2025 NBA playoffs: Western Convention spherical one takeaways

The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are underway, and our NBA insiders have you ever lined for each recreation within the march to the Finals.

All season lengthy, the Western Convention standings had been in fixed flux, and Saturday’s video games hinted at what ought to be some dramatic first-round matchups. The No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets rallied to an time beyond regulation win over the 5-seed LA Clippers to take Recreation 1, due to some late-game heroics by Russell Westbrook. Within the late recreation, the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves pounced on the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers as Anthony Edwards bought the very best of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Sunday’s matchups will see MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder welcome Ja Morant and the 8-seed Memphis Grizzlies. Following that recreation, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets — one of many season’s most improved groups — will start their conflict with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors.

This is what stood out from Saturday’s outcomes as we get you prepared for Sunday’s video games.

Soar to a sequence:
Thunder-Grizzlies | Rockets-Warriors
Lakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-Clippers

Extra protection:
East first-round takeaways
Schedules and outcomes | Offseason guides

(Timberwolves lead sequence, 1-0)

Recreation 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95

What we realized in Recreation 1:
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 and marketing division thought of that the Wolves, who misplaced to Doncic within the convention finals a yr in the past, would grow to be the primary characters.

“We all know not many individuals are selecting us,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch mentioned pregame. “I believe our guys have leaned into that somewhat 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 move 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 aspect and Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle on the opposite. Nevertheless, Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid mixed for 48 factors on 19-for-25 taking pictures to fully outperform L.A.’s position gamers and put the Wolves within the driver’s seat.

Recreation 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to look at in Recreation 2:
Lakers beginning heart 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 could have a choice to make relating to whether or not he’ll wish to give Hayes a re-assessment — 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 scale drawback.

— Dave McMenamin

Recreation 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)

What we realized in Recreation 1:
Denver can take a punch — actually. Nikola Jokic bought hit within the face by an errant Derrick Jones Jr. forearm, picked up a technical foul for arguing the non-call and in some way rallied the Nuggets again from a 15-point deficit to win this recreation in time beyond regulation. Russell Westbrook was unimaginable 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 hassle for many of the recreation. He was sensible for the workforce however the Nuggets survived with grit and may 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 to look at in Recreation 2:
Each groups seemed gassed by the tip of this slugfest and have simply someday to get well earlier than Recreation 2 on Monday. The Clippers in all probability would have received this simply in the event that they’d been tighter with the ball. They gave up 29 factors off 20 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 sequence. He scored Denver’s first factors of the sport and wasn’t an element the remainder of the way in which, ending with simply three factors in 26 minutes.

— Ramona Shelburne

Recreation 1: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)

One factor to look at from the Thunder:
Given we’re speaking a couple of workforce that got here simply two wins wanting 70 wins and completed with the very best level differential in NBA historical past, the best-case situation is profitable the championship with ease. The 2 largest margins of victory in latest classic got here from the 2016-17 Warriors, who went a report 16-1 within the playoffs, and final yr’s Celtics, who completed 16-3. That type 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 yr’s Celtics did. — Kevin Pelton

One factor to look at 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 arms. 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 look at from the Rockets:
When the motion slows and each possession issues, can Houston persistently generate sufficient half-court offense to finest a battle-tested Warriors membership for a whole seven-game sequence? It is a conundrum Rockets coach Ime Udoka had already been pondering as his workforce closed the common season, leaning into its bodily identification 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 towards his Celtics within the 2022 NBA Finals. Luckily for the Rockets, they could have the perfect 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 essential accountability within the first postseason sequence of his profession? — Michael C. Wright

One factor to look at from the Warriors:
The Warriors must 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 is not going to solely have to assist Curry with the scoring load, but in addition carry the crucial non-Curry minutes. After which the 6-foot-6 Draymond Inexperienced must discover a solution to include 6-11 Alperen Sengun inside, particularly on the glass, regardless of the peak drawback. — Ohm Youngmisuk