Only six No. 8 seeds in NBA playoff history have taken down a No. 1 in the postseason.
A seventh is closing in on adding their name to that list.
The eighth-seeded Orlando Magic, coached by Milwaukee-native Jamahl Mosley, are one win from completing an upset of the No. 1 Detroit Pistons in the first round in the Eastern Conference, holding a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 of their series starts a trio of contests on the docket April 29.
The Magic would be the first eighth seed to beat a No. 1 since Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023. Before that, it had been 11 years since the feat was accomplished. The odds are also against the Pistons as only 4.4% of teams down 3-1 have come back to win a series. But the 60-win Pistons are at least at home for Game 5 as they look to claw their way back into the series and find their MIA offense.
Also in the Eastern Conference will be the continuation of the No. 5 Toronto Raptors-No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers series. That series is tied at 2-2 after each team won a pair of games in their home arenas. Now, the series is back in Cleveland for a critical Game 5. Will the Cavs regain their mojo or will the Raptors carry over the momentum from the last two games?
The second potential clinching series is out West for Game 5 of the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers-No. 5 Houston Rockets. It will be the second opportunity for the Lakers, up 3-1 in the series, to advance after they failed to sweep the Rockets in a 24-turnover performance in Game 4.
While the Rockets fought off elimination once, they’ll continue to be without superstar Kevin Durant, who has been ruled out for Game 5 with an ankle injury. It will be the third straight game he’ll miss in this series and fourth overall.
Here’s more on the NBA playoff schedule on April 29, including start times, where to watch, an updated bracket and the full schedule for every series:
What NBA games are on tonight? NBA playoff start times
Three Game 5s are on the playoff schedule on April 29:
All times are Central
What channel are the NBA playoffs on? Where to watch the NBA games today on TV, stream
The action begins on Prime Video with Game 5 of Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic at 6 p.m.
ESPN, which is available to stream on Fubo, has a doubleheader with coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. with the Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors followed by the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets.
Here’s where to watch the playoff games on April 29:
Watch on Prime Video
Stream ESPN on Fubo
NBA playoff bracket
All series are best-of-seven:
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
NBA playoff series, schedule, scores
A review of all the first-round playoff series with scores and schedules:
Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8)
Boston Celtics (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)
New York Knicks (3) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6)
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Toronto Raptors (5)
Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Phoenix Suns (8)
San Antonio Spurs (2) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7)
Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (6)
Los Angeles Lakers (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5)
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NBA playoff TV schedule tonight, where watch games, stream, times
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
