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  • Recap: Pistons, Thunder roll to dominant victories

    Recap: Pistons, Thunder roll to dominant victories

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder defeated the Suns in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs series.

    We’re done for the night! The number one seeds rolled this evening with dominant efforts.

    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.

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (37 pts, 9 ast) and the Thunder rolled over the Suns, earning a 120-107 win to go up 2-0.

    What we know after Wednesday’s games:

    • The Pistons held the Magic to a season-low in points, winning Game 2 98-83 to even their series at 1-1.
    • The Thunder rolled over the Suns 120-107 behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (37 pts, 9 reb).
    • Check out the postgame pressers:
    • We pick these series up on Saturday as part of a quadruple-header.
      • Pistons vs. Magic, 1 ET (Peacock / NBC Sports Network)
      • Thunder vs. Suns, 3:30 ET (Peacock / NBC)
      • Knicks vs. Hawks, 6 ET (Peacock / NBC)
      • Nuggets vs. Timberwolves, 8:30 ET (ABC)

    APRIL 22, 2026 / 12:55 ET

    Wednesday’s results

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (37 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast, 1 stl) is your top performer of the night.

    APRIL 22, 2026 / 12:50 ET

    One time for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    APRIL 22, 2026 / 12:44 ET

    Postgame Presser: Suns-Thunder

    APRIL 22, 2026 / 12:30 ET

    Thunder defeat Suns

    120-107, sparked by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (37 pts, 9 ast).

    Oklahoma City led by as many as 27 points, controlling the game throughout the second half.

    Dillon Brooks (30 pts) was the top scorer for Phoenix.

    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 / 10:09 ET

    Postgame Presser: Magic-Pistons

    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.

  • 4 takeaways: Dominant 3rd quarter, Cade Cunningham carry Pistons in Game 2 victory

    The Detroit Pistons defeat the Orlando Magic 98-83 in Game 2 to even the series at 1-1

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    Twelve minutes came, 12 minutes went. Then 24.

    And still Detroit seemed not to be meeting the challenge presented to it three days earlier when the Orlando Magic took Game 1 of the teams’ first-round Eastern Conference series.

    On the Pistons’ floor, no less, swiftly ending in a few hours the No. 1 seed’s homecourt advantage that had taken nearly seven months to secure.

    One quarter into Game 2, there was no obvious clapback, Detroit leading by a modest 25-21. The only thing folks knew for sure was that points were coming at a premium this night.

    Two quarters in, it was tied 46-46. If anything, the Magic were starting to think they could hang and steal another game. Detroit’s fans had to wonder if their guys were capable of playing well, winning and making a statement all at the same time.

    Their coach apparently was, too. Even though J.B. Bickerstaff wouldn’t pull back the curtain on the team’s halftime demeanor, center Isaiah Stewart did.

    “J.B. had some words in the locker room,” Stewart said. “I think that lit a fire under us even more, to just separate ourselves. He don’t want to hear any more ‘my bads.’ He don’t want to hear any mistakes. Just go out there and do your jobs.”

    The Pistons’ response came as if pent-up. They blitzed the Magic to start the third quarter, pumped their lead to 27 points and comfortably nursed it to the end.

    That was “Deeee-troit basss-ketball!” with an emphasis on the D.

    Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and the rest snapped a home playoff losing streak stretching 11 games back to 2008 and, more important, got this to 1-1 heading to Game 3 Saturday at Orlando’s Kia Center (1 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).

    Here are four takeaways from the Pistons’ leveling of the series:

    1. Come for the 30, stay for the 3

    When the Pistons’ real response to Game 1 finally came, it boomed through Little Caesars Arena. They opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run, gave up a 3-pointer to Desmond Bane, then stacked the game’s next 19 points for 76-49 lead.

    Had this been water polo, Detroit’s guys would have been standing in the ankle-deep end of the pool firing the ball at Orlando’s goal, while the besieged Magic were frantically paddling just to keep their heads above water.

    That 27-point lead was the game’s biggest. But the Pistons’ gaudy work on the offensive end overshadowed their grit and disruption at the other. When you outscore someone 30-3, that “3” can rattle and nag the opposition as much as or more than the “30.”

