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Game 1 in both Western and Eastern Conference semifinals featured strong starts, late swings and clear statements. The Oklahoma City Thunder controlled the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90, while the Detroit Pistons closed out the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-101 to move ahead in each playoff series.
Detroit used an early surge and a late response to claim the opener against Cleveland. The Pistons built an 18-point cushion in the first quarter, lost most of that advantage, then recovered in the closing minutes to secure a 1-0 edge in the second-round playoff series.
Cade Cunningham directed Detroit’s offence throughout the night. Cunningham had 23 points and seven assists, steadying the Pistons when Cleveland rallied. Donovan Mitchell matched that scoring
mark for the Cavaliers, finishing with 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting in the Game 1 loss.
The turning point came after James Harden led Cleveland’s biggest push. Harden capped a 9-0 fourth-quarter burst that erased Detroit’s lead and levelled the score at 93-93 with five minutes remaining. The momentum briefly shifted to the Cavaliers before Detroit’s frontcourt answered.
Jalen Duren, quiet for most of the game, then changed the tone inside. Duren had been 1 of 8 from the field, but produced three consecutive thunderous dunks on the next three possessions, each assisted by Cade Cunningham. That run rebuilt control and deflated Cleveland.
The Pistons also gained important contributions from the supporting cast. Tobias Harris added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Duncan Robinson hit five 3-pointers and totaled 19 points. Duren closed with 11 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots, anchoring the paint defensively as Detroit closed Game 1.
Detroit’s victory carried historical weight against this particular opponent. The Pistons snapped a 12-game postseason losing streak versus the Cavaliers, which had been tied for the longest run of playoff defeats against one team in NBA history. Detroit also led a playoff series 1-0 for the first time since 2008.
The result also broke a recent pattern in openers. Detroit had fallen in Game 1 during the first round against the Orlando Magic and also in last season’s series against the New York Knicks. This time, the Pistons avoided another early setback and instead claimed the advantage over Cleveland.
Out West, Oklahoma City’s title defence stayed perfect through the second round. The Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal, improving to 5-0 in the playoffs despite continuing to deal with injury concerns in the backcourt.
Chet Holmgren set the tone on both ends for Oklahoma City. Holmgren had 24 points and 12 rebounds, controlling the interior. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each added 18 points, giving the Thunder three main scoring options in the comfortable Game 1 win over the Lakers.
The defending champions continued their run without 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams. Williams missed a third straight game due to a left hamstring injury. Even with that absence, Oklahoma City shot 49.4% from the field and hit 13 of 30 attempts from 3-point range in the semifinal opener.
Los Angeles entered short-handed as well, lacking the league’s scoring champion. Luka Doncic missed a fourth straight week with a left hamstring issue, leaving the Lakers without their primary creator. LeBron James had 27 points and Rui Hachimura added 18, but the attack could not keep pace.
Austin Reaves struggled after a strong regular season. Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points before the playoffs, was held to eight points on 3-for-16 shooting. Oklahoma City’s defence restricted driving lanes and contested attempts, helping limit the Lakers to 41.7% shooting overall.
The Thunder’s defensive pressure also produced extra possessions. Oklahoma City forced 17 turnovers from the Lakers, disrupting rhythm and feeding transition chances. That effort continued a trend from the regular season, when the Thunder won all four meetings by an average margin of 29.3 points.
This opener remained slightly more competitive than those earlier matchups but still followed a similar pattern. Oklahoma City controlled the tempo, mixed perimeter shooting with interior play and protected the ball more effectively. The Thunder will host Game 2 on Thursday as the Western Conference semifinal moves forward.
| Game | Team | Final Score | Top Scorer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 108 | Chet Holmgren | 24 |
| Game 1 | Los Angeles Lakers | 90 | LeBron James | 27 |
| Game 1 | Detroit Pistons | 111 | Cade Cunningham | 23 |
| Game 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 101 | Donovan Mitchell | 23 |
Thunder takes Game 1 pic.twitter.com/tfY9nUGqWj OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 6, 2026
Keep on playin it pic.twitter.com/kVJPqWf1fo Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 6, 2026
Both defending champions Oklahoma City and resurgent Detroit emerged from Game 1 with control of their series. The Thunder maintained an unbeaten playoff record despite missing Jalen Williams, while the Pistons ended a long postseason drought against Cleveland and finally opened a series with a win.
