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Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Thunder rolling as Suns battle

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are hosting the Suns in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs first round series on ESPN.

Check out the best of Wednesday’s action with the NBA.com live blog, as the 2026 NBA Playoffs continue.

Cade Cunningham (27 pts, 11 ast) and the Pistons locked down the Magic to open the night, blocking 11 shots on their way to a 98-83 win.

Now, we have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder taking on Devin Booker’s Suns in the second half of our ESPN doubleheader (9:30 ET).

APRIL 22, 2026 / 11:54 ET

Brooks boosts Phoenix

A personal 9-0 run for Dillon Brooks (26 pts) brought the Suns back somewhat, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 pts) cooly hit a jumper along the baseline to bring the Thunder lead back to 108-89 with seven minutes to go in the fourth.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 11:35 ET

Watch out for Shai

SGA’s up to 27 points, surpassing his 25 points from Game 1.

Thunder up 98-77 with 1:18 to go in the third quarter.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 11:26 ET

Chet Holmgren dominating

Back-to-back blocks for Chet Holmgren (19 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast), interspersed with an acrobatic layup off a feed from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder big man has exerted his influence in recent minutes, giving the Suns another obstacle to deal with around the rim.

“How about Chet?” Doris Burke said. “How many guys can make the kinds of plays he’s making on the defensive end?”

Holmgren is the first player since Josh Smith in 2008 to put up 10 points and four blocks in a Playoff quarter.

84-70 Thunder with 4:23 to go in the quarter.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 11:23 ET

One time for Cade Cunningham

I bet Zeke’s proud.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 11:17 ET

Thunder surging

77-64 Oklahoma City, as Isaiah Hartenstein (3 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast) hits Chet Holmgren (16 pts) for the big-to-big alley-oop, forcing a Phoenix timeout.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 10:54 ET

Thunder up 54-46 at the break

Jalen Williams (19 pts on 7-of-8 shooting) took over in the second quarter, pacing the Thunder to a lead at halftime in the Paycom Center.

They’ve turned the ball over just four times, while Phoenix has 11 turnovers so far.

But the Suns are 6-of-14 from 3-point range (42.9%), keeping them in it.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 10:34 ET

Suns sticking close on ESPN

51-46 Thunder with 6:00 to go in the second quarter, as Phoenix battles to stay with the defending champs on their home court.

We’ve seen nine lead changes and two ties so far in the contest, with Jalen Williams (16 pts) and Jalen Green (12 pts) going off in the second quarter to carry the scoring.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 10:17 ET

Thunder up 30-29 after one

The Suns battled back as the first quarter wound down, ending on a 10-5 run to cut the Thunder lead to one.

They went 4-of-8 from 3-point range in the first quarter and earned a 7-2 advantage in fast break points.

Collin Gillespie (7 pts, 4 ast) and Dillon Brooks (7 pts) are the top scorers for Phoenix, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11 pts) is getting buckets for Oklahoma City.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 10:04 ET

Thunder taking control with a 13-2 run

25-16 Thunder with 4:30 to go in the first quarter, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (8 pts on 4-of-5 shooting) gets rolling despite tweaking a finger on his shooting hand.

“He’s caught fire here,” said Dave Pasch.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 9:50 ET

Pistons even series with Magic

In their first home Playoff win since 2008, the Pistons used a prototypical defensive effort to corral the Magic 98-83 and even their first round series at 1-1.

Detroit held Orlando to a season-low in scoring, limiting the Magic to 32.5% shooting on the night.

The game was tied at the half, but the Pistons used a 38-16 third quarter to take control, leading by as many as 27.

Cade Cunningham (27 pts, 6 reb, 11 ast) was the top scorer on the game.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 9:40 ET

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs series as our ESPN doubleheader continues.