    After scoring 46 through the first 24 minutes, Orlando used up 7:40 just to get Bane’s lonely three. Detroit limiting their guests to 29.4% shooting (5-for-17) and eventually 16 points in the third was what goes on the resume now, but the Pistons’ defensive work overall – holding Orlando to 32.5% success (26-for-80) (8-for-32 from the arc), dominating the glass 57-42 and blocking 11 shots – was what restored their homecourt advantage in the now best-of-five affair.

    “Man, we just played defense,” Bickerstaff said. “It was that simple. When we play defense the way we’re capable of, it triggers everything for us.”

    Orlando players sounded as if they simply missed a lot of shots they liked and normally would make. The Pistons disagreed, convinced they steered the Magic toward looks they wouldn’t have preferred. Springing seven turnovers and causing so much anxiety with the scoring runs can do that to an opponent, “speeding” them up as folks say.

    “Our defense is based on physicality,” Bickerstaff added. “If we’re not physical, we’re not doing our job. To hold that team to 83 points was unbelievable.”

    2. Nicknames get bestowed for less

    A glimpse of Cunningham’s bio on Basketball-Reference.com claims he variously is known as “MotorCade,” “Deuce,” “Smooth Operator” and “Cade Icewood.”

    Meh, not a keeper in the bunch, frankly.

    So why not this: “Nightmare.” That’s what his coach talked about in the minutes after the Pistons’ All-NBA point guard haunted Orlando from tipoff nearly to the final horn.

    Cade Cunningham joins Isiah Thomas in franchise history to record multiple Playoff games with 25+ points and 10+ assists

    “He’s him,” Bickerstaff said. “And he understands that. To have the size, agility, touch, speed, patience that he has, he’s a matchup nightmare for people.

    “It takes multiple bodies to stop him. And then even that, because he can get to his spot and shoot his middy [mid-range shot], it’s hard to get to him.”

    At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Cunningham is bigger, stronger or both compared to every guard on Orlando’s roster. He plays slow until he plays fast, with bursts that separate him from defenders of all shapes and sizes. Meanwhile his long arms and quick hands suit the Pistons’ defensive profile fine.

    In the pivotal third quarter, Cunningham scored only five points but passed for seven assists to unleash his teammates. Six Detroit players scored five points or more in the period to just one for the Magic.

    Center Jalen Duren didn’t respond loudly from a low-impact opener but it wasn’t for the point guard’s lack of trying, and Duren at least was better.

    Cunningham finished with 27 points, six rebounds and 11 assists, too effective to be undone by seven turnovers or his 1-for-6 from the arc (he was 10-for-13 inside it).

    Stewart talked about Cunningham’s effect on each team when he’s on his game.

    “For us, it uplifts us. Makes us go with him,” the big man said. “For the other team, it’s just a problem. They have to figure [it] out. They change their coverages and stuff, which helps free us up and allow us to make plays.”

    3. Reversion or mere step back for Magic?

    Trying to make definitive assessments about Orlando these days is like sticking a thermometer in somebody’s mouth without noticing they one foot in an ice bucket and the other in an oven.

    That fatal 12 minutes after halftime and the 83 points the Magic scored – a season low – brought back memories of the group that gagged away game No. 82 to Boston’s scrubs and got slapped down by the Sixers in their first Play-In game. The crew that shredded Charlotte last Friday and stole Game 1 of this series Sunday revised a lot of 2025-26 history in a hurry, as if the Magic of deep talent and legit expectations was back.

    Which Orlando team is in play now? Maybe it’s one that rationalizes away what happened Wednesday, consoling itself about “getting one” in Detroit when two would have been so much better. Or maybe it’s the team that outscored the Pistons 67-60 in the other three quarters and didn’t slump their shoulders on the way out of town.

    “We just got a little disorganized offensively,” Paolo Banchero said, “And they started to speed us up with ball pressure. I think it was more us not being on the same page to start the quarter and they took advantage of that.”

    Banchero reminded reporters of the Magic’s past two postseasons, when they dropped the first two games on the road in Round 1, then went home for a reset. In 2024, they fired back vs. Cleveland, a home-dominant series that went seven games. Last spring, they at least defended their court in Game 3 en route to losing in five to Boston.

