NBA Playoffs Update

Zak Drapeau
May 6
4 min read

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 5/6/2026

2Spurs vs 6Timberwolves

MIN Lead 1-0

Series Odds: SA -205

Game 2 Odds: SA -10

The series between the Spurs and Timberwolves should be the most exciting of all 4 2nd round matchups. With two of the premier stars of the league in Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama facing off, it should also be the most watched and media covered as well.

The Spurs were heavy favorites to win the series and move on to face the Thunder, especially after Anthony Edwards hyperextended his knee in the final game of the Timberwolves first round series. What we didn't know at the time was that Anthony Edwards would defy doctor's beliefs of a longer recovery period to not only play in the Spurs-Wolves Game 1, but would dominate the 4th quarter.

Ant would drop 11 points, 3 rebounds and a nasty block to push the Wolves past the Spurs in Game 1 by a 104-102 score. Julius Randle would actually lead the game with 21 points scored and would also grab 10 boards.

Wemby may only have dropped 11 points on 5-17 from the field in Game 1 but would also grab 15 rebounds and set an NBA PLAYOFF RECORD of 12 blocks in a triple-double performance. The Spurs would have several players drop 11-19 points led by Stephon Castle but didn't have a single 20+ point scorer.

With game 2 tonight at 9:30 ET, the Spurs are favored and will look to even the series before they go to Minnesota on Friday. The Spurs are the higher seeded team so they have home court advantage but after giving up the first game in San Antonio, Game 2 will be a must win for the Spurs.

3Knicks vs 776ers

NYK Lead 1-0

Series Odds: NYK -470

Game 2 Odds: NYK -8

The Knicks followed up with their First Round, Game 6 mauling of the Atlanta Hawks by 51 points by beating up the 76ers by 39 points in Game 1 of their series.

Led by Jalen Brunson dropping 35 on 81% true shooting %, the Knicks who shoot 63% from the floor as a unit including a remarkable 51% from beyond the arc. The 76ers had a decent game offensively with their starters all grabbing 12-17 points but couldn't do a thing defensively to quiet down the red-hot Knicks.

Game 2 is also tonight from MSG and the Knicks don't look to slow down at all after averaging over 129 points per game in their last 4. With Philly's premier defensive player Joel Embiid not being a huge factor against the largely guard and forward shooting game plan of the Knicks, it's hard to imagine this game will be much different from the first.

1Thunder vs 4Lakers

OKC Lead 1-0

Series Odds: OKC -4000

Game 2 Odds: OKC -15.5 The Lakers did well to hang with the Thunder for most of the first 3 quarters, the Thunder just never let up and outscored the Lakers in all 4 quarters on their way to coasting to an 18-point win.

The Thunder were led by Chet who outplayed the Lakers' DeAndre Ayton to the tune of 24 and 12 with 3 blocks. Shai was doing his thing too but had a quiet 18-6-7 for him.

For the Lakers, their biggest problem was the backcourt as starters Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves combined for 20 points on 7-for-31 shooting. Even Lebron's 27 and 6 point night couldn't even get the Lakers in spitting distance when OKC's Guards clearly beat LA in their battle.

Game 2 will go down at 9:30, Thursday night again from the Thunder's Paycom Center with a 15.5-point spread for the home team. If I was a betting man, that spread is too juicy not to split but the game shouldn't be in doubt as the reining champs try to take a quick 2-0 series lead.

1Pistons vs 4Cavaliers

DET Lead 1-0

Photo by Duane Burleson via Associated Press

Series Odds: DET -205

Game 2 Odds: DET -3

With both teams needing 7 games to win the first round including an insane, 3-1 series comeback from the top-seeded Pistons, this series was basically a coin flip with the Pistons holding a slight favorite to oddsmakers. After Game 1, the Pistons moved ahead but only slightly.

The pairing of Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris has been a lethal duo for their first 8 games of these playoffs. Harris' jump shooting mixed with Cade's slashing opens up the court so well for the Pistons especially against a team where James Harden is their best perimeter defender.

The Cavs were cooking with their backcourt duo of Harden and Donovan Mitchell dropping 45 combined but were really hurt by their 3-point shot. A team total of 37% looks average but those main scorers I just mentioned, accounted for 5-of-17 from the arc.

They play again on Thursday night and if the Cavs don't want a repeat performance and actually want to steal one in Detroit, Mitchell and Harden are going to have to be much more efficient.