NBA Playoffs Game 1: Cavaliers, Nuggets, Knicks, Lakers All Win

The 2026 NBA Playoffs first round opened on Saturday, April 18, with four Game 1 matchups and all four home teams winning. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors 126-113, the Denver Nuggets edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 behind a Nikola Jokić triple-double, the New York Knicks downed the Atlanta Hawks 113-102, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 107-98. Each series is a best-of-seven.

Cleveland and Denver Take Openers

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points to lead Cleveland past Toronto, while James Harden posted a 22-point, 10-assist double-double and Max Strus added 24 off the bench. The Cavaliers shot 54% from the field and 50% from three. In Denver, Jokić produced a triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, while Jamal Murray scored 30 points on a perfect 16-of-16 from the free-throw line.

New York and Los Angeles Follow

Jalen Brunson drove New York past Atlanta with 28 points, five rebounds and seven assists, as Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. In the late-window game in Los Angeles, the Lakers closed out the slate with a 107-98 win over Houston, completing a clean sweep for hosts on the opening Saturday.

What It Means

Home-court advantage held in every series opener on April 18. Game 2 dates vary by series, and the results settle only one game of a best-of-seven — not a series trend. The Play-In Tournament concluded earlier in the week; Saturday's slate marked the true start of the playoff bracket.