Samwise NBA Newsletter
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Pistons Snap 12-Game Playoff Losing Streak Against Cavaliers With 111-101 Game 1 Win
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena, snapping a 12-game postseason losing streak against their divisional rival. Detroit led by as many as 18 points before Cleveland rallied behind James Harden, who posted 22 points and seven assists but committed seven turnovers. Cade Cunningham answered with a decisive run, finishing with 23 points and seven assists to lead the Pistons. Tobias Harris added 20 points and eight rebounds, his sixth straight 20-plus-point performance of these playoffs. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points. The Pistons hold a 1-0 series lead and host Game 2 on Thursday.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports (breaking)
Defending Champion Thunder Roll Past Lakers 108-90 in Game 1 Despite Jalen Williams Absence
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 on Tuesday at Paycom Center, opening their Western Conference semifinal with a dominant effort despite the absence of All-Star guard Jalen Williams, sidelined by a hamstring strain. Chet Holmgren posted 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 18 points as the defending champions improved to 5-0 in the 2026 playoffs. LeBron James led Los Angeles with 27 points but found little support on a night the Lakers shot poorly. Los Angeles continues to play without Luka Doncic, still recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Game 2 is Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
Wembanyama Sets NBA Playoff Blocks Record With 12 But Spurs Fall 104-102 to Timberwolves
Victor Wembanyama set an NBA playoffs single-game record with 12 blocks on Sunday at Frost Bank Center, surpassing the previous mark of 10 shared by Mark Eaton, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Andrew Bynum, yet San Antonio still lost 104-102 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Wembanyama recorded seven of those blocks in the first half alone, but shot 5-for-17 from the field and missed all eight three-point attempts. Anthony Edwards, returning from a bone bruise in his left knee, came off the bench to score 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting in 25 minutes. The Timberwolves lead the series 1-0.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
Brunson Scores 35 as Knicks Rout Fatigued 76ers 137-98 in Eastern Conference Semifinal Opener
The New York Knicks routed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, led by Jalen Brunson's 35 points in 31 minutes. Every Knicks player who saw action scored. Philadelphia had played just one day earlier, completing the 14th 3-1 comeback in NBA playoff history by defeating the Boston Celtics in Game 7 on Saturday. The abbreviated recovery time was visible as the 76ers shot poorly and struggled physically throughout. Joel Embiid, playing through the effects of an emergency appendectomy earlier this postseason, was limited against New York's size inside. New York leads the series 1-0.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
Luka Doncic Not Close to Return as Lakers and Thunder Both Enter Semifinals Missing Key Guards
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic remains sidelined entering the Western Conference semifinals against Oklahoma City, with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against the Thunder. Doncic traveled to Spain for a stem cell injection and has since returned to Los Angeles to begin a return-to-play protocol, but ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported this week that the Slovenian guard is not close to returning and has yet to progress to full-contact practice. Oklahoma City is also without guard Jalen Williams, who is out with a hamstring injury. Both absences shaped Tuesday's opener, with LeBron James carrying Los Angeles alone in the 108-90 loss.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports
Wizards, Pacers, Nets Hold Best Lottery Odds as NBA Draft Lottery Approaches May 10
The NBA Draft Lottery takes place Sunday, May 10, at McCormick Place in Chicago, with the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each holding 14-percent odds for the first overall pick. BYU forward AJ Dybantsa has emerged as the consensus favorite, having led the nation with 25.5 points per game and broken a 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record. Duke forward Cameron Boozer and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson are also considered top-three candidates. The 2026 lottery may be the final one under the current format, as team owners are expected to vote on a new 3-2-1 system at their May 28 meeting.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, ESPN
Conference Semifinals Open With Thunder, Knicks, Pistons, Timberwolves All Taking 1-0 Leads
The 2026 NBA Conference Semifinals opened this week with a first wave of games that revealed as much about team depth and stamina as individual talent. The Thunder, even without Jalen Williams, moved to 5-0 in these playoffs and reinforced their status as Western favorites. The Knicks' 39-point demolition of a fatigued Philadelphia squad — one that played five games in nine days after its historic comeback — highlighted the cost of deep first-round runs. Detroit's win over Cleveland, snapping a 12-game playoff losing streak against the Cavaliers, confirmed the Pistons as a legitimate Eastern threat. All four series are tied 1-0 heading into Game 2 contests.
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
NBA Playoffs — Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons vs (4) Cleveland Cavaliers — Pistons lead 1–0
(2) New York Knicks vs (3) Philadelphia 76ers — Knicks lead 1–0
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (4) Los Angeles Lakers — Thunder lead 1–0
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs (3) Minnesota Timberwolves — Timberwolves lead 1–0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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