    4. Sticking late with the starters

    A case could have been made in either direction: With Detroit ahead by 16 points heading down to the final three minutes, Bickerstaff might have wanted to sit his major contributors, lest an awkward step or nasty spill irrevocably changed what’s left of the series. The same could have been said for Orlando, which at that point was scratching for a comeback that never got the score closer than 14.

    And yet, there they were, starters or top reserves battling nearly to the end. Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley was the first to blink – show discretion? – by pulling his guys en masse with 2:57 to go. Bickerstaff waited until only 45 seconds remained.

    It was a pebble-grained game of chicken at that point, with the Pistons determined not to let Orlando gain confidence or get rhythm that might carry over to Game 3 and the Magic saving as much face as possible by defending the home team down to 14 points in the fourth.

    The gamesmanship bodes well for what’s still to come.

    * * *

    Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.  

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

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

    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.

  • Thunder’s Jalen Williams leaves Game 2 early with injury

    Thunder’s Jalen Williams leaves Game 2 early with injury

    Jalen Williams had 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field when he left the game.

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams left in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s playoff game against the Phoenix Suns with a left hamstring injury.

    Williams held his leg as he left the court. He missed 30 games with a right hamstring injury this season. He also missed 19 games at the beginning of the season as he recovered from offseason surgery on his right wrist.

    Williams, an All-Star in 2024-25, had 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field when he left the game.

  • Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Thunder rolling early over Pistons

    Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Thunder rolling early over Pistons

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are hosting the Suns in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA Playoffs 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 / 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.

  • Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Magic-Pistons starts our ESPN doubleheader

    Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Magic-Pistons starts our ESPN doubleheader

    Tobias Harris and the Detroit Pistons are hosting the Orlando Magic 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.

    Our slate begins with Paolo Banchero’s Magic seeking to take a commanding 2-0 lead by defeating Cade Cunningham’s Pistons on the road in Detroit (7 ET), followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder taking on Devin Booker’s Suns in the nightcap (9:30 ET).

    Both games will be broadcast on ESPN.

    APRIL 22, 2026 / 7:58 ET

    Suggs going off

    Jalen Suggs (10 pts, 5 reb, 4 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 / 7:41 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.

  • Spurs’ Keldon Johnson named 2025-26 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year

    San Antonio Spurs guard-forward Keldon Johnson has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year, earning the John Havlicek Trophy.

    Johnson set a Spurs franchise record with 1,081 bench points this season. He passed Manu Ginóbili, who scored 927 in 2007-08 – his Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year season.

    Johnson joins Ginóbili as the only two players to win the award with San Antonio.

    Voting Results

  • SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament viewership increases 18% for inaugural season on Prime Video

    Tyrese Maxey leads Philly to the Play-In win over Orlando, clinching the 7th seed in the East.

    The 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament generated an 18% increase among total U.S. viewers with an average of 2.79 million viewers across six exclusive broadcast windows on Prime Video, it was announced Wednesday.

    The most-watched games of the NBA Play-In Tournament were Warriors-Suns (3.65M), Warriors-Clippers (3.15M) and Magic-76ers (2.66M).

    According to Amazon’s first-party viewership data, the Play-In Tournament was viewed on 52M devices globally for over 2.5B minutes across more than 200 countries and territories. Over the six games, top-performing markets outside of the U.S. included Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, India, Spain, France, and Colombia.

  • 3 things to watch in Thunder-Suns Game 2

    3 things to watch in Thunder-Suns Game 2

    Jalen Williams did it all in Game 1, finishing with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a block in 29 minutes.

    • Download the NBA App

    The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns by 35 points in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 5-for-18 from the field.

    One has to wonder if it could have gone even worse for the Suns, for whom it was both their fourth-worst offensive game (84 points on 93 possessions) and their seventh-worst defensive game (119 on 92) of the season.

    As good as the Thunder are, the Suns have no choice but to feel like it can get better.

