The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are in full swing, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game in the march to the Finals.
On Wednesday, the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off an upset by eliminating the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 5 win.
Saturday, the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets beat the No. 5 seed LA Clippers in a Game 7 showdown to advance to the second round, where they will face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
Sunday, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets fell to the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors in Game 7 in Houston. The Warriors move on to play the Timberwolves in the second round.
As the West playoffs continue, here's what matters most and what to watch for in all four series.
Jump to a series:
Thunder-Grizzlies | Rockets-Warriors
Lakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-Clippers
More coverage:
East first-round takeaways
Schedules and results | Offseason guides
(7) Golden State Warriors win series over
(2) Houston Rockets 4-3
What we learned:
Buddy Hield and the Golden State Warriors busted Houston's box-and-one-like zone defense to seize a 12-point halftime lead that proved insurmountable in a 103-89 win in Game 7 of the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs.
It was only a matter of time before the veteran-laden Warriors found effective counters for Houston's zone. For the most part, Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry found it difficult to generate good looks in the first half -- the Rockets held Curry scoreless until the final minute of the first half. But Curry and Butler consistently hit open teammates, combining for eight assists in the first two quarters as Hield carried the Warriors' offense. The Rockets double-teamed Curry seven times in the first half, and Golden State still scored 21 points on 5-of-5 shooting off his passes.
Hield scorched Houston for a game-high 33 points, shooting 8 of 9 from the field in the first half, including 6 of 7 from 3. Hield's nine made 3s tied Donte DiVincenzo (2024 Eastern Conference semifinals) for the most 3-pointers in a Game 7 in NBA history. The damage Hield inflicted early left Houston trailing by 12 points at intermission.
Entering Game 7, the Rockets had never overcome a halftime deficit of 12 points or more in their postseason history and fell to 0-29 in that scenario. They pulled within three points in the third quarter, but heading into the final frame, Golden State had made more 3-pointers (13) than the Rockets had attempted (12). Curry and Butler each contributed 20 points in the win. The Warriors point guard added 10 rebounds and seven assists. Golden State had three players score at least 20 points in a Game 7 for the first time in franchise history. -- Michael C. Wright
Steph Curry and Buddy Hield up the Warriors' run to 12-0 with back-to-back 3-pointers as Golden State goes up by 20 late in the fourth quarter.
What to watch for Round 2, Game 1:
The Warriors discovered that they can survive the pressure of a do-or-die game despite Stephen Curry struggling for three quarters. Curry, nursing an injured shooting thumb, missed seven of his first eight shots to open the game and had just three points with under six minutes to go in the third quarter. But enter Game 7 Buddy.
Buddy Hield -- who opened this season on fire, leading many to believe he was a perfect fit for Klay Thompson's old role -- hit six 3-pointers in the first half, the most 3s in a first half of a Game 7 in NBA history. When Hield shoots like this, the Warriors are at a different level.
Draymond Green helped set the tone with two 3-pointers and energetic defense early on, and Butler was a calming influence when Golden State watched a 15-point lead shrink to three in the third. He hit a corner 3 and then found Green twice inside for baskets.
In the fourth, Curry got free, attacking the rim and finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The Warriors exerted their will and experience on the Rockets to beat Houston on its home court. Now, they head to Minnesota to face a much different Timberwolves team than the last time they played Minnesota.
Golden State went 3-1 against the Wolves this season, but Anthony Edwards and Minnesota are much more confident now. Julius Randle is playing better, giving the Wolves an added offensive dimension. The Wolves haven't faced the Warriors since Jan. 15, however, a few weeks before Butler joined Golden State. Coming off this draining seven-game series, Curry will have to overcome another set of physical and athletic defenders in Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. Green will also be reunited with Rudy Gobert -- two players with a unique past.
