The Pistons have 12 second chance points so far.
They’ve earned a 21-9 advantage on the boards, earning their largest lead of the game as the quarter expired.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 7:31 ET
Pistons extend lead
32-20 Detroit with 2:57 to go in the first.
Paolo Banchero (10 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast) leads all scorers, but the Pistons are shooting 63.2% from the field to counter him. Seven of their eight players have scored so far.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 7:17 ET
Pistons up early
Cade Cunningham (2 pts, 1 ast) was able to take Jamal Cain into the paint for a fadeaway jumper, taking advantage of an option that’s been difficult to access with Franz Wagner on the floor.
Jaren Duren (7 pts, 3 reb) has continued his hot start, while Desmond Bane (7 pts) and Paolo Banchero (6 pts) are out of the gates fast for Orlando.
18-13 Pistons with 6:05 to go in the first.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 7:10 ET
Duren starts the game on the attack
Jalen Duren (2 pts) starts the game by posting up Wendell Carter Jr. on the block, spinning to draw the foul. The Pistons need him to be aggressive.
Duren’s averaging 9.8 ppg in this series — down from his season average of 19.5 ppg.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 6:30 ET
Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons look to keep their season alive against the Orlando Magic tonight on Prime.
Orlando:
- PG Jalen Suggs
- The Magic floor general is an athletic, defensive pest, but his shooting comes-and-goes.
- SG Desmond Bane
- Bane has been a terror from 3-point range throughout this series — his spacing is key for Orlando.
- SF Jamal Cain
- Cain’s huge slam was a game-changer in Game 4. He’s an athletic, prototypical wing — how will this stage suit him?
- PF Paolo Banchero
- Banchero is shooting just 37.3% from the field this series, but he remains a threat for the Pistons to counter.
- C Wendell Carter Jr.
- Watch the Magic center — he’s outplayed Jalen Duren throughout this series, swinging the momentum.
Detroit:
- PG Cade Cunningham
- The Pistons’ leader is grinding his way to his stats, but needs help from his supporting cast.
- SG Duncan Robinson
- Robinson came up huge for the Miami Heat during past playoff runs. Can he summon that energy tonight for Detroit?
- SF Ausar Thompson
- Thompson’s two-way impact is meaningful, but his lack of burst scoring has hampered Detroit’s attack.
- PF Tobias Harris
- The former Magic has been a steadying for Orlando in this series, but hasn’t been able to punch above his weight.
- C Jalen Duren
- The first-time All-Star has a big game ahead of him tonight. Can he rally his squad?
Watch Caris LeVert off the Pistons’ bench — Detroit could use a big game from a swing scorer in this defensive, physical series.
APRIL 29, 2026 / 6:00 ET
Wednesday’s injury report
Jonathan Isaac and Franz Wagner are out for Orlando. Kevin Huerter is out for Detroit.
Immanuel Quickley is out for the Raptors.
Kevin Durant is out for the Rockets, as is Luka Dončić for the Lakers. Austin Reaves is questionable.
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