    Here are some things to watch for in Game 2 on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) …

    1. Can Williams play like that again?

    The Thunder were a better defensive team this season than they were last season. But they saw the league’s seventh biggest drop in offensive efficiency, largely because Jalen Williams missed 49 games and wasn’t quite as good when he did play. Both his 3-point percentage (29.9%) and his mid-range field-goal percentage (37.3%) were the worst marks of his four-year career.

    But in Game 1, Williams looked like his best self, tallying 22 points (on 9-for-15 shooting), seven rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block in just 29 minutes.

    His jumper looked smooth, both off the catch and off the dribble.

    And though the Thunder were playing at home, he packed his bag …

    Jalen Williams up-and-under move in Game 1

    The Thunder still scored just 25 points on 25 offensive possessions in Williams’ 11 minutes on the floor without Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday.

    The offense was ridiculously efficient otherwise, and the defense was great in those minutes, so it didn’t matter. But one of Williams’ primary jobs is to keep the offense afloat when the reigning Kia MVP goes to the bench.

    The most important thing about this series may be the play of Williams and how that affects the Thunder’s chance of repeating.

    2. Get the ball to the weak side

    The strengths of the Thunder’s top-ranked defense are forcing turnovers and protecting the rim. But if you can get past the ball pressure and bend the defense, good shots can be had on the weak side of the floor.

    The Suns got some open weak-side 3-point attempts in Game 1.

    Midway through the first quarter, Phoenix came out of a timeout, got Jalen Green going downhill, and he found Dillon Brooks wide open in the left corner …

    Dillon Brooks corner 3-point miss

    After a timeout early in the second, a similar action got Jordan Goodwin an open and in-rhythm look from the left wing. The Suns got some good shots, but they also left some open shooters waiting for the ball.

    Here’s Devin Booker shooting a contested shot in a crowd with two unguarded Suns (one of them a 41% 3-point shooter) on the weak side of the floor …

    Devin Booker missed jumper over Jalen Williams

    Good things happened when the Suns got the ball to the weak side, even if the weak-side player didn’t shoot it. Early in the third quarter, Booker attacked baseline and found Royce O’Neale in the right corner. The Thunder rotated, but O’Neale skipped the ball to Green for a wide-open 3 on the other side …

    Royce O'Neale assist on Jalen Green 3-pointer

    The Thunder defense is awesome, and there were some possessions on Sunday where they covered everything. But there were also times when the Suns missed open shots or open shooters.

    The Suns took 39 (47%) of their 83 shots from 3-point range in Game 1, and that rate probably needs to be higher for them to have a chance in any particular game. More 3-pointers lead to more variance and a better chance for the underdog.

    That doesn’t mean they should be chucking as soon as they cross mid-court, but they should seek those weak-side 3s that the Thunder will yield.

    3. Why Allen can help Suns

    The shooter that the Thunder were most willing to leave open was Ryan Dunn, the Suns’ reserve wing who shot 33% from 3-point range this season, including just 26% on 3s above the break (not in the corners).

    Here’s Dunn wiiiiide open in the right corner after Booker drew two to the ball and passed it to O’Neale at the top of the key …

    Ryan Dunn left open

    Here’s the thing: O’Neale didn’t immediately make the swing pass to Dunn. Instead, he thought about shooting from six feet beyond the arc before Alex Caruso closed out. O’Neale then put the ball on the floor and finally passed it to Dunn after driving into the paint.

    But Dunn didn’t really want to shoot it anyway. He shoveled the ball to Green and was open again when he got it back, but drove into the paint himself and was stripped by Cason Wallace …

    Ryan Dunn turnover

    Dunn was 0-for-3 from 3-point range in his 25 minutes off the bench on Sunday, mostly ignored by the Thunder and sometimes ignored by his own teammates.

    It would be nice if the Suns could replace Dunn with Grayson Allen, who missed Game 1 with a hamstring issue and was listed as questionable on the initial injury report for Game 2. Allen is a career 40% shooter from beyond the arc and would obviously be a huge boost to the Phoenix offense.

    Like Allen, Mark Williams (left foot stress reaction) missed Game 1 and was listed as questionable for Game 2.

