The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and our NBA insiders have you ever lined for each sport within the march to the Finals.
The No. 4 Denver Nuggets and No. 5 LA Clippers performed one other shut thriller on Monday, this time with the Clips grinding out a Recreation 2 win due to Kawhi Leonard‘s stellar efficiency. The sequence now heads to Intuit Dome for the primary playoff video games to performed on the NBA’s latest area.
With the Clippers-Nuggets tied at one sport apiece, Tuesday’s slate within the West will attempt to see the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers do the identical towards the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. The No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies will even goal to get again on observe however face a tall order following Sunday’s 51-point blowout loss by the hands of the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder.
Because the West playoffs proceed, here is what issues most and what to look at for in all 4 sequence.
Bounce to a sequence:
Thunder-Grizzlies | Rockets-Warriors
Lakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-Clippers
Extra protection:
East first-round takeaways
Schedules and results |
Offseason guides
Monday’s sport
Recreation 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
What we realized: Kawhi Leonard remains to be able to postseason brilliance. After an underwhelming, seven-turnover efficiency in Recreation 1, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated the staff wanted to get Leonard again into “assault mode” once more. Think about that answered after Leonard’s exceptionally environment friendly 39 factors on 15-for-19 capturing in Recreation 2. That was his most factors since a 41-point displaying towards Utah again on Dec. 8, 2023.
Leonard begin Tuesday’s sport by hitting his first six photographs, missed a 3-pointer, then hit six extra in a row. It wasn’t till the fourth quarter he missed consecutive photographs, however the two-time NBA champ was as near automated as a scorer may be in what has already became a contentious sequence. Leonard sealed the Clippers win by clawing away a cross court docket cross by Nikola Jokic within the remaining minute. It was Jokic’s seventh turnover of the sport, a testomony to how tightly the Clippers have defended him.
Recreation 3: Nuggets at Clippers (Thursday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at:
Denver obtained robust contributions from Jokic (26 factors, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), Jamal Murray (23 factors), Michael Porter Jr. (15 factors) and Aaron Gordon (14). However exterior of Russell Westbrook’s 14 factors, no different Denver participant made an affect offensively. That is going to have to alter if the Nuggets are going to win a sport at Intuit Dome.
One shiny facet for the Nuggets? They obliterated the Clippers on the offensive glass. It is undermining the Clippers’ excellent half-court protection and giving Denver additional alternatives to attain (18 second-chance factors on Tuesday). So regardless that the Clippers did not quit the 29 factors off turnovers like within the first sport, this one got here all the way down to the wire once more.
— Ramona Shelburne
Recreation 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
What we realized:
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 one way or the other 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 large 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 surprise what would have occurred if James Harden wasn’t in foul bother for a lot of the sport. He was sensible for the staff, however the Nuggets survived with grit and would possibly simply have rediscovered their championship swagger after a tumultuous remaining week of the common season. — Shelburne
West first-round sequence
Recreation 1: Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
What we realized:
This wasn’t a good struggle. The Grizzlies have their palms full towards the Thunder — a staff recent off setting the report for greatest level differential in an everyday season — no matter circumstances. However on a 36-hour turnaround from the play-in finale with journey in between? Good luck, Grizzlies. Oklahoma Metropolis’s smothering protection overwhelmed Memphis, fueling a 17-0 benefit in fast-break factors within the first half.
This sport was over halfway via the second quarter regardless of MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting off to a gradual begin (2-of-10 capturing in first half) and ending along with his fewest factors (15) in a sport this season. Granted, he was subbed out for the remainder of the sport with just below 5 minutes left within the third quarter.
Recreation 2: Grizzlies at Thunder (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at:
If the Grizzlies cannot generate some transition offense, they will be making a quick break for Cancun quickly. Oklahoma Metropolis’s top-ranked protection is just too powerful to should grind out each possession within the half court docket. The Thunder rotated two premier perimeter stoppers (Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace) on Ja Morant and have two others (Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso) to make the most of towards Desmond Bane or Jaren Jackson Jr. Oh, and Oklahoma Metropolis has a tandem of terrific rim protectors (Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein) as co-anchors. If the Grizzlies cannot run, their possibilities of profitable are slim and none.
