NBA fans’ favorite time of year has arrived with the start of the playoffs, and Round 1 of the 2026 postseason ended in historic fashion. With the first round closing on May 3, the teams advancing to the next round are set. From the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks moved on. From the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Lakers advanced.
One of the most challenging tasks in basketball is overcoming a 3–1 series deficit. In NBA history, only 15 teams out of more than 270 have come back from a 3–1 deficit. As most fans already know, two teams accomplished that feat in this year’s first round alone: the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons.
The 76ers were counted out by many, as they were facing a red-hot Boston Celtics team. However, everything changed when star center Joel Embiid returned from appendix surgery. The Celtics had no answer for Embiid, who averaged 26.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Boston also did not play star forward Jayson Tatum in Game 7 due to right calf soreness stemming from an earlier injury. Philadelphia advanced to face the New York Knicks in Round 2.
The other team to complete a comeback from this deficit was the Detroit Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the East. As the top seed, they were not expected to fall so far behind in the series. In Game 6, facing elimination and trailing by 24 points, the Pistons staged a dominant comeback, winning 93–79 and holding the Orlando Magic to just eight points in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks dominated their series, winning their closeout game against the Atlanta Hawks by 50 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers also advanced after a highly competitive seven-game series, defeating the Toronto Raptors 114–102.
On the Western Conference side, there were fewer surprises. The Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs controlled the Portland Trail Blazers in a 4–1 series win, the Lakers won their series 4–2, and the Timberwolves also advanced 4–2. The Timberwolves will now face the Spurs, with star guard Anthony Edwards returning and looking to take down the No. 2 seed. Meanwhile, the Thunder will take on the Lakers in what could be one of the most intriguing matchups of the playoffs. This series also marks the largest point spread against a team led by LeBron James in his playoff career.
