By Joel Reyes

 

Day 2 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs went as expected, with top-seeded teams Detroit and Oklahoma City protecting homecourt advantage after recording convincing wins in their series openers. 

 

Alta Sports looks at the standout performers and the disappointments who saw action in Game 1 of the Pistons-Cavs and Thunder-Lakers series in the Conference Semifinals. 

 

 

 

The Thunder didn’t mind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander failing to extend his 20-point streak in Game 1 against the Lakers on Wednesday (PH time) as Chet Holmgren took over for them in the series opener.

 

 

Holmgren posted a double-double in OKC’s 108-90 win, recording a team-high 24 points and 12 rebounds. He also was a menace on the defensive end, racking up three blocks and one steal in 31 minutes of action against LA. 

 

 

 

Cade Cunningham powered Detroit to a 1-0 lead in its best-of-seven series against Cleveland, scoring a team-high 23 points in the Pistons’ 111-101 win over the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

 

Cunningham shot 6-for-19 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free-throw line. He also was Detroit’s chief facilitator, issuing a game-high seven assists. He added 3 rebounds and 2 steals for the Pistons, who are looking to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2008. 

 

 

The Los Angeles Lakers may have lost heavily in Game 1, but it wasn’t because of LeBron James, who once again posted incredible numbers in his latest playoff appearance. He led all scorers in LA’s 108-90 loss to OKC, dropping 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting.

 

James also contributed in other departments, finishing with 6 assists and 4 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. The Lakers will need more of the same from James in Game 2 for them to have a chance of tying the series. 

 

 

 

With Luka Doncic remaining sidelined in Game 1 because of a hamstring injury, the onus was on Austin Reaves to provide the scoring support to LeBron James in the series opener against OKC. That didn’t materialize as Reaves had a rough shooting night in Oklahoma City.

 

 

Reaves finished the game with just eight points, shooting 3-for-16 from the field. His 18.8% field-goal clip in Game 1 was the lowest by any Laker in a playoff game over the last 35 years (minimum 15 field-goal attempts). He also was sloppy with the basketball, committing four turnovers in the loss. 

 

 

 

One of the main reasons why the Cavs lost to the Pistons in Game 1 was the poor play of Jarrett Allen. Much was expected from the 28-year-old big man after he dropped 22 points and grabbed 19 boards in Cleveland’s Game 7 win over Toronto, but he only mustered two points and three rebounds in the series opener at Little Caesars Arena.

 

Allen shot 1-of-4 from the field as he played just 18 minutes in Game 1. He will need to play much better in Game 2 for the Cavs to even the series. 

 

 

Cleveland may have stolen the victory in Game 1 if only James Harden had shot the ball well from the perimeter. He struggled to get his outside shot going, missing six of his seven 3-point attempts in the Cavs’ loss to the Pistons. Harden also was careless with the rock, turning the ball over seven times in Game 1.

 

Cleveland will need a more efficient Harden in Game 2 for them to head back home with the series all tied.