The 2026 NBA playoffs delivered one of the most dramatic nights of postseason basketball in recent memory. The Minnesota Timberwolves upset the Denver Nuggets, the New York Knicks destroyed the Atlanta Hawks by a record margin, and the Boston Celtics–Philadelphia 76ers rivalry is headed to a winner-takes-all Game 7. Here is everything you need to know about the NBA playoff results today, the updated NBA playoff bracket, and what comes next.
Background: What’s at Stake in the NBA Playoffs 2026
The 2026 NBA playoffs began with 16 teams competing in a standard bracket format. The NBA playoff bracket is fixed once the field is set teams advance through a predetermined path based on their seeding, with no re-seeding after each round. The first round features best-of-seven series, and several matchups have gone down to the wire. With the second round approaching, the drama has only intensified across both conferences.
Timberwolves Eliminate Nuggets in Stunning Upset
The sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets with a 110-98 victory in Game 6, completing a 4-2 series upset of the third-seeded Nuggets. This is a remarkable result given the circumstances surrounding the Wolves’ roster.
The Timberwolves were playing without star man Anthony Edwards due to injury. Despite the absence of their biggest name, Minnesota stayed composed and competitive throughout the contest. The clash was tight throughout, with no team gaining a double-digit lead until the game’s dying moments, with the Wolves leading 57-50 at halftime.
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic top-scored for Denver with 28 points, including 14 in the third quarter alone, but it was not enough to fend off the dogged Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels was the hero for Minnesota, closing out the win with a career-high 32 points.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch said after the game: “It’s a great night. It’s a great victory for us. We came into these playoffs not trying to beat Denver, but trying to win a championship.”A visibly disappointed Jokic acknowledged his team fell short. He said: “I needed to play better. I must play better.”
Minnesota will now face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals, and Edwards could return for that series.
Knicks Crush Hawks in Record-Breaking Blowout
The New York Knicks did not just win they made NBA playoff history. The Knicks routed the Atlanta Hawks 140-89, recording the most points scored and the biggest win by the Knicks in a playoff game.
New York’s 47-point halftime lead, at 83-36, was the widest in NBA postseason history. The Knicks led by as many as 61 points before resting their starters for the final quarter. The Knicks set an NBA playoff record by taking a 47-point halftime lead over the Hawks in Game 6 of their first-round series.
OG Anunoby top-scored with 29 points, including 26 in the first half before being rested. None of New York’s starters played more than 29 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, saying: “We can’t just meet the moment, we’ve got to exceed it, and I thought we did a great job of doing that tonight.”
The Knicks are now the first team to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals their fourth straight year reaching that stage. They will face either the Celtics or the 76ers in the next round.
Celtics vs. 76ers Heads to a Decisive Game 7
The rivalry between two of basketball’s most storied franchises is not over yet. The Celtics-76ers series is heading for a decisive Game 7 after Philadelphia beat Boston 106-93
The Celtics had held a 3-1 series lead, but the 76ers proved dominant on their home court to tie the series at 3-3. Tyrese Maxey top-scored with 30 points, Paul George added 23, and Joel Embiid contributed 19 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
It is the 23rd playoff series between these two historic rivals an NBA record. Game 7 is set to be one of the most anticipated matchups in recent postseason memory.
Lakers in the NBA Playoffs 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers are also still alive in the NBA playoff bracket. The Lakers hold a 3-2 series lead over the Houston Rockets, with Game 6 scheduled at 9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. A win would send the Lakers to the second round, while the Rockets who have rallied from a 3-0 deficit are fighting to stay in the hunt.
The Rockets have turned a 3-0 hole into a 3-2 pressure-cooker, playing with the confidence of a team that believes it should be ahead. The series has been one of the most surprising storylines of the NBA playoffs 2026.
Full NBA Playoff Bracket Update May 1, 2026
Here is the current state of the updated NBA playoff bracket across both conferences:
Eastern Conference:
- Timberwolves eliminated Nuggets (4-2) — Minnesota advances
- Knicks eliminated Hawks (4-2) — New York advances
- Celtics vs. 76ers — Game 7, 7:30 p.m. NBC (series tied 3-3)
- Magic vs. Pistons — Game 6, 7 p.m. Prime (Orlando leads 3-2)
- Raptors vs. Cavaliers — Game 6, 7:30 p.m. Prime (Cleveland leads 3-2)
Western Conference:
- Rockets vs. Lakers — Game 6, 9:30 p.m. Prime (L.A. leads 3-2)
- Spurs advanced (face Timberwolves in Round 2)
- Thunder eliminated Suns
NBA Playoff Bracket Format Explained
The NBA playoffs follow a structured bracket format that is easy to follow once you understand the seeding. Sixteen teams eight from each conference qualify based on regular season records. The bracket is organized from the No. 1 seed down to the No. 8 seed, with higher seeds hosting games early in each series. The bracket is fixed once set, meaning matchups are determined by the original seeding with no re-seeding between rounds.
Each series is best-of-seven, meaning a team must win four games to advance. The format rewards regular season excellence while still giving lower seeds a chance to pull off upsetsas the Timberwolves have proven this year.
Viewership and Impact
The 2026 NBA playoffs have captured massive global attention. The NBA Playoffs are delivering an average of 3.91 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. The combination of upsets, historic performances, and star player drama has made this one of the most-watched postseasons in recent years.
The Timberwolves’ run without Anthony Edwards, the Knicks’ record-setting blowout, and the Celtics facing a Game 7 collapse all point to a postseason full of surprises. Fans checking NBA playoff results on ESPN and other platforms have been treated to some of the most compelling basketball in years.
What’s Next: Second Round Preview
With the first round wrapping up, attention turns to the NBA playoff schedule for Round 2. Minnesota vs. San Antonio and New York vs. Boston/Philadelphia are the confirmed East matchups taking shape. In the West, the Lakers hope to close out the Rockets and set up a second-round clash of their own.
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The road to that game is becoming clearer and far more dramatic by the night.
Also in the News: Hinglaj Mata Temple
Hinglaj Mata Temple has recently made headlines beyond religious circles. The Hinglaj Mata Temple is a Hindu temple located in Hinglaj, a town on the Makran coast in the Lasbela district of Balochistan, Pakistan, situated in the middle of Hingol National Park.
The three-day annual festival at the temple drew around 300,000 Hindu pilgrims this April, regarded as the third-largest Hindu religious congregation after similar festivals in India and Nepal. The Balochistan government has also announced plans to declare the Hinglaj Mata Temple a world tourism site, taking the decision during a meeting between Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Senator Danesh Kumar.
FAQs
Who is favored to win the NBA championship?
As of the 2026 NBA playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder entered as one of the top Western Conference favorites after eliminating the Phoenix Suns. In the East, the New York Knicks fresh off a record-breaking first-round win and the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers are among the strongest contenders. Odds shift with each round, and injuries like Anthony Edwards’ absence add unpredictability to any championship predictions.
Has any team swept the NBA Finals?
Yes, sweeps have occurred in NBA Finals history. The most notable include the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers, and the 1989 Detroit Pistons sweeping the Lakers as well. However, sweeps in the Finals are relatively rare, as the best-of-seven format and elite competition at that stage tend to produce competitive series.
Who won the most playoffs in the NBA?
The Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA championships with 17 titles, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers with 17 as well. In terms of most playoff appearances, the Lakers and Celtics are historically the most decorated franchises, with players like Bill Russell (11 rings), Michael Jordan (6 rings), and LeBron James (4 rings) among the greatest individual playoff performers in NBA history.