    He can’t help with the 3-point shooting, but he would help on the glass, with Game 1 having been the Thunder’s sixth-best offensive rebounding game of the season. The Suns need to win the possession game, and that means rebounding better and not committing 11 more turnovers than the champs.

    * * *

    John Schuhmann has covered the NBA for more than 20 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Bluesky.

  • 3 things to watch in Magic-Pistons Game 2

    3 things to watch in Magic-Pistons Game 2

    Cade Cunningham bore the brunt of Detroit’s scoring in Game 1. Will he get some help in Game 2?

    • Download the NBA App

    It’s odd how easily postseason history can crowd out recency bias, normally a powerful psychological trait that can anchor one’s thoughts and opinions.  

    Such is the urgency of the NBA Playoffs.  

    The Detroit Pistons might reasonably expect their hard work and demonstrated results – winning 60 games, snagging the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed – to resonate with fans and the basketball world beyond the disappointment of a single game at Little Caesars Arena. 

    That’s not how things go at this time of year. No sooner had the Pistons stumbled 112-101 to the Orlando Magic in the teams’ first-round series opener than the nail-biting and pearl-clutching began, sparking panic over Detroit’s looming elimination and inability to win a home playoff game again (the last one was in May 2008). 

    Starting 0-1 in a best-of-seven series and losing home-court advantage are to be avoided, whenever possible. But in the days since Sunday, you might have thought the Pistons were about to grab their fishing poles.  

    That anxiety existed outside the team way more than inside, fortunately. To J.B. Bickerstaff and his players, the Game 1 loss was nothing more than a feel-out game.  

    “They out-physical-ed us,” Detroit wing Ausar Thompson said. “We’re used to the playoff whistle now. We’ll come back, and we’ll do what we’ve got to do.” 

    Orlando, by contrast, hopes their performance Sunday has more legs than that. The Magic set the home team’s nervousness in motion and believe they can replicate it on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Initiating contact, packing the paint, and playing to their talents – which they often didn’t do in the regular season – all seem well within their control.  

    Here are three things to watch for in Game 2 … 

    1. Duren’s overdue series debut  

    Bad things happen when a 1-2 punch combination becomes a lonely 1. Guard Cade Cunningham (39 points) had to carry Detroit’s offense more than usual, and only so far, center Jalen Duren’s inside threat was mosty absent.  

    A finalist for the Kia Most Improved Player Award this season, the Pistons’ rugged big man was their second-leading scorer. He averaged 17.8 points, 11 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in four games against Orlando. But he was minus-21 in Game 1, contributing only eight points and seven rebounds.  

    The crowd around Duren inside had him trying to execute his offense in a closet.  

    “Anytime I had catches deep, they collapsed on me,” Duren told reporters Tuesday. “They were coming from everywhere. I did not get as many shot attempts [four] as I should have.” 

    Not good enough.  

    “For me, just being more aggressive, finding my spots and attacking more – I think I could have done a better job of that,” he said. “I just spent time watching the film over and over and over again, seeing where I wasn’t most effective.” 

    Duren wants to produce some different movies in Game 2. 

    2. Consistency from Carter

    Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. was an unsung star in Game 1, scoring 17 points on only nine shots while adding seven rebounds and five assists. He was a game-best plus-20, and he routinely moved the ball to the right people at the right times.  

    Rarely, though, does Carter back up such a game with a twin. He has averaged 8.8 points and 9.5 rebounds in his 13 career playoff appearances, with just one double-double.  

    With the Pistons geared to have Duren taking a higher profile, it will say a lot if it comes at the expense of his Orlando counterpart or not.  

    3. Scoring help for Cunningham

    It wasn’t just Duren who failed to produce what Detroit needed in the opener. No one on its bench chipped in more than one field goal. It turned into a minimal scoring effort from reserves capable of so much more, including Caris LeVert (three points), Kevin Huerter (three), Isaiah Stewart (three), Javonte Green (three), Ron Holland II (two) and Daniss Jenkins, the guard who went 1-of-7, missing his six 3-pointers and posting a minus-11 while scoring six points.  

    The Pistons’ bench players scored 20 points in a combined 80 minutes on the floor. Orlando also got 20 from its reserves, but in about 64 minutes.  

    * * *

    Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.