The 2026 NBA Playoffs tipped off Saturday with four first-round Game 1 matchups, and all home teams emerged victorious, setting an aggressive tone for the postseason.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised past the Toronto Raptors 126-113. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 32 points as Cleveland’s balanced attack proved too much for Toronto.
The Cavs now lead the series 1-0. Later in the day, the New York Knicks pulled away from the Atlanta Hawks with a 113-102 win at Madison Square Garden.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 53 points, helping New York weather a late Hawks rally and take a 1-0 series lead. Out West, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105.
Nikola Jokić delivered a triple-double while Jamal Murray added 30 points, powering Denver to a strong homecourt victory and a 1-0 series edge.
The nightcap saw the Los Angeles Lakers hold off the Houston Rockets 107-98 despite missing key contributors like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Luke Kennard exploded for a playoff career-high 27 points, while LeBron James added 19 points and 13 assists in a gritty win.
The Lakers lead the series 1-0.All four series now shift focus to Game 2, with home teams looking to build commanding leads. The opening night results underlined the importance of homecourt advantage early in these best-of-seven battles.