Phoenix:

  • PG Collin Gillespie (8 pts, 2 ast, 2 3PM)
  • SG Devin Booker (23 pts, 6 reb)
  • SF Jalen Green (17 pts, 5 reb)
  • PF Dillon Brooks (18 pts, 7 reb)
  • C Oso Ighodaro (9 reb, 3 ast)

Oklahoma City:

  • PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (25 pts, 7 ast)
  • SG Luguentz Dort (8 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast)
  • SF Jalen Williams (22 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast)
  • PF Chet Holmgren (16 pts, 7 reb)
  • C Isaiah Hartenstein (8 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk)

Watch Grayson Allen off the Suns’ bench. The Duke product averaged 16.3 ppg this season, which the Suns could use against the Thunder’s league-leading defense (106.5 DRTG).

APRIL 22, 2026 / 9:25 ET

All Pistons in Little Caesars Arena

The Pistons are holding the Magic to 31.3% shooting so far, including a 6-of-25 mark from 3-point range (24%), with 11 blocks so far tonight.

Isaiah Stewart just added another rim-protecting swat to his resume, blocking Paolo Banchero’s attempt at a posterizing two-hand jam.

Ben Wallace and Richard Hamilton are in attendance as Detroit basketball shines bright on this Wednesday night.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 9:10 ET

A dominant effort from Detroit

APRIL 22, 2026 / 9:00 ET

Pistons firing on all cylinders

The Detroit lead keeps growing, as Isaiah Stewart (4 pts, 3 reb, 1 blk) rejects Jalen Suggs’ (15 pts) dunk at the rim at the rim.

It’s 76-49 with 4:20 to go in the third.

Franz Wagner (4 pts), Wendell Carter Jr. (3 pts) and Desmond Bane (8 pts) have 15 points combined so far — they had 53 in Game 1.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 8:52 ET

Pistons open up the lead

69-49 Detroit with 6:23 to go in the third quarter, as the Pistons start the period on a 23-3 run, shooting 76.9 from the field in the period.

“It’s an avalanche here in the third,” said Mike Breen.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 8:25 ET

Tied at 46 at the half

In a defensive battle, Orlando and Detroit are tied going into the second half, combining for 18 assists versus 21 turnovers in the first two quarters.

The Pistons have a 32-18 advantage in points in the paint, while the Magic have a 10-6 advantage in fast break points.

Jalen Suggs (15 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) and Cade Cunningham (15 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast) are starring offensively.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 7:58 ET

Suggs going off

Jalen Suggs (10 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) is rallying the Magic, who are down 33-30 with 6:46 to go in the second quarter.

Orlando was 34-23 with the point guard from Gonzaga this season, compared to 11-14 without him.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 7:50 ET

Classic Pistons defense

APRIL 22, 2026 / 7:41 ET

Pistons lead 25-21 after one

Coming off a 39-point outing in Game 1, Cade Cunningham (9 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast) has it going again.

Jalen Suggs (7 pts) is the top scorer for Orlando so far.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 7:23 ET

Pistons have the crowd roaring

Detroit’s 6-of-10 to start the game, with a Duncan Robinson 3-pointer and Tobias Harris fast-break jam sending the Magic to a timeout in the early going.

14-7 Pistons with 6:42 to go in the first quarter.

APRIL 22, 2026 / 6:30 ET

Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons host the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs first round series on ESPN.

All stats from Sunday’s Game 1, which the Magic won 112-101.

Orlando:

  • PG Jalen Suggs (16 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast)
  • SG Desmond Bane (17 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast)
  • SF Franz Wagner (19 pts, 5 reb)
  • PF Paolo Banchero (23 pts, 9 reb)
  • C Wendell Carter Jr. (17 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast)

Detroit:

  • PG Cade Cunningham (39 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast)
  • SG Duncan Robinson (9 pts, 3 3PM)
  • SF Ausar Thompson (8 pts, 7 reb)
  • PF Tobias Harris (17 pts, 6 reb)
  • C Jalen Duren (8 pts, 7 reb)

Keep an eye on Isaiah Stewart off the Pistons’ bench — he was a team-high +6 in their Game 1 loss, and could help slow down Paolo Banchero.

APRIL 22 / 6:15 ET

Tonight’s injury report

Jonathan Isaac is out for Orlando.

Grayson Allen, Mark Williams and Jordan Goodwin are questionable for Phoenix. Thomas Sorber is out for Oklahoma City.

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