Story perspectives

Top Seeds Host 4-Seeds as Doncic, Williams Miss Game

5/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Game 1 of the Eastern semifinals pits the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-seed) against the Detroit Pistons (1-seed) on May 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Game 1 of the semifinals pits the Los Angeles Lakers (4-seed) against the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-seed) on May 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Luka Doncic and Jalen Williams are out, with Doncic listed week-to-week because of a hamstring injury.
DraftKings odds list the Thunder at -1600 and the Pistons at -150 versus their 4-seed opponents.

History

Historical Context

During the 1993-94 season, the Seattle SuperSonics posted a league-best 63-19 record and earned the top seed, while the Denver Nuggets finished 42-40 as the eighth seed. In the 1994 playoffs, the Nuggets defeated Seattle 3-2, becoming the first eighth-seed to topple a #1 seed. The upset highlighted the era’s growing parity and foreshadowed future underdog runs.

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Story summary

Game 1 of the Eastern semifinals pits the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-seed) against the Detroit Pistons (1-seed) on May 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Game 1 of the semifinals pits the Los Angeles Lakers (4-seed) against the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-seed) on May 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Luka Doncic and Jalen Williams are out, with Doncic listed week-to-week because of a hamstring injury.
DraftKings odds list the Thunder at -1600 and the Pistons at -150 versus their 4-seed opponents.

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