The 2026 NBA Playoffs opened Saturday with four games — and every home team won. But the scores alone don’t tell the story. This was a day full of numbers that made you look twice, moments that will be remembered long after the series ends, and performances from players nobody put on their radar.
Here’s what actually happened.
Lakers 107, Rockets 98 — The Night LeBron Played With His Son
Before we talk about Luke Kennard, we need to talk about what happened in the second quarter.
The Los Angeles Lakers — without Luka Doncic, without Austin Reaves — scored just 17 points in the second quarter. Seventeen. Against a Houston team that was itself without Kevin Durant, who was ruled out with a knee injury. That second quarter was as close to a collapse as a team can have without actually collapsing.
And yet, the Lakers won.
Luke Kennard poured in a playoff career-high 27 points to key the Lakers’ Game 1 win. NBA Kennard, who averaged 9 points per game coming off the bench this season, tripled his output when it mattered most. “He is the number one shooter in the NBA,” said Lakers center DeAndre Ayton. “He’s doing it in the playoffs where it really counts. My word is ‘speechless,’ to be honest.” NBA
But the night’s most extraordinary moment had nothing to do with the scoreline. LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA Playoff game — in the second quarter, while the game was still being decided. NBA
“I was on the floor with my son. In a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career,” LeBron said after the game. NBA
LeBron finished with 19 points and 13 assists. He ended the first quarter alone with a playoff career-high eight assists. Yahoo Sports The man who was supposed to be carrying this team alone turned out not to need to carry it — he just needed to make everyone else better. That’s a very different, and arguably more dangerous, version of LeBron James.
Nuggets 116, Timberwolves 105 — Jokić and Murray Combine for 55-18-18
Minnesota came out of the gate on fire. The Timberwolves led 33-23 after the first quarter — an 10-point lead against the team many consider the hardest to beat when healthy.
Then the second quarter happened. Denver ripped off a 14-0 run in the third quarter and took command from there. NBA
Nikola Jokić recorded another triple-double while Jamal Murray led the team with 30 points. The two combined for 55 points, 18 rebounds and 18 assists. NBA That’s not a stat line — that’s a hostile takeover.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards was questionable heading into the game with a knee issue. Whatever his minutes restriction cost the Wolves in the first quarter momentum, it cost them far more by the third. This series may hinge entirely on how healthy Edwards can be.
Knicks 113, Hawks 102 — New York Leads by 19, Then Holds On
The Knicks controlled this game from the first quarter. Jalen Brunson finished with 28 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. NBA
New York led by 19 in the fourth quarter — and then Atlanta made it interesting. The Hawks, who posted the NBA’s third-best net rating over the final two months of the season, refused to go quietly. But the Knicks held on, 113-102.
The data point worth watching: the Hawks’ Jalen Johnson was the most dangerous player on the floor in the fourth quarter. If Atlanta can get him going earlier in games, this series has upset potential written all over it.
Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113 — Toronto’s 18 Turnovers Tell the Story
Cleveland was the most dominant home team of the day. The Cavaliers shot 54 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. Donovan Mitchell led with 32 points, while James Harden recorded a 22-point, 10-assist double-double. NBA
But the real story was Toronto’s 18 turnovers. Cleveland converted them into 22 points — which alone made up the final margin. Yahoo Sports The Raptors had beaten the Cavs three times in the regular season, all before Cleveland acquired Harden. This was a different team they faced Saturday, and Toronto found that out the hard way.
The Raptors also managed just one fast-break point — despite leading the league in fast-break scoring during the regular season. Yahoo Sports Cleveland’s defense suffocated everything Toronto wanted to do.
The Bigger Picture
Four games, four home wins. But more importantly, four series that all feel genuinely competitive. Minnesota was up 10 in Denver before collapsing. Atlanta cut a 19-point deficit to single digits. Toronto led the league in fast breaks and couldn’t get one going.
And the Lakers — missing their two best players, scoring 17 points in a quarter, playing a 41-year-old and his 21-year-old son simultaneously — still won.
This is going to be a very good playoffs.
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