Sunday, April 26, 2026, brings a pivotal slate of NBA Playoff action as the Los Angeles Lakers aim to complete a 3-0 sweep of the Houston Rockets, even as the Boston Celtics look to extend their series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs seek to avoid falling behind against the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to verified reports from Friday’s games, the Lakers defeated the Rockets 112-108 in overtime to take a commanding 3-0 series lead, fueled by 29 points from LeBron James. James also contributed 13 rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in the victory, which came despite Luka Doncic being sidelined with a hamstring strain and Austin Reaves out with an oblique injury. The Rockets were led by Alperen Sengun’s 33 points and 16 rebounds, but could not hold off LA’s late surge, including a steal and game-tying three-pointer by James with 13.6 seconds left in regulation.
No team in NBA postseason history has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a series, with the Lakers now poised to become the first team in the 2026 playoffs to sweep their opening round opponent. The Lakers will have the chance to close out the series in Houston on Sunday.
In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics secured a 108-100 win over the 76ers in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 25 points, including 11 of those coming in the fourth quarter while shooting 4-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range. His late-game execution proved critical as Boston held off a late Philadelphia push to seize control of the series.
Out West, the Spurs overcame the absence of Victor Wembanyama due to concussion protocol to defeat the Trail Blazers 120-108 and take a 2-1 series lead. Dylan Harper delivered a career-high 27 points off the bench for San Antonio, providing the spark needed after the team fell behind by 15 points in the second half. The win kept the Spurs alive in their series despite missing their franchise cornerstone.
These results set up a high-stakes Sunday slate where multiple series could see decisive shifts. A Lakers win would complete the first sweep of the 2026 playoffs, while a Celtics victory would put them one win away from advancing to the conference semifinals. Meanwhile, a Spurs loss would leave them facing elimination down 3-1 in their series against Portland.
The NBA continues to enforce its standard best-of-seven format across all series, with home-court advantage alternating in a 2-2-1-1-1 pattern. All games are being officiated under the league’s current ruleset, which includes the coach’s challenge system and expanded replay review for certain calls.
Fans can follow the action through official NBA broadcasters and streaming platforms, with updates provided in real time via the NBA app and league website. No further schedule changes or venue adjustments have been announced for Sunday’s games beyond the originally planned matchups.
As the playoffs progress, the health and availability of key players like Doncic, Reaves, Wembanyama and Durant — who remains sidelined for Houston with a sprained ankle — will continue to influence series outcomes and tactical adjustments by coaching staffs.
The next checkpoint in the NBA Playoffs will be the completion of Sunday’s games, after which series standings will be updated and potential schedule adjustments for subsequent rounds may be announced based on series conclusions.
Share your thoughts on Sunday’s playoff action in the comments below, and stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
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