2025 NBA playoffs: Western Convention Spherical 1 takeaways

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.

On Wednesday, the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off an upset by eliminating the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers in a Recreation 5 win.

Thursday, the No. 5 LA Clippers compelled a Recreation 7 with the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in entrance of their dwelling crowd, behind 28 factors from James Harden. They’ll face off Saturday to see which crew advances to play the No. 1 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

Friday, the No. 2 Houston Rockets additionally compelled a Recreation 7 in opposition to the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. The winner of the Rockets-Warriors sequence will tackle the Timberwolves.

Because the West playoffs proceed, right here’s what issues most and what to look at for in all 4 sequence.

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

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

Recreation 6: Rockets 115, Warriors 107

What we realized:

Veteran Houston guard Fred VanVleet splashed a 26-foot 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing with 6:49 remaining to place the Rockets up by 12 factors, whereas successfully snuffing out any actual hope for a Golden State comeback in Recreation 6. Houston compelled Recreation 7 on Sunday at Toyota Middle with a 115-107 victory over the Warriors. All sequence lengthy, Golden State devoted important defensive assets to close down capturing guard Jalen Inexperienced, who completed with 12 factors on 3-of-11 capturing, whereas selecting to play the odds with VanVleet. Dangerous transfer for the Warriors, because the 31-year-old is now 18-of-27 from 3-point vary over his final three contests. Main 86-84 to begin the third quarter, VanVleet sparked a 6-0 Houston run by finishing a 4-point play simply six seconds into the body. VanVleet has now produced three consecutive video games with 25 factors or extra for the primary time in his postseason profession, whereas Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson contributed 20 and 14 factors, respectively. Now the groups head into Sunday’s Recreation 7, the place Golden State owns the sting in expertise. Warriors gamers have participated in a mixed 19 Recreation 7s, in comparison with 10 such outings for Houston’s VanVleet, Jeff Inexperienced, Steven Adams and Aaron Vacation.

— Michael C. Wright

Recreation 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to look at:

Golden State has shockingly blown its 3-1 cushion and now has to win a Recreation 7 in what will probably be a hostile Toyota Middle ambiance. The Warriors’ offense appeared caught in mud in opposition to Houston’s protection. They opened the fourth quarter capturing 1-for-15 and have been outscored at one level 20-5. They’ve been outplayed by Houston in two straight video games and have been unable to get Stephen Curry freed from the Rockets’ protection when it issues. Now they must discover a method to win in a spot the place they trailed by as a lot as 31 with the starters on the ground within the third quarter of Recreation 5 on Wednesday. If the Warriors’ championship pedigree goes to make a distinction, now could be the time. Curry, Draymond Inexperienced and Jimmy Butler III have performed in these sort of do-or-die video games earlier than. Curry and Inexperienced have performed in 5 Recreation 7s, whereas Butler has been in 4 of them. However how a lot does the Warriors’ Massive Three have left within the tank? Curry and Butler logged 42 minutes and Inexperienced went 37 minutes in Recreation 6 and may have at some point off earlier than Recreation 7. Curry and Butler want offensive assist, however the place will it come from?

— Ohm Youngmisuk

Recreation 6: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105

What we realized:

All the things is totally different for the Clippers when James Harden has area to run or — in his self-proclaimed case — be “the system.” Harden bore the brunt of the criticism after his tepid 11 factors on 9 photographs in Tuesday’s Recreation 6 loss. His earlier playoff failings made for straightforward fodder for the nationwide discourse. However earlier than the sport, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue put Harden’s struggles on himself and the sport plan he drew up the earlier two video games, saying he needed to do a greater job of making area for Harden to function. He did simply that in Recreation 6 by ensuring Harden had the ball in his arms early, and doubled down within the second half when he swapped Nicolas Batum into the beginning lineup for Kris Dunn, whom the Nuggets have been typically leaving on protection to double-team or blitz Harden’s drives. It modified all the pieces for Harden and LA’s offense, which shot a blistering 51% Thursday evening. With Batum on the courtroom within the second half, LA was even higher — going 6-for-6 off passes from Batum.

Recreation 7: Clippers at Nuggets (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to look at:

What is going to the Nuggets do to counter the Clippers’ transfer of swapping in Batum for Dunn? LA primarily traded offense for protection, and it labored out, with Batum and the remainder of the Clippers defensively hindering Jamal Murray. The Nuggets will certainly alter earlier than Recreation 7 to get Murray going once more. He’s too fast for Batum if he has area. The Nuggets additionally must be kicking themselves for his or her 14 turnovers, which led to 23 factors for LA. Denver outrebounded, scored extra factors within the paint and bought extra bench factors than LA however misplaced the sport due to sloppy performs, missed layups, and an incapacity to capitalize on the Batum-Murray matchup.

— Ramona Shelburne

Recreation 5: Timberwolves 103, Lakers 96

What we realized:

Lakers coach JJ Redick determined to not begin a middle, and Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves completely feasted on the inside to take the sequence in 5 video games.

After totaling 14 factors and 25 rebounds by means of the primary 4 video games, Gobert destroyed the Lakers with 27 factors on 12-for-15 capturing and 24 rebounds within the clincher. He turned the fifth participant up to now 20 seasons to submit a 25-20 line in a closeout sport, becoming a member of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki and Shaquille O’Neal.

The Lakers performed with grit, blanketing Minnesota’s shooters right into a 7-for-47 (14.9%) evening from 3 (together with 0-for-11 for Anthony Edwards) — marking the worst 3-point capturing proportion in a playoff sport in NBA historical past (minimal 40 makes an attempt).

Luka Doncic (again) and LeBron James (left knee) each logged 40 minutes to offer the Lakers an opportunity, however the Wolves’ bench manufacturing, outscoring L.A. 22-4, mixed with the points-in-the-paint battle (56-40) proved an excessive amount of.

Minnesota, which has received 21 of its previous 26 video games courting again to the final quarter of the common season, will probably be a formidable problem to both Golden State or Houston. And the Lakers, as if it wasn’t apparent already, head into the offseason in dire want of an enormous man Redick will belief in a playoff sport.

— Dave McMenamin

Recreation 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115

What we realized:

Total top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis made fast work of Memphis, sweeping the Grizzlies, who haven’t received a playoff sequence since 2022 and didn’t beat a Western Convention crew with a profitable file after January. Possible MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his first environment friendly scoring efficiency of the sequence within the finale, ending with 38 factors on 13-of-24 capturing. With Ja Morant out, the Grizzlies couldn’t deal with the Thunder’s tenacious defensive stress, committing 22 turnovers that Oklahoma Metropolis transformed into 32 factors. Now, the Thunder will get some relaxation and await the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers sequence.

— Tim MacMahon