Updated NBA Playoff Bracket 2026 Picture, Schedule After Thunder Eliminate Lakers, Cavs Win Game 4

A pair of Game 4s took center stage Monday during the 2026 NBA playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers had the opportunity to tie their second-round series against the Detroit Pistons at two games apiece by taking care of business at home. In the Western Conference, the reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder had the chance to close out the Los Angeles Lakers with a sweep.

Here is a look at how it unfolded.

Monday Results

• East Game 4: Cleveland Cavaliers 112, Detroit Pistons 103 (Series tied, 2-2)
• West Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder 115, Los Angeles Lakers 110 (Thunder win series, 4-0)

Tuesday Schedule

• West Game 5: Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. ET (Series tied, 2-2)

Monday Highlights

Cleveland Cavaliers 112, Detroit Pistons 103

It looked like the Pistons were going to seize a commanding 3-1 lead in their second-round series with the Cavaliers when they jumped out to a four-point halftime lead.

And then the third quarter started.

Cleveland blitzed Detroit out of the locker room and scored the first 23 points of the second half to completely turn the game around on the way to a 112-103 victory.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were draining three-pointers, while the former attacked the lane and hit multiple floaters inside the arc. It was the unstoppable duo the front office surely envisioned when it acquired Harden, and the Cavaliers rode them to the series-tying win.

Mitchell poured in 43 points, while Harden notched a double-double of 24 points and 11 assists.

Caris Levert (24 points) provided a spark off the bench for the Pistons, while Cade Cunningham notched 19 points and six assists. Yet it was nowhere near enough to keep pace with the Cavaliers thanks to that run to start the second half.

It was a run fans may look back on if Cleveland ends up winning the series, and it will look to add to its momentum on the road for Wednesday's Game 5.

Thunder 115, Lakers 110

There are no such things as moral victories in the NBA, especially for franchises with 17 championships like the Lakers.

But they put up quite the fight even in defeat during Monday's 115-110 loss.

Ultimately, the talent gap between the reigning-champion Thunder and the Lakers playing without Luka Dončić was too much to overcome, and OKC finished the sweep with some late heroics.

After a four-point play from Rui Hachimura and an and-one from Marcus Smart put Los Angeles ahead by one in the final minute, a Chet Holmgren dunk and clutch free throws from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell gave the Thunder the win.

Austin Reaves had a chance to tie it with a deep three during that stretch, but it rimmed out.

Despite that miss and eight turnovers, Reaves led the offensive attack for extended stretches on his way to 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Jaxson Hayes also provided a massive spark off the bench with 18 points and was a major reason the Lakers took a four-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

LeBron James added 24 points and 12 rebounds in what might have been his final game with Los Angeles, but the Thunder had too much firepower.

SGA was unstoppable once again with 35 points and eight assists, while Mitchell continued his ascension in these playoffs with 28 points and some critical plays in the second half. Throw in 16 points from Holmgren, and the Lakers couldn't maintain their late lead.

And the Thunder are now one series away from a second straight trip to the NBA Finals.