NBA Playoff Bracket 2026, Updated Picture, Schedule After April 20
After a full slate of playoff games over the weekend, three more series rolled on Monday with a handful of Game 2 matchups.
Here's a look at results from Monday, as well as a look ahead to Tuesday's schedule.
Monday Round 1 Results, Schedule
Cleveland Cavaliers 115, Toronto Raptors 105 (Cavaliers lead series 2-0)
Atlanta Hawks 107, New York Knicks 106 (Series tied 1-1)
Minnesota Timberwolves 119, Denver Nuggets 114 (Series tied 1-1)
Tuesday Round 1 Schedule
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET (Celtics lead series 1-0)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 8 p.m. ET (Spurs lead series 1-0)
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 10:30 p.m. ET (Lakers lead series 1-0)
Monday Highlights
Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105
The Cavs are in full control after taking Game 2 of the first-round series.
Cleveland was in control for pretty much the entire night, taking a double-digit lead in the first half and never allowing the Raptors to get back into it.
Cleveland got a strong showing from its star trio of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley. Mitchell posted 30 points, seven boards and five assists while Harden had 28 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Mobley added 25 points and eight boards in the win.
The Raptors got 26 points from Scottie Barnes and 22 from RJ Barrett, but Brandon Ingram struggled with just seven points on 3-of-15 from the field. Toronto will need much more on Thursday to avoid going down 3-0.
Hawks 107, Knicks 106
Game 2 of the Hawks vs. Knicks series had plenty of drama in a down-to-the-wire finish.
The Hawks trailed by 14 in the second half but used a huge fourth-quarter rally to take the lead heading into the final two minutes. Back-to-back buckets from CJ McCollum gave Atlanta a three-point lead, but Jalen Brunson's three tied things up heading into the final minute of regulation.
McCollum then delivered another clutch basket, this time a fadeaway that gave the Hawks the lead.
A clutch steal from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, followed by a slam from Jalen Johnson with 10 seconds remaining, put Atlanta up four, but Brunson once again hit a three to cut it back down.
McCollum missed a pair of free throws, but it didn't come back to haunt him as Mikal Bridges' attempt at a game-winner clanked off the rim.
The veteran McCollum delivered a vintage performance with 32 points, enough to outlast Brunson's 29.
Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114
After an exciting Game 2, fans could be in for quite the series between Minnesota and Denver.
The Nuggets came out hot, leading by 14 after the first quarter, but the Timberwolves got right back in it thanks to a run in the second quarter. Things were all tied up heading into halftime after Jamal Murray hit a shot from beyond halfcourt to beat the buzzer.
The two sides went back and forth for the majority of the second half, with neither team able to create much separation from the other.
Donte DiVincenzo gave Minnesota a slight edge heading into the final minute after a three-pointer to make it a four-point lead, but Nikola Jokić helped swing the momentum with a mean dunk on Rudy Gobert.
The Nuggets then got a stop on the defensive end, but Christian Braun made just one of two shots at the line, leaving Denver down by one. The Nuggets were forced to foul, and Julius Randle hit both shots to extend the lead to three points.
Denver couldn't answer, and Minnesota was able to run out the clock and tie the series.
Anthony Edwards led the way for Minnesota with 30 points and 10 boards, and he'll look to keep the momentum on the Wolves' side as the series heads to the Target Center on Thursday.
