NBA Playoff Madness: Two 3-1 Comebacks, Celtics Eliminated, and Conference Semis Are Set

The NBA Playoffs just gave us a weekend for the history books, and if you had money on the underdogs, you might be counting your winnings right now. We just witnessed three Game 7s, two historic 3-1 series comebacks, and the shocking elimination of the Boston Celtics. Let's break down the madness from the first round and look ahead to the Conference Semifinals. 76ers Shock the Celtics in Boston The Philadelphia 76ers walked into TD Garden as massive underdogs and walked out with a 109-100 Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics. Even more shocking? They did it with Jayson Tatum sitting out due to a knee injury. After falling behind 3-1 in the series, the Sixers rallied to win three straight, proving that counting out Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey is a dangerous game. The Celtics, who were a popular pick to win the East, suffered a monumental collapse. For bettors, this was the upset of the weekend. Pistons Complete 3-1 Comeback Against Magic Detroit basketball is officially back. The Pistons routed the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 to complete their own 3-1 series comeback, marking their first playoff series win since 2008. Cade Cunningham was absolutely electric, dropping 32 points and dishing out 12 assists. He became just the seventh player in NBA history to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in a Game 7. Tobias Harris added massive support, as the duo combined for 62 points. On the other side, the Magic suffered a historic offensive freeze, scoring just 19 points in one half—the lowest-scoring half by a team in NBA playoff history. The fallout was immediate, as Orlando dismissed head coach Jamahl Mosley shortly after the exit. Cavaliers Hold Off Raptors in Home-Court Heavy Series In the only first-round series where the road team failed to win a single game, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-102. Jarrett Allen was an absolute monster in the paint, putting up 22 points, 19 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. Donovan Mitchell turned it on when it mattered, scoring 15 of his 22 points in the second half, while James Harden chipped in 18 points. The Cavs dominated the glass, outrebounding Toronto 60-33. Scottie Barnes fought hard for the Raptors with 24 points and 9 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome Cleveland's size. Looking Ahead: Conference Semifinals Betting Angles With the first round in the books, the second-round matchups are set. Here is what we're looking at: Eastern Conference - (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers - (3) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers Western Conference - (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers - (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves The Pistons open as -120 series favorites against the Cavaliers, with Cleveland sitting at +100. For Game 1, Detroit is a 3.5-point favorite. After seeing Detroit's momentum and Cleveland's reliance on home court, the Pistons laying the points in Game 1 looks like a solid angle. In the West, keep an eye on Anthony Edwards' knee injury—he is currently listed as questionable for Game 1 against the Spurs, which will significantly impact the lines. --- Related reading: - NBA Playoff Elimination Watch: Six Series on the Brink Heading Into Thursday - Cade Cunningham vs. Paolo Banchero: A 45-Point Playoff Duel for the Ages - NBA Playoff Recap: Embiid Erupts for 33 as Sixers Force Game 6, Magic on Brink of Historic Upset