NBA Playoffs 2024-25: Thunder’s Historic Comeback and Clippers’ Dominance
The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are heating up, and if you’re a basketball fan, you’re in for a treat. Our NBA insiders are here to guide you through every thrilling moment as teams battle it out for a spot in the Finals. Let’s dive into the latest action from the Western Conference, where the Oklahoma City Thunder and LA Clippers have made headlines with their impressive performances.
On Thursday, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a remarkable comeback to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their series against the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder’s victory was bittersweet, as it came after Ja Morant was ruled out of the game following a hard fall. Meanwhile, the No. 5 seed LA Clippers celebrated their first playoff game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood with a resounding victory over the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets, taking a 2-1 lead in the series after splitting the first two matchups at Ball Arena.
Looking ahead to Friday, the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers will travel to face the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors are anxiously awaiting updates on the injury status of Jimmy Butler III ahead of Saturday’s game against the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets.
As the Western Conference playoffs continue, here’s what you need to know and what to watch for in all four series:
For more coverage, check out the East first-round takeaways and the schedules and results. Plus, don’t miss our offseason guides for all 30 teams.
Thursday’s Games
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder lead (8) Memphis Grizzlies, 3-0
Game 3: Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108
What we learned:
The Grizzlies faced a tough blow as they lost their superstar Ja Morant to a hip injury. This setback led to the Grizzlies losing a 29-point lead after his exit, and with it, any reasonable hope of making this a competitive series against the top-seeded Thunder. Oklahoma City rallied from a 26-point halftime deficit, marking the largest second-half comeback in NBA playoff history, to put Memphis on the brink of elimination. The Thunder didn’t take the lead until Jalen Williams‘ free throw with 1:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Game 4: Thunder at Grizzlies (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to watch:
The big question is whether Memphis will have Morant for Game 4. It doesn’t seem likely, especially with the quick turnaround for a 3:30 p.m. ET tip on Saturday. The Grizzlies haven’t provided specifics about the severity of their superstar’s hip injury. Before Morant exited the game, he had 15 points and five assists.
— Tim MacMahon
(5) LA Clippers lead (4) Denver Nuggets, 2-1
Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
What we learned:
Denver is struggling to score against the Clippers’ defense outside of its two superstars. Nikola Jokic had another triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists. Jamal Murray also scored 23 points. However, the rest of the Nuggets struggled mightily, accounting for just 36 points compared to the Clippers’ supporting cast. Aaron Gordon was the only other Nugget to score in double figures, with 11 of his 15 points coming in the first quarter. The Clippers had a balanced attack: Norman Powell scored 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 new arena, the Intuit Dome.
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 due to “left foot inflammation.” He’ll have less than 48 hours to prepare 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 on Thursday. If the Nuggets have any energy left to extend this series and their season, these next two days are critical.
— Ramona Shelburne
(7) Golden State Warriors tied with (2) Houston Rockets, 1-1
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
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 due to a pelvis contusion in the second quarter, and he 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, but he has also 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
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves tied with (3) Los Angeles Lakers, 1-1
Game 2: Lakers 94, Timberwolves 85
What we learned:
If there was one sequence that perfectly illustrated the extra edge the Lakers brought to Game 2 after being pushed around in Game 1, it was Rui Hachimura yanking off his face mask, tossing it to the side, and running down the court to keep competing. Hachimura didn’t let a hit to the face and a bloodied nose keep him out early on Tuesday, and the Lakers didn’t let Minnesota’s series-opening surge keep them from looking like the contender they’ve been rounding into since acquiring Doncic.
L.A. flipped from feeble to forceful on a laundry list of Saturday’s issues. After being routed 25-6 in fast-break points, they led 13-6 on Tuesday, and after Minnesota shot 21-for-42 on 3-pointers, the Lakers’ perimeter defense held the Wolves to 5-for-25 from deep. And while Doncic scored big in both games (37 points, followed by 31), he racked up nine assists in Game 2 after just a single dime in the opener, completely commanding the Lakers’ offense. Now, we have a series.
Game 3: Lakers at Timberwolves (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
What to watch:
Can LeBron James and Austin Reaves find an offensive groove this series? After combining for 35 points on 13-for-31 shooting in Game 1, they put up a combined 37 points on 15-for-33 shooting in Game 2. It’s a bit of a dip from the 44.6 combined points they averaged in the regular season, and those could prove to be precious points L.A. will need as the series shifts to Minneapolis.
— Dave McMenamin
Originally Written by: NBA insiders
