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 Thursday, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder completed a historic comeback to go up 3-0 in the series against the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies after Ja Morant was ruled out of the game after a hard fall. Thursday also saw the first playoff game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, as the No. 5 seed LA Clippers defeated the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets to take a 2-1 series lead after the teams split the first two matchups at Ball Arena.
Friday, the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers lost Game 3 on the road to the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves, while the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors await word on the injury status of Jimmy Butler III ahead of Saturday’s game against the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in San Francisco.
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
Friday’s game
Game 3: Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104
What we learned:
This was a close game until Minnesota finished with a 13-1 run. But when you look at how the Wolves dominated points in the paint 56-26, only had 11 turnovers to the Lakers’ 19 and nearly doubled on fast-break points (21-11), it’s a wonder that L.A. didn’t lose by more. With Luka Doncic struggling and dealing with stomach flu (17 points on 6-for-16 shooting, eight assists, seven rebounds and five turnovers), LeBron James carried the Lakers. He set a NBA playoff record for the most points by a player 40 or older, finishing with 38 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. Minnesota got another brilliant effort from Jaden McDaniels (30 points, five rebounds, two steals), and Anthony Edwards made seemingly every play the Wolves needed in the fourth. He had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
0:20
Ant Edwards hits a step-back 3 for the Wolves
Anthony Edwards is fueling the Timberwolves late as he cooks up a step-back 3-pointer.
Game 4: Lakers at Timberwolves (Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
What to watch:
The series schedule included three days between Games 1 and 2 and three days between Games 2 and 3, but Game 4 is a quick turnaround — a 2:30 p.m. local tip Sunday. L.A.’s energy should be fueled by the urgency of wanting to avoid a 3-1 deficit, but it does make you wonder what James, Doncic and Austin Reaves will have in the tank after they all played 40-plus minutes Friday.
— Dave McMenamin
Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
What we learned:
The Grizzlies lost superstar Ja Morant to a hip injury, lost a 29-point lead after his exit and lost any reasonable hope of making this a competitive series against the top-seeded Thunder. Oklahoma City rallied from a 26-point halftime deficit — the largest second-half comeback in NBA playoff history — to put Memphis on the brink of elimination. The Thunder didn’t have a lead in the game until Jalen Williams’ free throw with 1:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.
2:51
Thunder complete historic comeback to take 3-0 series lead
The Thunder erase a 29-point deficit vs. the Grizzlies to pull off the second-largest comeback win at any point in a playoff game since at least 1997-98.
Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to watch:
Will Memphis have Morant for Game 4? It doesn’t seem likely, especially with the quick turnaround for a 3:30 p.m. ET tip Saturday. The Grizzlies didn’t immediately provide specifics about the severity of their superstar’s hip injury. Before Morant exited the game, he had 15 points and five assists.
— Tim MacMahon
Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
What we learned:
Denver is having a hell of a time scoring on this Clippers defense outside of its two superstars. Nikola Jokic had another triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Jamal Murray had 23. But the rest of the Nuggets struggled mightily Thursday night, accounting for just 36 points compared to the Clippers’ supporting cast. Aaron Gordon was the only other Nugget to score in double figures, and 11 of his 15 points came in the first quarter. The Clippers had a wholly balanced attack by contrast: Norman Powell broke out of a mild slump with 20 points, James Harden had 20, Kawhi Leonard had 21 and Ivica Zubac had 19 as LA built a 20-point lead in the second quarter and never looked back. The Clippers also doubled the Nuggets’ production from behind the 3-point arc, hitting 18-of-39 to Denver’s 7-for-25, to win the first playoff game at their gleaming new arena, the Intuit Dome.
2:13
Clippers rout the Nuggets to take 2-1 series lead
James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell all score at least 20 points as the Clippers beat the Nuggets by 34 points to take control of the series.
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to watch:
Russell Westbrook left the game in the second quarter and didn’t return with what the Nuggets called “left foot inflammation.” He’ll have less than 48 hours to get ready for Saturday’s Game 4, which will be played at 3 p.m. local time. The same goes for Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., who played with a painful left shoulder sprain Thursday. If the Nuggets have any energy left to extend this series and their season, these next two days are critical.
— Ramona Shelburne
Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
What we learned:
It’s no surprise to see six 3-pointers splashed over a span of 57.5 seconds in a game involving the Warriors. But you don’t expect a Warriors opponent to stand toe-to-toe trading 3s the way Houston did over the last 1:48 of the second quarter, as they drilled three 3-pointers for a total of seven by halftime. The Rockets leaned on crushing physicality and a 38-point night from Jalen Green in besting the Warriors in Game 2. Houston coach Ime Udoka wanted his squad to lean on its youth, athleticism and physicality to run the Warriors ragged. It’s now worth pondering whether that physicality might take a toll on Golden State throughout this series.
— Michael C. Wright
2:22
Jalen Green bounces back from Game 1 woes to score 38
Jalen Green goes off for 38 points as the Rockets blow out the Warriors to win Game 2.
Game 3: Rockets at Warriors (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
What to watch:
All eyes will be on Butler and his status for Game 3. Butler took a scary fall when he grabbed a defensive rebound and crashed to the floor after Amen Thompson collided with him. Butler landed hard on his tailbone and left with 1:51 to go in the first quarter. The team ruled him out for the rest of the game because of a pelvis contusion in the second quarter, and will undergo an MRI on Thursday. Butler has two days off before Saturday’s Game 3 at Chase Center, but if he has to sit out any time, that would be a crushing blow for the Warriors, who entered Game 2 with a 25-8 record in the regular season, play-in and postseason since Butler made his Warriors’ debut on Feb. 8. Butler not only has rejuvenated Stephen Curry, he has been the driving force behind Golden State’s turnaround.
He has provided the team with a star on both ends of the court, a calming presence and a go-to guy during the crucial non-Curry minutes. The Warriors had the top-ranked defense since the Butler trade and he was in “Playoff Jimmy” form. Butler’s injury could change the complexion of the series. With Butler out in Game 2, Jonathan Kuminga made his series debut after being out of the rotation, and he might play an even bigger role depending on Butler’s status. Kuminga has had success against the Rockets, scoring 33 points against Houston on Dec. 5.
— Ohm Youngmisuk
