DETROIT — All season long, the Detroit Pistons have developed their identity based on playing elite, suffocating defense. It saw the Pistons snag the No. 1 seed in the playoffs after an historic defensive output where the team led the NBA in steals and blocks.

The conference’s frenzied first round also changed FanDuel’s market for 2025-26 NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Superstar Celtics like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were previously among the favorites for the media-voted award before their untimely first-round dismissal.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is questionable for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals vs. the New York Knicks Friday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Boston Celtics are out. The bracket is wide open. And on paper, the Cavs are sitting on exactly the path they wanted heading into the postseason. So why isn’t the Wine and Gold Talk podcast more excited?

An elite penalty kill and a sudden power-play surge silenced Philadelphia, as Jalen Chatfield’s shorthanded strike moved Carolina within striking distance of the Eastern Conference Final.

The Canadiens received a lift in Game 7 of the first round with the return of Noah Dobson from an upper-body injury. The defenseman made his debut this postseason Sunday and had an instant impact, recording four hits and two blocked shots in 18:37 of ice time.

Philadelphia pushed New York to the limit at Madison Square Garden, but a late Knicks surge left the Sixers facing a daunting 2-0 deficit.

After the Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens took some time to sit down and assess the season and what Boston will need in the future with the media in a recent press conference.