New York Knicks' Mikal Bridges dunks the ball during the first half of Game 1 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Philadelphia 76ers Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell didn’t have much time to revel in reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals after surviving grueling first-round matchups.

The Central Division rivals must quickly prepare for their series, which starts tonight in Detroit.

“I think we’ve already moved on (to focusing on Detroit). I will enjoy watching the games for sure as I get treatment, but waiting on Tuesday, simple as that,” Mitchell said after Sunday night’s 114-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Both teams feel battle-tested after being taken to the limit in the first round. The two series, though, were different.

The top-seeded Pistons reached the second round for the first time since 2008 after becoming the 15th team to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic.

“It wasn’t the way that we would’ve drew it up, but we’ll take it,” Cunningham said after Sunday’s 116-94 win. “I think that’s the way it’s meant to be. I think we’re going to be better for it, and I’m excited for what’s to come first. Playoff win. I want to get plenty more.”

The Cavaliers are in the second round for the third straight season. Their matchup against the Raptors was the only first-round series in which the home team won all seven games.

“Toronto did some unbelievable things. They prepared us for Detroit, but we know we’re facing a really good team,” said Cavaliers guard James Harden. “They got Cade, who’s the head of the snake, who’s playing well, Tobias Harris, who’s been playing extremely well. We’ll figure out what they like to do, figure out what we want to do, and just take it from there.”

Cleveland and Detroit split the four regular-season meetings.

J.B. Bickerstaff was Cleveland’s coach for five seasons, 2019-24, and guided the Cavaliers to a pair of postseason appearances. Bickerstaff was fired after the 2023-24 season and a second-round exit to Boston in five games after clashes with the front office and players.

Bickerstaff was hired by Detroit and has guided the Pistons to a pair of playoff berths and the Eastern Conference’s best record this season. It was the first time the Pistons won 60 games since 2005-06.

Knicks cruise

NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half and the New York Knicks emphatically added to a historic postseason roll by overwhelming the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks became the first team in NBA history to win three straight postseason games by at least 25 points, continuing a wave that began midway through the first round against Atlanta by shooting 63% from the field and leading by 40 points.

OG Anunoby added 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges both had 17, with Towns adding six rebounds and six assists in just 20 minutes.

After trailing 2-1 against Atlanta, the Knicks have won four straight games by a total of 135 points. They are the first team since detailed play-by-play began in 1996-97 to lead three straight playoff games by at least 30 points, according to Sportradar.

Game 2 is Wednesday night before the series shifts to Philadelphia — with Joel Embiid already pleading with 76ers fans not to sell their tickets to Knicks fans when it does.

Paul George scored 17 points for Philadelphia. Embiid shot just 3 for 11 for his 14 points and Tyrese Maxey had just 13, not making his first basket until five minutes into the second quarter.

Magic fire coach

Jamahl Mosley has been fired as coach of the Orlando Magic, paying the widely expected price after the team blew a 3-1 series lead and got eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

It was Orlando’s third consecutive first-round playoff exit, and easily the most disappointing. Not only did the eighth-seeded Magic lose all three chances to upset the top-seeded Pistons, but one of those games saw Orlando have a 24-point second-half lead at home and still lose. That loss probably was the one that sealed Mosley’s fate.

Mavs make move

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks hired former Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri as team president and alternate governor on Monday, the latest step in moving on from the Luka Doncic trade that ended up being a significant setback for the club.

Ujiri was in charge of the Raptors when they acquired Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs and won the 2018-19 NBA title in Leonard’s only season with Toronto.

The 55-year-old Ujiri replaces Nico Harrison, who was fired as general manager in November. That was nine months after Dallas acquired oft-injured center Anthony Davis from the Lakers in the deal for Doncich, a star in his prime.