Home-court advantage delivered a perfect record across the board as the 2026 NBA Playoffs got underway on Saturday, April 18, with all four competing host teams emerging victorious in their respective first-round openers.
The most closely watched contest of the night saw the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Houston Rockets 107-98, taking a 1-0 series lead despite the absence of key contributors Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Luke Kennard was the standout performer, posting a playoff career-high 27 points, while LeBron James registered 19 points and 13 assists in what proved to be a disciplined team effort. Houston, meanwhile, were without star forward Kevin Durant, who was ruled out for Game 1 after suffering a right knee contusion during practice.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers were equally impressive, dispatching the Toronto Raptors 126-113. Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points as Cleveland’s balanced offensive attack proved too much for Toronto to contain. The Cavaliers now hold a 1-0 advantage in the series.
Also in the East, the New York Knicks claimed a 113-102 home victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 53 points, providing enough of a cushion for New York to absorb a late Hawks rally and secure the series opener.
Out West, the Denver Nuggets controlled their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning 116-105. Nikola Jokić recorded a triple-double — continuing his well-documented postseason consistency — while Jamal Murray contributed 30 points to give Denver a commanding 1-0 edge in the series. Jokić, a three-time NBA MVP, has been a central figure in Denver’s postseason campaigns since the franchise’s 2023 championship run.
Full results from Saturday, April 18, 2026: Cleveland Cavaliers 126, Toronto Raptors 113 (CLE leads 1-0); New York Knicks 113, Atlanta Hawks 102 (NYK leads 1-0); Denver Nuggets 116, Minnesota Timberwolves 105 (DEN leads 1-0); Los Angeles Lakers 107, Houston Rockets 98 (LAL leads 1-0).
Historically, teams that win Game 1 of an NBA playoff series go on to win that series at a rate exceeding 75%, making Saturday’s results significant for all four victors. Game 2 matchups across each series are expected to provide clearer indications of how these first-round battles will unfold, with the health status of absent players such as Durant, Dončić, and Reaves likely to be closely monitored heading into the coming days.
