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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-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves Pulled off an upset by eliminating the no. 3 Los angeles lakers In a game 5 win. Earlier in the night, the no. 2 HOUSTON ROCKETS Staved off elimination by blowing out the no. 7 Golden State Warriors At home. The Winner of the Rockets-Warrior Series will take on the timberwolves.
Thursday, the no. 5 The Clippers Forced a game 7 with the no. 4 Denver nuggets In Front of their Home Crowd, Behind 28 Points from James harden. They ‘ 1 Oklahoma city thunder.
As the west playoffs continue, here’s what matters most and what to watch for in all for series.
Jump to a series:
Thunder-graderzzlies | Rockets-Warriors
Lakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-clippers
More Coverage:
East first-round takeaways
Schedules and results | Offseason Guides
Game 6: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105
What we learned:
Every clippers when all James harden Has space to run or-in his self-proclaimed case-Be “The System.” Harden Bore the Brunt of the Criticism After His Tepid 11 Points on Nine Shots in Tuesday’s Game 6 Loss. His Previous Playoff Failings Made for Easy Fodder for the National Discourse. But be upon the game, clippers coach tyronn lue put harden’s struggles on heelf and the game plan he drew up the previous two games, sayings he had to do a Better job of creating space for Harden to Operate. He did just that in game 6 by making sure a ball in his hands early, and doubled down in the second half where he swapped Nicolas Batum Into the starting lineup for Crisis dunnWhom the nuggets Were of Leaving on defense to doubt-team or blitz harden’s drives. It changed every harden and la’s offense, which shot a blistering 51% Thursday Night. With batum on the court in the second half, la was even better-Going 6-for-6 off passes from batum.
0:30
Westbrook Blows a Layup, Powell Hits Dagger 3
After russell westbrook blows a layup, the clippers go downcourt and get a norman power 3-point to go up nine late in the Fourth.
Game 7: Clippers at nuggets (Saturday, 7:30 PM et, tnt)
What to Watch:
What will the nuggets do to the counter the clippers’ Move of Swapping in Batum for Dunn? LA Essentially traded offense, and it worn out, with batum and the rest of the clippers defensively Hinding Jamal murray. The nuggets will correctly adjust beefore game 7 to get murray going again. He also quick for batum if he has space. The nuggets also have to be kicking themselves for their 14 turnovers, which Led to 23 points for La. Denver Outrebounded, scored more points in the painting and get more bench point there are La but the game because of sloppy plays, missed layups, and an inability to capitalize on the batum-machaup.
– ramona shelburne
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 felt 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 antetokounmpoDirk Nowitzki and shaquille o’neal.
The lakers played with grit, Blanketing Minesota’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 perception 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 LA 22-4, Combined With The Points-In-The-Paint Battle (56-40) Proved to Much.
Minnesota, which has won 21 of its past 26 games dating back to the last quart of the regular season, will be a formidable challenge to either golden state or house. And the lakers, as if it was obviouseared, head in the offseason in diary needed a big man redick will find in a playoff game.
– Dave Mcmenamin
2:21
Lebron, lakers eliminated by gobert-encepired wolves
Rudy Goberta’s Minnesota Timberwolves bit the Los Angeles Lakers 103-96 to Secure A 4-1 Series Win.
Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116
What we learned:
The rockets played like their season was on the brink, where the warriors performed like they had a two-game cushion.
This game was over by the seven-minute mark in the second quarter when hoston led 54-24. HOUSTON SMOTHERED The WARRIORS WITH Amen thompson RACKING UP FIVE SUFFOCATING STALS IN THE FIRST HALF ALONE. By 5:50 marks of the Third Quarter, Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Inserted His Reserves Like Like Pat Spencer, MOSES MODY, Kevin Knox II, Gui Santos And Quinten Post Down 93-64.
This felt a lot like the second round of the Warriors’ 2022 Title Run when Golden State Led 3-1 in the Second Round Against a Young Memphis grizzlies TEAM BEFORE BEING THROTLED IN GAM 5. But Those Veteran Warriors Were Not Shaken as they close that series out in game 6 at home.
Golden State will now have to repeat history again, or face a do-or-die game 7 at homeon. The rockets have life but will have to find a way to win to win at championship while overcoming the championship pedigree of kerr, Stephen curry And Draymond greenas well as Jimmy butler III‘S History of Stepping Up in Big Playoff Moments.
One positive for Golden State was that curry, green and butler played no more than 25 minutes. And the Team’s Reserves Fought to the end, literally, as spencer was ejected for head-book Alperen Sengunwho was shoved by Trayce Jackson-DavisLate in the game as the worruers get the deficit with 13 last.
– ohm yngmisuk
1:59
Pat Spencer’s head-button on Alperen Sengun sparks Warriors-Rockets Scuffle
Pat Spencer is ejected after his head-button on Alperen Sengun Ignites a Fracas Betway the Warriors and Rockets Players.
Game 6: Houston at Golden State (Friday, TBD)
What to watch for:
Houston’s three losses in this series have come in close game, where the victories have largely be blowouts. So, the rockets’ Performance in Game 5 provided a boost in confidence headed in Friday’s Game 6 at chase center. Houston knews it owns Advantages in Youth, Physicality and Athleticism and Can Flex Them by Playing with Focus, CONSITIONAL AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, as well as is trademark teneness on defense.
Golden State’s Performance Against the Rockets was reminiscent of its game 5 blowout Loss to Memphis in the 2022 Conference semifinals. The Warriors Eventually Won the Championship That Season. But this time, they are facing a hungry rockets team that has grown in confidence with each game, even the losses.
——– Michael c. wright
Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
What we learned:
Overall top-seeded oklahoma City Made Quick Work of Memphis, Sweeping the Grizzlies, who have won a playoff series 2022 and didn ” After January. Likely mvp Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Had his first effect scoring performance of the series in the finale, finishing with 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting. With Ja more Out, the grizzlies could be handle the thunder’s Tenacial defensive press, communication 22 turnovers that oklahoma city in 32 point. Now, the thunder will get some rest and await the winner of the nuggets-clippers series.
– Tim Macmahon
