The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each sport within the march to the Finals.
On Wednesday, the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off an upset by eliminating the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers in a Recreation 5 win.
Thursday, the No. 5 LA Clippers pressured a Recreation 7 with the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in entrance of their dwelling crowd, behind 28 factors from James Harden. They’ll face off Saturday to see which workforce advances to play the No. 1 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Friday, the No. 2 Houston Rockets additionally pressured a Recreation 7 towards the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. The winner of the Rockets-Warriors sequence will tackle the Timberwolves.
Because the West playoffs proceed, right here’s what issues most and what to observe for in all 4 sequence.
Soar to a sequence:Thunder-Grizzlies | Rockets-WarriorsLakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-Clippers
Extra protection:East first-round takeawaysSchedules and outcomes | Offseason guides
Recreation 6: Rockets 115, Warriors 107
What we discovered:
Veteran Houston guard Fred VanVleet splashed a 26-foot 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing with 6:49 remaining to place the Rockets up by 12 factors, whereas successfully snuffing out any actual hope for a Golden State comeback in Recreation 6. Houston pressured Recreation 7 on Sunday at Toyota Middle with a 115-107 victory over the Warriors. All sequence lengthy, Golden State devoted vital defensive assets to close down taking pictures guard Jalen Inexperienced, who completed with 12 factors on 3-of-11 taking pictures, whereas selecting to play the odds with VanVleet. Unhealthy transfer for the Warriors, because the 31-year-old is now 18-of-27 from 3-point vary over his final three contests. Main 86-84 to begin the third quarter, VanVleet sparked a 6-0 Houston run by finishing a 4-point play simply six seconds into the body. VanVleet has now produced three consecutive video games with 25 factors or extra for the primary time in his postseason profession, whereas Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson contributed 20 and 14 factors, respectively. Now the groups head into Sunday’s Recreation 7, the place Golden State owns the sting in expertise. Warriors gamers have participated in a mixed 19 Recreation 7s, in comparison with 10 such outings for Houston’s VanVleet, Jeff Inexperienced, Steven Adams and Aaron Vacation.
— Michael C. Wright
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Fred VanVleet’s sixth 3-pointer provides Rockets their largest lead
Fred VanVleet’s sixth 3-pointer forces a Warriors timeout within the fourth quarter.
Recreation 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to observe:
Golden State has shockingly blown its 3-1 cushion and now has to win a Recreation 7 in what will probably be a hostile Toyota Middle ambiance. The Warriors’ offense appeared caught in mud towards Houston’s protection. They opened the fourth quarter taking pictures 1-for-15 and have been outscored at one level 20-5. They’ve been outplayed by Houston in two straight video games and have been unable to get Stephen Curry freed from the Rockets’ protection when it issues. Now they must discover a solution to win in a spot the place they trailed by as a lot as 31 with the starters on the ground within the third quarter of Recreation 5 on Wednesday. If the Warriors’ championship pedigree goes to make a distinction, now could be the time. Curry, Draymond Inexperienced and Jimmy Butler III have performed in these sort of do-or-die video games earlier than. Curry and Inexperienced have performed in 5 Recreation 7s, whereas Butler has been in 4 of them. However how a lot does the Warriors’ Massive Three have left within the tank? Curry and Butler logged 42 minutes and Inexperienced went 37 minutes in Recreation 6 and could have in the future off earlier than Recreation 7. Curry and Butler want offensive assist, however the place will it come from?
— Ohm Youngmisuk
Recreation 6: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105
What we discovered:
Every part is totally different for the Clippers when James Harden has area to run or — in his self-proclaimed case — be “the system.” Harden bore the brunt of the criticism after his tepid 11 factors on 9 photographs in Tuesday’s Recreation 6 loss. His earlier playoff failings made for simple fodder for the nationwide discourse. However earlier than the sport, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue put Harden’s struggles on himself and the sport plan he drew up the earlier two video games, saying he needed to do a greater job of making area for Harden to function. He did simply that in Recreation 6 by ensuring Harden had the ball in his arms early, and doubled down within the second half when he swapped Nicolas Batum into the beginning lineup for Kris Dunn, whom the Nuggets have been typically leaving on protection to double-team or blitz Harden’s drives. It modified every little thing for Harden and LA’s offense, which shot a blistering 51% Thursday night time. With Batum on the courtroom within the second half, LA was even higher — going 6-for-6 off passes from Batum.
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Westbrook blows a layup, Powell hits dagger 3
After Russell Westbrook blows a layup, the Clippers go downcourt and get a Norman Powell 3-pointer to go up 9 late within the fourth.
Recreation 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to observe:
What’s going to the Nuggets do to counter the Clippers’ transfer of swapping in Batum for Dunn? LA primarily traded offense for protection, and it labored out, with Batum and the remainder of the Clippers defensively hindering Jamal Murray. The Nuggets will certainly regulate earlier than Recreation 7 to get Murray going once more. He’s too fast for Batum if he has area. The Nuggets additionally must be kicking themselves for his or her 14 turnovers, which led to 23 factors for LA. Denver outrebounded, scored extra factors within the paint and received extra bench factors than LA however misplaced the sport due to sloppy performs, missed layups, and an incapacity to capitalize on the Batum-Murray matchup.
— Ramona Shelburne
Recreation 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96
What we discovered:
Lakers coach JJ Redick determined to not begin a middle, and Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves completely feasted on the inside to take the sequence in 5 video games.
After totaling 14 factors and 25 rebounds by the primary 4 video games, Gobert destroyed the Lakers with 27 factors on 12-for-15 taking pictures and 24 rebounds within the clincher. He turned the fifth participant previously 20 seasons to publish a 25-20 line in a closeout sport, becoming a member of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki and Shaquille O’Neal.
The Lakers performed with grit, blanketing Minnesota’s shooters right into a 7-for-47 (14.9%) night time from 3 (together with 0-for-11 for Anthony Edwards) — marking the worst 3-point taking pictures share in a playoff sport in NBA historical past (minimal 40 makes an attempt).
Luka Doncic (again) and LeBron James (left knee) each logged 40 minutes to present the Lakers an opportunity, however the Wolves’ bench manufacturing, outscoring L.A. 22-4, mixed with the points-in-the-paint battle (56-40) proved an excessive amount of.
Minnesota, which has received 21 of its previous 26 video games relationship again to the final quarter of the common season, will probably be a formidable problem to both Golden State or Houston. And the Lakers, as if it wasn’t apparent already, head into the offseason in dire want of a giant man Redick will belief in a playoff sport.
— Dave McMenamin
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LeBron, Lakers eradicated by Gobert-inspired Wolves
Rudy Gobert’s Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-96 to safe a 4-1 sequence win.
Recreation 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
What we discovered:
General top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis made fast work of Memphis, sweeping the Grizzlies, who haven’t received a playoff sequence since 2022 and didn’t beat a Western Convention workforce with a successful report after January. Possible MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his first environment friendly scoring efficiency of the sequence within the finale, ending with 38 factors on 13-of-24 taking pictures. With Ja Morant out, the Grizzlies couldn’t deal with the Thunder’s tenacious defensive stress, committing 22 turnovers that Oklahoma Metropolis transformed into 32 factors. Now, the Thunder will get some relaxation and await the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers sequence.
— Tim MacMahon
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SGA sends OKC into the second spherical with a game-sealing jumper
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits a candy jumper to finish OKC’s sweep over the Grizzlies.
