Live Updates: 2026 NBA Playoffs, R1 | Pistons-Magic duel in critical Game 6

Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham each dropped 45 points in Detroit’s Game 5 victory on Wednesday. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Enjoy the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news and highlights from the night’s action.

We’ve got a Prime Video triple-header starting with the Detroit Pistons visiting the Orlando Magic (Live), followed by Cavaliers-Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET) and Lakers-Rockets (9:30 p.m. ET) in win-or-go-home Game 6s!

What we know about Friday’s games:

• The Pistons head back to Orlando with a chance to force Game 7. In Game 5, former No. 1 overall picks Cade Cunningham (2021) and Paolo Banchero (2022) became the first opposing No. 1 overall picks in the modern draft era (since 1966) to each score 45+ points in the same game. It marked the highest scoring performance while facing elimination in Pistons franchise history, passing the previous mark set by Dave Bing in 1968 (44).
• Toronto hosts Cleveland with a chance to extend their season. This series tells us they have an opportunity to do just that, as the home team has won every game in this first round matchup. It’s been a close battle to this point, as the series has been separated by a total of just 2 points, with the Cavaliers scoring 559 and the Raptors scoring 557.
• The Rockets will look to become the fifth team in NBA history to force a Game 7 after being down 0-3, with the 1951 Knicks, 1984 Nuggets, 2003 Blazers and 2023 Celtics the only other squads to accomplish that feat. Houston will attempt to join them as they fight for a third consecutive victory against LA. LeBron James has won 21 series-clinching games on the road in his career, tied with Derek Fisher and Tim Duncan for the most all-time.

May 1, 2026 / 7:20 ET

Pistons-Magic underway

Desmond Bane (3 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl) and Wendell Carter Jr. (4 pts) pace the Magic, while Tobias Harris leads Detroit with 5 points and 2 rebounds. Orlando has an early 11-10 advantage with 6:57 left in the opening quarter.

Paolo spins and dishes.
Carter Jr. rises up and slams it.

DET/ORL Game 6 is LIVE on Prime! pic.twitter.com/gOhSsUftwz

— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2026

get us started DB3 ! pic.twitter.com/n2NxA3sp8S

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) May 1, 2026

May 1, 2026 / 7:10 ET

Cleveland Cavaliers:

• PG – James Harden (22.0 ppg, 6.2 apg, 2.0 spg)
• SG – Donovan Mitchell (23.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.6 apg)
• SF – Max Strus (10.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.6 apg)
• PF – Evan Mobley (17.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.2 bpg)
• C – Jarrett Allen (8.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.2 spg, 2.2 bpg)

The Cavs start with their two-big lineup, but with Toronto having more success with smaller lineups featuring Collin Murray-Boyles at the 5, Cleveland has countered with Sam Merrill, Dean Wade and Dennis Schröder off the bench.

Toronto Raptors:

• PG – Jamal Shead (8.4 ppg, 4.4 apg, 1.8 spg)
• SG – Ja’Kobe Walter (8.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 spg)
• SF – RJ Barrett (24.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.8 apg)
• PF – Scottie Barnes (24.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 8.0 apg, 1.6 bpg)
• C – Jakob Poeltl (7.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg)

The Raptors are without Brandon Ingram (heel) tonight, meaning the trio of Barnes, Barrett and Walter will have to do the heavy lifting on offense. Collin Murray-Boyles (15.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.0 spg) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (5.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) are x-factors for Toronto’s second unit with their season on the line.

May 1, 2026 / 6:15 ET

Detroit Pistons:

• PG – Cade Cunningham (32.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 7.0 apg)
• SG – Duncan Robinson (9.6 ppg, 39.4 3P% on 6.6 3PA)
• SF – Ausar Thompson (9.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.6 spg, 2.0 bpg)
• PF – Tobias Harris (19.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.6 spg)
• C – Jalen Duren (10.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg)

The Pistons will deploy a solid bench unit headlined by Isaiah Stewart, Daniss Jenkins and Caris LeVert.

Orlando Magic:

• PG – Jalen Suggs (13.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
• SG – Desmond Bane (18.8 ppg, 43.2 3P% on 8.8 3PA, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 spg)
• SF – Jamal Cain (4.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
• PF – Paolo Banchero (25.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.4 apg, 1.6 spg)
• C – Wendell Carter Jr. (11.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.8 bpg)

The Magic will insert Cain into the starting unit with Franz Wagner (calf) missing his second straight game. Expect Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva to see a bit more action as Orlando looks to advance to the semifinals.

May 1, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Tonight’s injury report

DET @ ORL — Tobias Harris (ankle) is available and Kevin Huerter (adductor) is out for the Pistons, while Franz Wagner (calf) and Jonathan Isaac (knee) are both out for the Magic.

CLE @ TOR — Brandon Ingram (heel) and Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) are out for the Raptors.

LAL @ HOU — Luka Dončić (hamstring) is out for tonight’s contest for the Lakers, while Kevin Durant (ankle) will miss his fourth straight and fifth overall for the Rockets.