NBA Playoff Bracket 2026, Updated Picture, Schedule After April 23
The Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves earned leads in their respective series on Thursday night.
Atlanta won its second straight close game over the New York Knicks to put more pressure onto the shoulders of Jalen Brunson and Co.
Minnesota blew out the Denver Nuggets to take a 2-1 advantage in their Western Conference first-round series.
The Toronto Raptors were the other victorious team on Thursday. They clawed back into their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers by way of a 22-point home win.
Eastern Conference
1 of 2
Thursday Results
Atlanta 109, New York 108 (Atlanta leads series 2-1)
Toronto 126, Cleveland 104 (Cleveland leads series 2-1)
The Hawks pulled off their second straight one-point win over the Knicks.
Atlanta clinched the victory on a C.J. McCollum jump shot with 12 seconds left on the clock.
McCollum, Jalen Johnson and Jonathan Kuminga all scored over 20 points in the victory.
New York also had three players reach over 20 points, but Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges combined for two points out of the starting lineup.
The Raptors were more dominant in their Thursday night victory. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes each scored 33 points to get their team on the board in the series versus Cleveland.
No Cleveland player scored over 20 points, while Barrett, Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles all achieved that feat for the Raptors.
Toronto needs a Game 4 victory to move level in the series and put more pressure on the Cavs.
James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Co. can take full control of the series if they win on Sunday afteroon.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, April 24
Game 3: Boston at Philadelphia (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Saturday, April 25
Game 3: Detroit at Orlando (1 p.m. ET, Peacock)
Game 4: New York at Atlanta (6 p.m. ET, NBC)
Western Conference
2 of 2
Thursday Result
Minnesota 113, Denver 96 (Minnesota leads series 2-1)
Minnesota was in total control from the start of its Game 3 win over Denver.
The Wolves broke the game open with a 25-11 first quarter that the Nuggets could never recover from.
Anthony Edwards and Co. held a 22-point advantage at halftime and did not let Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets claw themselves back into the contest.
All five starters plus Ayo Dosunmu off the bench scored in double figures in the Game 3 win.
Jokic and Jamal Murray were held to a combined 43 points on a night in which Denver was without the injured Aaron Gordon.
Minnesota feels like it has control of the series at the moment. It will try to gain a further hold on the series in Saturday's Game 4 on home court.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, April 24
Game 3: Los Angeles at Houston (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Game 3: San Antonio at Portland (10:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Saturday, April 25
Game 3: Oklahoma City at Phoenix (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Game 4: Denver at Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
