The second spherical of the 2026 NBA playoffs continued on Thursday evening with the Detroit Pistons outlasting the Cleveland Cavaliers, 107-97, and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulling away late to down the Los Angeles Lakers, 125-107.
Listed here are some winners and losers from the evening’s video games after the Pistons and Thunder took commanding collection leads.
Winners
The Pistons star had a typical efficiency with 25 factors (7-of-14 FG) and 10 assists, however he was particularly key to Detroit’s potential to stave off a number of late comeback makes an attempt by the Cavaliers.
Cunningham scored 12 of his 25 factors within the fourth quarter and helped Detroit lengthen its result in 9 with simply over two minutes to play.
Cunningham has eclipsed 20 factors in every of his 15 playoff video games thus far, solely trailing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27), LeBron James (19) and Anthony Davis (16) for the most consecutive 20-point games to begin his playoff profession. On Thursday, his newest outburst gave the Pistons a 2-0 lead.
Ajay Mitchell, guard, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
As Jalen Williams continues to take a seat after suffering a left hamstring injury in Recreation 2 of Oklahoma Metropolis’s first-round collection in opposition to the Phoenix Suns, the second-year guard Mitchell has stepped up in a significant manner.
Mitchell put up 20 factors (7-of-12 FG) and 6 assists, the second time within the final three video games that he has scored no less than 20. Even on an evening that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was comparatively quiet for his requirements, Mitchell as soon as once more confirmed up in Williams’ absence.
Jenkins has rapidly turn out to be the NBA’s unlikeliest playoff hero along with his third consecutive recreation of scoring in double figures. The rookie added 14 factors (6-of-14 FG), six rebounds and 4 assists in Thursday’s win and even knocked down a buzzer-beater to finish the third quarter, the third end-of-quarter three-pointer the Cavaliers have allowed within the two video games thus far.
Losers
When Harden was traded to the Cavaliers earlier this season, he was at all times going to be pivotal to how far they may go within the playoffs. He has wasted no time offering that reply.
Whereas he has struggled shooting through the playoffs, Harden’s ball dealing with has been atrocious. Thursday was the eighth time in Cleveland’s 9 playoff video games that he has dedicated no less than 4 turnovers.
With the Cavaliers trailing by six within the closing seconds, Harden misplaced the ball to Ausar Thompson, they usually by no means scored once more as Detroit closed the sport out. That midseason commerce isn’t trying so good now with Cleveland going through an 0-2 deficit.
Too many turnovers from Lakers
The Lakers hung round in Recreation 1 of the collection, however they finally lacked the offensive firepower within the second half and dedicated 18 turnovers. They didn’t study their lesson on Thursday.
The Lakers dedicated 20 extra giveaways in Recreation 2, which proved much more expensive on an evening they performed effectively sufficient offensively (50%) to win the sport. Nonetheless, it’s troublesome to win when you don’t deal with the ball, and the Lakers let one other one slip away in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Many followers had been fast to level to the poor officiating all through the sport, however in the long run, the Lakers are merely not on the identical stage as this Thunder group. The rash of turnovers solely makes it even more durable on them.
