NBA playoffs 2025 – Everything to know ahead of this weekend’s massive Game 7s

The Nba Playoffs’ Second Round Begins Sunday But, Before the League Moves on, Two Game 7s Loom Large on the Schedule.

The Oklahoma city thunder And Minnesota Timberwolves Made Quick Work of their first-round opponents, but the other two western conferences series have proven to be the most competative of the NBA playoffs’ opening round.

The The Clippers Forced a game 7 (Saturday, 7:30 PM, TNT) in denver after a 111-105 victory over the nuggets on Thursday HOUSTON ROCKETSDown 3-1 on Wednesday, kept their season alive with a 115-107 win at Golden State on Friday Night. The Two Teams will meet on Sunday (8:30 PM et, tnt) with a chance to face the timeberwolves in the second.

With the first round’s two biggest games ahead this weekend, what are the biggest factors for Both Game and how can time movie on to the second? Our NBA Insiders Answer the Biggest Game 7 Questions.

How can the clippers Advance?

The Clippers Finally Went to a Small Lineup, Featuring Nicolas Batumin the Second Half of Game 6. It was designed to create space for James harden And Kawhi leonardand none other than Nikola jokic Said it about demn time. No, those words are his words. But he was blunt.

“Batum is a much better shooter than Crisis dunn“The three-time mvp sa.”[He] Is a great defensive player. He can Guard 1 Through 5. I don’t think they lack [anything] Defensively with batum. They are probably going to start Him Next Game. “

Clippers coach tyronn lue resisted that offense-for-defense swap because he values ​​dunn’s defense. But if batum can be as effective offensively and defensively as he was thursday night, the clippers association has the winning recipe. They just need to follow it.

How can the nuggets Advance?

The nuggets are the bigger, more physical team, and when they’ve made the clippers feel them, they are exerted their will in this series. That starts with jokic.

He needs to take it to clippers center Ivica Zubac And force the referees to call more fouls than they do in Los Angeles (Jokic Shot Just Two Free Throws in Game 6) While Reminding Everyone The Best Player on the Planet.

When he is physical and Aggressive Early, the denver offense opens and experienced options emerge – as we suffered in game 5 when Jamal murray Punished the clippers with a dazzling display of shot-maging.

How did we get here?

This series has been everywhent we think it would be – and more. Each Star Has Had at Leest One Signature Game: Westbrook in Game 1; Leonard in Game 2, Zubac and Harden in Game 3, Jokic and Aaron gordon In Game 4, Murray in Game 5; And harden again in game 6.

Both coaches have been excellent in their motivating their tims and adapping throughout the series. My only question is which team has the most left? Everyone is tired and sever key players have injuries they are playing through. The nuggets have played in the most game 7s of any team sence 2019 while lue is one of the best electrication-game coaches ever. Jokic and Leonard have finals mvps.

“If you like Basketball,” Jokic sa, “like a real fan, not a fake fan of basketball, these are the games you should watch.”

This should be a classic. ——- Ramona shelburne

Key Factors For Game 7

I’ll be watching the fatigue factor close. Jamal murray Has played the most minutes of any player in the first round, which Nikola jokic Is Fourth. Two Other Denver Starters (Christian braun And Aaron gordon) have played more than any clipper other than James harden.

The clippers are somewhat deeper, but ty lue has had to rely more on his stars than he will do. Harden played The ENTERE SECOND HALF OF THURSDAY’S GAME 6, The second time in this series he has done so, and fatigue surely played a role in the clippers’ offense stumbling to the finish line.

The fatigue element makes get off to a good start import. In game 5, the nuggets’ Early lead interim coach david adelman to rest jokic in Both Halves, Keeping Him Fresh. If the clippers get off to a strong start, Adelman Might Not Have that Luxury. When jokic played the entrance of Both Games 2 and 4, He Wore Down Late, Allowing the Clippers to Hold Offer Denver in Game 2 and Erase A 16-Point Deficit in Game 4 Before Aaron Gordon’s Buzzer-Beater Gave the nuggets a crucial win.

With the volume of close games, the high level of play and the altitude in denver, this series has taken a toll on Both tims. The real winner, either way? The Oklahoma city thunderWho would be the first team to Advance this Postseon by completing a sweep of the Memphis grizzlies A week ago.

Whichever Team has more in the tank for game 7 will like Advance. ——- Kevin pelton

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How can the wariers Advance?

Golden State’s Game 7 Experience in the Playoffs has to be a Supreme Advantage Sunday. Stephen curry and dramond green have played in Five Game 7s. Jimmy Butler has played in Four. Steve kerr has coached in five as well.

The warheres have to solve the hoston zone defense and free up curry on offense. Curry Had 29 Points in Game 6 But Only 13 in The Second Half, when he shot 4-for-13. Curry and Green are 3-2 all time in game 7s, and they won big at sacramento in their last game 7 in 2023 with Curry Exploding for 50 points. The Golden State Star Has Averaged 32.6 Points in Game 7 in His Career, Fourth Most By Any Player in Nba History, BEHIND ONLY KEVIN DURANT, LEBRON JAMES AND MICHAEL JORDAN, ACCORDING TO ASPN RECEERCH.

