There's a cliche that gets unearthed at this time of year, without fail, reminding everyone that a playoff series doesn't truly begin until one team wins on the other team's home floor.
If so, then the Toronto-Cleveland, Atlanta-New York and Minnesota-Denver series still haven't gotten going.
The Cavaliers, Knicks and Nuggets all held serve in their playoff openers on Saturday — and will simply look to successfully defend their home floors again when Game 2 of those series get played on Monday night.
“They did their job. They got the first game on their floor," Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards said after the Timberwolves lost Game 1 in Denver, the resumption of what's become one of the league's top playoff rivalries in recent years. "And we’re going to do our job next game.”
Of the three road teams that will be playing on Monday, only the Timberwolves had a double-digit lead at any point in Game 1. They jumped out to a 12-point edge before Denver finally hit its stride.
“We were up against it right away. And that’s a big thing for a road team, to come out and punch the home team in the mouth,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. "That’s what they did after we missed shots. And just the reaction to that, staying together, winning a grimy game, it is good.”
Toronto's biggest lead in Game 1 at Cleveland was five points (27-22 late in the first). It didn't take long for the Cavs to assume control.
“Game 1 is important," Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. "Obviously, they came in confident and they’re a physical team and talented team. But I thought, right off the bat, we set the tone. I think it’s super important.”
Atlanta's biggest lead in Game 1 at New York was just four (11-7 early) — but the Hawks were within single digits of the Knicks most of the way.
“The formula for us, and our identity, has been to run and move the ball," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. "And it’s not like we didn’t do that, but we need to do more of it. We're playing a really good team. It’s Game 1 and you take it, you watch it and we’ll see more specifically some of the things that we need do to be better.”
When/Where to Watch: Game 2, 7 p.m. EDT (Peacock/NBCSN)
Series: Cavaliers lead, 1-0.
Betting line: Cavaliers by 8.5.
What to Know: For as much as people talk about how dynamic the Cleveland backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden is (and rightly so), there's a third part of that equation now that Max Strus is back for the Cavs after missing much of the season because of injury. Strus has played in 13 games this season and scored at least 24 points in four of them, and his 24 off the bench in Game 1 basically was the deciding factor in the game. If there's one big reason for optimism on the Raptors side going into Game 2, maybe it's this: Toronto has shown the ability to regroup quickly after losses, going 18-8 in its most recent 26 games that followed a defeat.
When/Where to Watch: Game 2, 8 p.m. EDT (NBC/Peacock)
Series: Knicks lead, 1-0.
Betting line: Knicks by 5.5.
What to Know: The Hawks have gone on to lose each of their last five playoff series after dropping Game 1, with the most recent exception to that being the 2015 East semifinals against Washington. And the Knicks needed to start this series off the right way, rather than risk waking up the echoes of what was a 4-6 record in their 10 most recent playoff games at Madison Square Garden entering Saturday. Atlanta lost Game 1 by 11 points and took 11 fewer free throws than the Knicks did, a fact that Hawks fans surely noticed. New York got to the foul line 30 times for only the eighth time all season (though in fairness, six of those FTAs came in the final minute).
When/Where to Watch: Game 2, 10:30 p.m. EDT (NBC/Peacock)
Series: Nuggets lead, 1-0.
Betting line: Nuggets by 6.5.
What to Know: No teams have faced off in more playoff games than these two have since the start of the 2023 postseason; Denver is 8-5 in 13 playoff tilts vs. Minnesota in that span, with the combined score of those contests being Nuggets 1,370, Timberwolves 1,351. Game 1 of this matchup did nothing to suggest that another long series between these rivals isn't on the way. Denver had a big edge in free throws attempted (33-19) in Game 1 and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was 16 for 16 from the line (the most free throws without a miss in a playoff game since 2021). Anthony Edwards took 19 shots in Game 1 for Minnesota, and against a high-octane team like Denver the Wolves might be wondering if he needs to take more.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson shouts during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Toronto Raptors, Saturday, April 18, 2026, In Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic looks for a foul call in the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — An exit poll in Bulgaria suggested Sunday that the center-left Progressive Bulgaria coalition led by ex-president Rumen Radev will be the winner of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election.
The poll conducted by Trend research group showed Radev’s coalition earning 39.2% support, edging out the center-right GERB party of its veteran leader, Boyko Borissov, which is expected to capture 15.1%. Despite the huge gap between the two groups, the predicted percentage could not be enough for Radev to form a one-party government, and he will face the uphill task of looking out for partners to govern.