Golden State goes into Game 1 with little time to recover while Minnesota has been resting since closing out the Lakers on May 1. But with Curry, Butler, Green and their championship pedigree, the Warriors have a shot to win this series. -- Ohm Youngmisuk
(4) Denver Nuggets win series over
(5) LA Clippers 4-3
Game 7: Nuggets 120, Clippers 101
What we learned:
The Nuggets' supporting cast was incredible in this one. Normally in Game 7s the superstars have to be superstars. But in this one Russell Westbrook, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon led the way with energy, toughness and some incredible shotmaking. Braun got the Nuggets off to a fantastic start, with nine of Denver's 21 points in the first quarter. Gordon had eight points in the second quarter, then had one of the best dunk's you'll ever see -- a reverse, two-handed jam in the third quarter that caused the crowd at Ball Arena to erupt and seemed to crush the spirit of the Clippers once and for all. Westbrook was an absolute ball of energy in that monster 37-21 second quarter, scoring 10 points and grabbing two steals. Those performances more than made up for average performances from Nikola Jokic (16 points on 6-of-14 shooting) and Jamal Murray (16 points). For the Clippers, there's not much to be gleaned from this loss. They overachieved this season after losing Paul George in free agency and should feel good about their performance in this series. But they clearly ran out of gas in Game 7 and have few assets to improve the team in the offseason.
After Russell Westbrook blows a layup, the Clippers go downcourt and get a Norman Powell 3-pointer to go up nine late in the fourth.
What to watch for Round 2, Game 1:
I have no idea how Denver is going to turn around and play Monday night in Oklahoma City after the toll this series took on the roster. The Nuggets have actually fared well against the Thunder this year, splitting the season series 2-2. The first two games were played the first month of the season in Denver, the second two games were a back-to-back in Oklahoma City in March in which voters were deciding between the top two MVP candidates: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic. The expectation is the results of that voting will be announced during the second round, adding an interesting wrinkle to the debate. It's also a fascinating matchup on the court with Jokic facing a formidable frontcourt in Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren. Former Thunder star Westbrook returns hoping to play another spoiler role. He dispatched another of his former teams, the Clippers, in the first round.
-- Ramona Shelburne
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves win series over
(3) Los Angeles Lakers 4-1
Game 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96
What we learned:
Lakers coach JJ Redick decided to not start a center, and Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves absolutely feasted on the interior to take the series in five games.
After totaling 14 points and 25 rebounds through the first four games, Gobert destroyed the Lakers with 27 points on 12-for-15 shooting and 24 rebounds in the clincher. He became the fifth player in the past 20 seasons to post a 25-20 line in a closeout game, joining Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki and Shaquille O'Neal.
The Lakers played with grit, blanketing Minnesota's shooters into a 7-for-47 (14.9%) night from 3 (including 0-for-11 for Anthony Edwards) -- marking the worst 3-point shooting percentage in a playoff game in NBA history (minimum 40 attempts).
Luka Doncic (back) and LeBron James (left knee) both logged 40 minutes to give the Lakers a chance, but the Wolves' bench production, outscoring L.A. 22-4, combined with the points-in-the-paint battle (56-40) proved too much.
Minnesota, which has won 21 of its past 26 games dating back to the last quarter of the regular season, will be a formidable challenge to either Golden State or Houston. And the Lakers, as if it wasn't obvious already, head into the offseason in dire need of a big man Redick will trust in a playoff game.
-- Dave McMenamin
Rudy Gobert's Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 103-96 to secure a 4-1 series win.
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder win series over
(8) Memphis Grizzlies 4-0
Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
What we learned:
Overall top-seeded Oklahoma City made quick work of Memphis, sweeping the Grizzlies, who haven't won a playoff series since 2022 and didn't beat a Western Conference team with a winning record after January. Likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his first efficient scoring performance of the series in the finale, finishing with 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting. With Ja Morant out, the Grizzlies couldn't handle the Thunder's tenacious defensive pressure, committing 22 turnovers that Oklahoma City converted into 32 points. Now, the Thunder will get some rest and await the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers series.
-- Tim MacMahon
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hits a sweet jumper to complete OKC's sweep over the Grizzlies.