— Tim MacMahon
Recreation 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
What we realized:
The Warriors can play protection too. The Rockets did not even rating 50 factors till the 4:36 mark of the third quarter, and their 85 factors have been the fewest this season. The Rockets had a livid begin, highlighted by Alperen Sengun‘s monster dunk on Draymond Green, however the Warriors saved hanging round. Stephen Curry started scoring inside on drives towards aggressive defenders whereas nonetheless discovering time to hit ridiculous 3-point photographs. Jimmy Butler III additionally started to select his spots and completed with 25 factors, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
On protection, the Warriors appeared content material with letting Sengun rating, though the All-Star ahead had solely 4 of his 26 factors within the fourth quarter. The Rockets discovered scoring tough, capturing 6-for-29 from 3 and lacking a number of makes an attempt on the rim. They trailed by 23 within the third quarter however obtained again into the sport by dominating the glass with 22 second-chance factors and 22 offensive boards (almost eight greater than their regular-season common).
Houston obtained to inside three halfway via the fourth as Amen Thompson made some huge baskets, however Butler hit two huge photographs ultimately and the Warriors confirmed precisely why nobody needed to face them and their championship expertise within the first spherical. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Recreation 2: Warriors at Rockets (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at: Golden State appeared to swipe Houston’s id within the first half, outscoring the Rockets in transition 14-2. Shedding in that space offers the youthful, extra athletic Rockets just about no shot this sequence, particularly contemplating their season-long struggles producing half-court offense. An aggressive, bodily begin helped Houston seize a 13-point first half lead that vaporized when the veteran Warriors settled in.
Search for Houston to proceed asserting physicality to put on down Golden State, whereas relying much more on Sengun within the half court docket. Sengun blistered Inexperienced as Houston’s most dependable scorer, however he cannot do all of the work alone on offense. — Michael C. Wright
Recreation 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95
What we realized:
The Lakers group equipped for Recreation 1 by distributing a hype video with their postseason motto “Unleash Pleasure.” The video, within the Lakers’ phrases, was meant to tip off their “2025 Playoff Run.” The anticipation for a deep playoff push was comprehensible, contemplating how properly L.A. performed after buying and selling for Luka Doncic and securing the No. 3 seed within the West.
And the way in which Saturday began, with Doncic personally outscoring Minnesota with 14 factors as L.A. went up 20-12 early within the first, that story was seemingly going to plan. However no person in L.A.’s advertising division thought of that the Wolves, who misplaced to Doncic within the convention finals a 12 months in the past, would turn out to be the principle characters.
“We all know not many individuals are selecting us,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch stated pregame. “I believe our guys have leaned into that slightly bit.”
After Doncic’s preliminary flourish, the Wolves took management within the second and third quarters, main by as many as 27 factors as they owned the boards (44-38) and unfold out the Lakers’ protection by making the additional cross to open shooters (hitting a franchise postseason report 21-of-42 from 3). The run-up to this sequence centered on Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves on one facet and Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle on the opposite. Nonetheless, Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid mixed for 48 factors on 19-for-25 capturing to fully outperform L.A.’s position gamers and put the Wolves within the driver’s seat.
0:52
Stephen A: LeBron was ‘torpid,’ Luka was a defensive legal responsibility
Stephen A. Smith breaks down the Lakers’ Recreation 1 loss to the Timberwolves, calling out each LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Recreation 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to look at:
Lakers beginning middle Jaxson Hayes performed solely eight minutes, with coach JJ Redick choosing Jarred Vanderbilt on the 5 and utilizing his exercise (and a few of his extracurricular efforts to get below the Wolves gamers’ pores and skin) to attempt to make a dent within the monstrous deficit, getting as shut as 12. Redick can have a call to make relating to whether or not he’ll wish to give Hayes a re-examination — that beginning group was 10-3 within the common season — or make his first chess transfer of the sequence going small from the beginning, ceding the dimensions drawback.
— Dave McMenamin
