The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are underway, and our NBA insiders have you ever coated for each sport within the march to the Finals.
Apart from the No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and their season-long maintain on the highest total spot, the playoff race within the Western Convention was continuously in flux. That arrange some high-powered matchups on this first spherical — highlighted by LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers taking over Anthony Edwards and the 6-seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Houston Rockets have been one of many season’s most improved groups, ending because the No. 2 seed. Their reward? A conflict with Stephen Curry and the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. And, the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets (led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic) sq. off with No. 5 seed LA Clippers. The No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies spherical out the bracket, going in opposition to the Thunder after escaping the play-in match.
Throughout these 4 matchups, here is what stood out from every sport and what to observe — from gamers, storylines and response — as every collection progresses.
Soar to a collection:
Thunder-Grizzlies | Rockets-Warriors
Lakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-Clippers
Extra protection:
East first-round takeaways
Schedules and outcomes |
Offseason guides
Recreation 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
What we realized in Recreation 1:
Denver can take a punch — actually. Nikola Jokic obtained hit within the face by an errant Derrick Jones Jr. forearm, picked up a technical foul for arguing the non-call and someway rallied the Nuggets again from a 15-point deficit to win this sport in time beyond regulation. Russell Westbrook was unbelievable on the glass with clutch offensive rebounds, putbacks and even a key 3-pointer down the stretch. It was his first profession go-ahead 3 inside the ultimate 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation in his playoff profession. Jamal Murray shook off a poor first half to complete with two enormous 3-pointers within the fourth quarter, and Aaron Gordon had six of the Nuggets’ 14 factors in time beyond regulation to seal the win. The Clippers will marvel what would have occurred if James Harden wasn’t in foul bother for a lot of the sport. He was good for LA. However the Nuggets survived with grit and would possibly simply have rediscovered their championship swagger after a tumultuous remaining week of the common season.
Recreation 2: Clippers at Nuggets (Monday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
What we’re looking ahead to in Recreation 2:
Each groups appeared gassed by the tip of this slugfest and have simply sooner or later to recuperate earlier than Recreation 2 on Monday. The Clippers in all probability would have gained this simply in the event that they’d been tighter with the ball. They gave up 26 factors off 16 turnovers Saturday. The one Clippers who ought to get credit score for holding on to the ball are in all probability affiliate head coach Jeff Van Gundy and coach Jasen Powell, who teamed as much as win a wrestling match with Jokic late within the fourth quarter. On the Denver aspect, the Nuggets will want extra from Michael Porter Jr. to have an opportunity on this collection. He scored Denver’s first factors of the sport and wasn’t an element the remainder of the best way, ending with simply three factors in 26 minutes.
— Ramona Shelburne
One factor to observe from the Lakers:
The Lakers opened the preseason in opposition to the Timberwolves. Then they performed them to start out the common season. And now the 2 groups meet within the first spherical of the playoffs. Because the rescinded commerce for Mark Williams, L.A.’s measurement has been questioned. Minnesota ranked fifteenth in rebounds per sport this season (44.3); L.A. ranked twenty sixth (42.4). The Lakers might want to rebound with their wings and guards and never solely depend on heart Jaxson Hayes to manage that accountability. — Dave McMenamin
One factor to observe from the Timberwolves:
Pay shut consideration to Mike Conley’s minutes, notably on the defensive finish. The Lakers’ ball handlers — Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves — comprise one of many NBA’s finest trios and are extraordinarily aggressive at drawing contact and attending to the basket. If Conley is not holding up properly there, reserve Nickeil Alexander-Walker — 5 inches taller at 6-foot-5 — figures to be in line for substantial minutes off the pine. — Chris Herring
Recreation 1: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)
One factor to observe from the Thunder:
Given we’re speaking a couple of workforce that got here simply two wins in need of 70 wins and completed with the perfect level differential in NBA historical past, the best-case state of affairs is successful the championship with ease. The 2 largest margins of victory in latest classic got here from the 2016-17 Warriors, who went a document 16-1 within the playoffs, and final 12 months’s Celtics, who completed 16-3. That sort of dominance is hardly out of the query for Oklahoma Metropolis, though the Thunder are all however sure to face stiffer postseason competitors than final 12 months’s Celtics did. — Kevin Pelton
One factor to observe from the Grizzlies:
By the point March rolled round Memphis was beginning to slide, dropping its first three video games to start out the month and finally dropping 10 of 16 video games. That led to the firing on Mar. 28 of Taylor Jenkins, the winningest coach in franchise historical past, and the promotion of recent staffer Tuomas Iisalo to interim head coach. The transfer was made to optimize Ja Morant, who thrives with the ball in his palms. Memphis misplaced its first three video games below the brand new regime however workforce seems be adjusting to Iisalo. — Michael C. Wright
Recreation 1: Warriors at Rockets (Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
One factor to observe from the Rockets:
When the motion slows and each possession issues, can Houston constantly generate sufficient half-court offense to finest a battle-tested Warriors membership for a complete seven-game collection? It is a conundrum Rockets coach Ime Udoka had already been pondering as his workforce closed the common season, leaning into its bodily id whereas working to wash up points on offense. The final time Udoka confronted Golden State within the playoffs, he was the coach in Boston and watched Stephen Curry common 31.2 factors in opposition to his Celtics within the 2022 NBA Finals. Happily for the Rockets, they could have the best Curry-stopper in rising star Amen Thompson, who locked down Curry when the groups met April 6, holding him to 1-for-10 taking pictures. Can Thompson deal with such an necessary accountability within the first postseason collection of his profession? — Michael C. Wright
One factor to observe from the Warriors:
The Warriors should work out a solution to free Curry of Houston’s bodily defenders like Thompson and Dillon Brooks. However that’s the place Jimmy Butler III is available in. He won’t solely have to assist Curry with the scoring load, but additionally carry the essential non-Curry minutes. After which the 6-foot-6 Draymond Inexperienced should discover a solution to include 6-11 Alperen Sengun inside, particularly on the glass, regardless of the peak drawback. — Ohm Youngmisuk