Butler will have to add another chapter to his “Playoff Jimmy” legacy with an epic game in home But the worruers need to get curry and butler more of offensive help. A Third Scorer Must Step Up, where that’s Brandin Underworld, Buddy hield or a MOSES MODY Hitting timely outside shots to break that zone. Green will also have to play like a defensive player of the year after he is finished third in voting for the award this season. Golden State Must Keep Its Turnovero Down and Get A Hold On Fred Vanvleet. And, on top of every, they are a wild card. Kerr Said “Everything is on the Table” for game 7, including perhaps Jonathan Kuminga Seeing some playing time. ——- Ohm youngmisuk

How can the rockets Advance?

Coach IMe Udoka has preached the import of consistency, playing the right way, and the simple plays over and over so noting has changed from that standpoint. Houston has given golden state a different time when it is utilizes its double-big lineups, which feature some zone looks “Out of Necessity,” According to Udoka “to Protect Some Matchups There.

Surprisingly, the rockets employed some zone defense with the sharpshooting Stephen curry On the floor.

“Our Activity Up Top is Great, and the Principles with obvious curry and recognizing where the zone, it is a lot of communication,” udoka sa. “And if you stay with him, we fill the spots boyind it.”

Golden State Will Look for Ways in Game 7 to Make Houston Pay When It Employs Those Schemes With Curry On The Floor. Houston needs to contact to impose its physicality on the old, banged up warher, while containing to win at painting and second-collection point. Udoka ofTen Talks about Houston’s Mantra of Turning Defense Into Offense, which of allows the rockets to get out and run. The Rockets Scored 22 Points Off 17 Golden State Turnovero in Game 6. Players Such as Amen thompson, Dillon brooksAnd Jalen green Will be key in the rockets rack up fast-break points. ——- Michael c. wright

How did they get here?

The Warriors Stole Game 1 in Houston, Winning a game that Steve Kerr Said Felt Like It was out of 1997 in terms of physicality, defense and the use. Curry scored 31 points and butler looked like Playoff Jimmy with 25 Points, Seven Rebounds, Six Assists and Five Steals. Houston, though, rebounded in game 2 with a 109-94 root that meaning jalen green get loose for 38 points. Butler was limited to just just eight minutes in the first quarter after amen thompson undercut him on a defensive rebounding, resulating in a painting muscular contaction.

Butler Missed Game 3 Due to the Injury But The Warriors Gutted Out A 104-93 Win AT Home Thanks to 36 Points, Nine Assists and Seven Rebounds from Curry. Golden state then talk what felt like a comming 3-1 lead when butler scored 14 of his 27 points and secured the biggest rebound of the season after drymond gren forced an alperen. Miss with 6.4 seconds Left.

The rockets, thought, rooted Golden State in game 5, Going up by 31 at one point early in the Third Quarter Before Kerr Took His Starters out with 5:50 remaining. In game 6, Golden State Failed to Close The Series Out at Home as It Missed 14 of Its FIRST 15 Shots of the Fourth Quarter, Allowing Houston to Go On a 20-5 run. The rockets’ zone defense has stymied Golden State and neutralized curry at times to a game 7. – Young

Key Factors For Game 7

Houston’s use of doubles-big lineups with steven adams and sengun has been a defining element of this series. Golden State Managed to Win Game 4 Despite Being Outscored By 18 Points in the 22.5 Minutes Adams and Sengun Played Together. With every wording in game 5, udoka didn is need to use his two centers as much, but they were plus-eight in 13 minutes.

The Fourth Quarter of Game 6 was the biggest stage for adams and sengun, who shared the courties for next time the entry time comes their stars. The rockets’ double-boigs were kel plus-nine in that span, and this time udoka dodn he blink when steve kerr intentionally fouled adams-a changing from game 4, when Udoka Pulled Adams and Didn it Bring Himacack Until the final two minutes, when intentional fouls away from the play are treated like a technical foul.

Adams Went 9-of-16 from Line on Intentional Fouls and Sengun Managed to Rebound Two of His Misses, Translating Into 13 Total Points, Good for A 162.5 Offensive Rating.

Part of the challenge for the wariers is that the hoston has been able to use adams-blocking shots at a career-high rate in this series-and sense in a hybrid defense that kepts a defender ” Airspace at all times. Curry Still Shook Loose for 29 points and six 3s in game 6, but shot just 9-of-23 and committed five turnoverovers.

While udoka has been founding new lineup combinations that work well, the warriors’ coaching staff can get to figure out the best fivesome. Kerr Started Payton in Game 6 to Improve The Team’s Point-of-ATACK Defense on Vanvleet, but the Rockets don’t pay to wore as a 3-point shooter like Brandin Podziemski. Besides Curry, Golden State’s Other Four Starters Shot A Combined 3-OF-18 From 3-Point Range. ——- Pelton