The exit poll also predicted that voter turnout stood at 43.4%, and six parties could pass the 4% threshold to enter a fragmented parliament.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarians are heading to the polls on Sunday for the eighth time in five years, hoping to finally elect a parliament able to resolve the longtime political impasse that has gripped this Balkan country.
The snap vote follows the resignation of a conservative-led government amid nationwide protests last December that drew hundreds of thousands, mainly young people, to the streets. The protesters called for an independent judiciary to tackle widespread corruption.
Since 2021, the nation of 6.5 million has struggled with fragmented parliaments that produced weak governments, none of which managed to survive more than a year before being brought down by street protests or backroom deals in parliament.
The revolving door of governments has fostered widespread public mistrust, voter apathy and a shrinking turnout in elections.
Still, Sunday’s vote is significant as it could bring to power a left-leaning, pro-Russian former president — just days after Hungarian voters rejected the authoritarian policies and global far-right movement of Viktor Orbán, who cultivated close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The front-runner, Bulgaria’s former President Rumen Radev, is leading a newly formed, center-left Progressive Bulgaria coalition. He resigned from the mostly ceremonial presidency in January, a few months before the end of his second term, to launch a bid to lead the government as prime minister.
The 62-year-old former fighter pilot and air force commander is seen as Bulgaria’s most popular politician and has promised to give the nation a fresh start. His supporters are split on those hoping he will put an end to the country’s oligarchic corruption and those lining up behind his Eurosceptic and pro-Russian views.
After voting on Sunday, Radev said that Bulgaria now has a historic chance to change the alleged oligarchic model of governance. He urged people to go to the polls because mass “voting is the only way to drown vote-buying in a sea of free votes.”
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m., and are to close at 8 p.m., after which initial exit polls will be announced. Preliminary results are expected on Monday.
Bulgaria is a European Union and NATO member country, joined the eurozone on Jan. 1, shortly after entering the border-free Schengen travel area. However, it has been plagued by political instability since 2021, when three-time conservative Prime Minister Boyko Borissov resigned following massive protests fueled by anger over widespread corruption and injustice.
Radev has cast himself as an opponent of the country’s entrenched mafia and its ties to high-ranking politicians. At campaign rallies he vowed to “remove the corrupt, oligarchic model of governance from political power.”
And though Radev has officially denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has repeatedly opposed military aid to Kyiv and has favored reopening talks with Russia as a way out of the conflict.
Opinion polls predict that Radev’s coalition could get more than 30% of the vote, putting him nearly 10% ahead of his closest rival — Borissov’s center-right GERB party. Most polls report margins of error from 3 to 3.5%.
Mario Bikarski, senior Eastern and Central Europe analyst at the risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, also believes that Radev’s new coalition stands the best chance to lead a future government, with possibly “the best electoral result for a single party in nearly 10 years.”
Radev's relatively vague campaign has left him open for cooperation with almost any party in the future Parliament, Bikarski noted. He predicted that the vote share for euroskeptic and Russia-leaning parties also will to rise to the highest level in decades.
Radev, however, seems reluctant to enter a formal coalition with the hard right and openly pro-Russian Revival party, Bikarski added.
Former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov speaks to journalists after casting his vote in a polling station in Bankya, Bulgaria, Sunday, April 19, 2026, during early parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
People cast.their ballots at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Sunday, April 19, 2026, during early parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
A man casts his vote during an early election at a polling station in Sofia on Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
A man casts his ballot during an early election at a polling station in Sofia on Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
People cast.their ballots at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Sunday, April 19, 2026, during early parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev casts his vote at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, Sunday, April 19, 2026, during early parliamentary elections. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
A supporter of former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev reacts during the closing rally of his campaign, in Sofia, Thursday, April 16, 2026, as Bulgaria heads into an early parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Supporters of former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev hold posters in the colors of the Bulgarian flag during the closing rally of his campaign, in Sofia, Thursday, April 16, 2026, as Bulgaria heads into an early parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
A print on the back of a jacket of a supporter depicts the former three-time conservative Prime Minister Boyko Borissov at the closing rally of his campaign, in Samokov, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as Bulgaria heads into an early parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Former three-time conservative Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is seen at the closing rally of his campaign, in Samokov, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as Bulgaria heads into an early parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev delivers a speech at the closing rally of his campaign, in Sofia, Thursday, April 16, 2026, as Bulgaria heads into an early parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
