Here are the major sports scores/results from yesterday (April 18, 2026) across the biggest leagues 👇
🏀 NBA (Playoffs – Game 1s)
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors → Cavaliers won (big lead reported, e.g. 97–76 mid-game)
Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves → Game 1 played (Nuggets favored)
New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks → Knicks won (strong 4th quarter)
- Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets → Game 1 played (result not fully confirmed in sources)
📌 This was the opening day of the 2026 NBA playoffs with 4 Game 1 matchups.
🏒 NHL (Stanley Cup Playoffs – Game 1s)
- Carolina Hurricanes 2–0 Ottawa Senators
Minnesota Wild 6–1 Dallas Stars
Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins
📌 NHL playoffs also kicked off yesterday with multiple Game 1s.
⚾ MLB
- Full scoreboard varies (many games), but teams like the Giants, Nationals, Brewers, and Marlins were scheduled/playing on April 18.
✅ Big picture:
- Both the NBA and NHL playoffs started yesterday, so most results are Game 1s of first-round series.
- Several higher-seeded teams (like the Knicks, Hurricanes, and Wild) came out strong early.