No Garden Party for Dyson Daniels' Hawks in GM1

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Sydney point guard Tyrese Proctor's Cleveland Cavaliers went 1-0 against the Toronto Raptors, Dyson Daniels' Atlanta Hawks 0-1 against the New York Knicks and veteran Joe Ingles' Minnesota Timberwolves 0-1 against arch rivals Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs today (AEDT).

Daniels, 22, was the only Australian player to log minutes as Proctor and Ingles were both DNP-coach's decisions.

Daniels' Australian Boomers teammate Jock Landale is out injured and is unlikely to be available for the first round.

East 1st Round – Game 1

NBA Scores: New York Knicks 113 def. Atlanta Hawks 102‍

Madison Square Garden – New York
Series: NY leads 1–0

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: ATL 24–31–19–28 (102) │ NY 30–27–26–30 (113)
• Largest Lead: New York +19
• Game Flow: Fast start from both teams before New York’s third-quarter control and late run sealed it.

The opener began at pace, with both teams shooting efficiently early. Jalen Brunson set the tone immediately, scoring 19 first-quarter points as New York built a six-point edge. Atlanta responded in the second behind CJ McCollum, trimming the margin to two at halftime (57–55), but the tempo slowed dramatically after the break.

The third quarter turned physical and fragmented, with fouls, reviews and disrupted offensive rhythm. That played into New York’s hands.

With the game still within reach late, the Knicks found separation through Karl-Anthony Towns, who took over after halftime. A decisive 10–0 run midway through the fourth quarter pushed the lead beyond 15, creating enough buffer to withstand a late Atlanta push.

Dyson Daniels — Box Score Analysis

Australian guard Dyson Daniels played a high-impact, low-usage role across 36 minutes:

• 4 points │ 2-of-7 FG │ 9 rebounds │ 11 assists │ 3 steals │ -3 +/-

Daniels operated as a connector within Atlanta’s offence, facilitating possessions and generating transition opportunities. His 11 assists led the Hawks, while his defensive activity (three steals) disrupted New York’s perimeter actions.

Jock Landale — Status

Jock Landale did not feature and is out injured, remaining unavailable for the rest of the season.

Key Performers

• Jalen Brunson (NY) – 28 points, 7 assists
• Karl-Anthony Towns (NY) – 25 points (19 in second half)
• OG Anunoby (NY) – 18 points
• Josh Hart (NY) – 11 points, 14 rebounds
• CJ McCollum (ATL) – 26 points
• Jalen Johnson (ATL) – 23 points

By the Numbers

• Field Goal %: NY 48% │ ATL 44%
• 3PT Shooting: NY 12-of-25 │ ATL 14-of-37
• Free Throws: NY 25-of-30 │ ATL 12-of-19
• Rebounds: NY 45 │ ATL 40
• Assists: ATL 25 │ NY 22

West 1st Round – Game 1

NBA Scores: Denver Nuggets 116 def. Minnesota Timberwolves 105‍

Ball Arena – Denver
Series: DEN leads 1–0

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: MIN 33–29–17–26 (105) │ DEN 23–39–29–25 (116)
• Largest Lead: Denver +14
• Game Flow: Minnesota jumped early before Denver flipped control in the second, then broke the game open with a decisive third-quarter run in a physical contest.

Denver absorbed an early punch, trailing by double digits in the first quarter as Minnesota’s starters set the tone. The response came quickly.

A 39-point second quarter steadied the Nuggets before a defining stretch in the third quarter – a 17–2 run – created separation. Minnesota’s offence stalled during that window, going more than four minutes without a score as Denver’s pressure and execution lifted.

The Timberwolves trimmed the margin to two late (97–95), but Nikola Jokic steadied the game with a quick scoring burst, while a broken-possession sequence led to an Aaron Gordon dunk that effectively sealed it inside the final two minutes.

It was a grimy, whistle-heavy playoff opener – 42 fouls, multiple technicals, and a clear edge of physicality between two familiar Western Conference rivals.

Joe Ingles — Box Score Analysis

Australian veteran Joe Ingles was DNP – Coach’s Decision, with Minnesota shortening its rotation to nine players in the playoff opener.

The Timberwolves leaned heavily on their core:

• Anthony Edwards – 22 points, 7 assists, 9 rebounds
• Rudy Gobert – 17 points, 10 rebounds

With the game played at a physical, defensive level, Minnesota prioritised size, on-ball defence and interior presence, leaving Ingles out of the rotation.

Key Performers

• Nikola Jokic (DEN) – 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists
• Jamal Murray (DEN) – 30 points, 16-of-16 FT
• Aaron Gordon (DEN) – 17 points
• Anthony Edwards (MIN) – 22 points, 7 assists

By the Numbers

• Free Throws: DEN 30-of-33 │ MIN 14-of-19
• Assists: DEN 27 │ MIN 21
• Rebounds: DEN 47 │ MIN 43
• 3PT Shooting: MIN 11-of-34 │ DEN 10-of-36

Denver’s ability to win a physical, contested opener extends its winning streak to 13 games and reinforces its playoff control.

For Minnesota, the rotation tightening leaves Joe Ingles on the fringe early in the series, with adjustments needed heading into Game 2 as they look to counter Denver’s third-quarter dominance.

East 1st Round – Game 1

NBA Scores: Cleveland Cavaliers 126 def. Toronto Raptors 113‍

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – Cleveland
Series: CLE leads 1–0

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: TOR 31–23–22–37 (113) │ CLE 35–26–36–29 (126)
• Largest Lead: Cleveland +24
• Game Flow: Competitive early before Cleveland’s late second-quarter surge and dominant third-quarter stretch broke the game open.

Toronto stayed within range through the first half, with RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes leading the offence. A late second-quarter push had the Raptors within striking distance before Cleveland shifted gears.

A 27–9 run across the end of the second quarter and into the third created separation, with the Cavaliers finding consistent scoring through Donovan Mitchell and a hot-shooting bench. Cleveland extended the margin beyond 20 early in the fourth, capitalising on Toronto’s stalled execution and lack of offensive flow.

Tyrese Proctor — Box Score Analysis

Australian guard Tyrese Proctor was DNP – Coach’s Decision in Game 1, as Cleveland shortened its playoff rotation.

The Cavaliers relied on their established guard depth and scoring options, with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell controlling primary ball-handling duties and bench contributors filling complementary roles.

Key Performers

• Donovan Mitchell (CLE) – 32 points
• Max Strus (CLE) – 24 points (8-of-10 FG, 4-of-6 3PT)
• James Harden (CLE) – 22 points, 10 assists
• Evan Mobley (CLE) – 17 points
• RJ Barrett (TOR) – 24 points
• Scottie Barnes (TOR) – 21 points, 7 assists

By the Numbers

• Field Goal %: CLE 54% │ TOR 52%
• 3PT Shooting: CLE 16-of-32 │ TOR 13-of-27
• Free Throws: CLE 22-of-28 │ TOR 26-of-35
• Rebounds: CLE 33 │ TOR 27

Cleveland’s depth and shot-making created early series control, with a decisive third-quarter stretch proving the difference.

For Tyrese Proctor, Game 1 places him outside the immediate rotation, with opportunities likely to depend on matchup adjustments as the series progresses.