By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With Jalen Brunson dropping 39 points, the New York Knicks secured a 3-2 lead over the Atlanta Hawks in their opening-round series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, following a comfortable 126–97 victory at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. British forward OG Anunoby provided a double-double as a starter, recording 17 points and ten rebounds, alongside two steals, a block, and an assist in 35 minutes, but other European talent were limited to brief appearances late in the fourth quarter, including Poland’s Jeremy Sochan, who squeezed in ten points in three minutes, while Germany’s Ariel Hukporti pulled down two rebounds. France’s Pacome Dadiet checked in for one minute, but fellow French import Mohamed Diawara did not see floor time, similar to France’s Zaccharie Risacher staying on the Hawks bench for the duration of Game 5.
In TD Garden, the Philadelphia 76ers kept their postseason hopes alive by erasing a 13-point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 113–97, narrowing the series gap to 3-2. Joel Embiid led the charge with 33 points, supported by Tyrese Maxey’s double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds, with Turkish reserve Adem Bona logging only eight seconds. For the C’s, Portuguese center Neemias Queta started and dominated the glass with 14 rebounds to go along with eight points. Off the bench, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic tallied eight points, Bosnian Luka Garza added four points, British Amari Williams had one point, and Spanish Hugo Gonzalez registered two fruitless minutes, but Ukrainian Max Shulga did not play.
Before the Game 5 clash in Boston, the league honored Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens as the 2025-26 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year. This marks the second time he received the prestigious award, following his first win in the 2023-24 season, making him the 12th executive in league history to earn the title multiple times.
Both best-of-seven series now move to Game 6 on Thursday, with the Hawks hosting at State Farm Arena and the Sixers returning home to Xfinity Mobile Arena.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 1-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 2-2 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 3-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-2 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 3-1 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-3 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 3-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder – Winner 2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions