Western Conference Playoffs: A Deep Dive into the Latest NBA Action
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 developments in the Western Conference, where the action is as intense as ever.
On Wednesday, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets managed to stave off elimination in a spectacular fashion, delivering a blowout victory against the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors on their home turf. Meanwhile, the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for a must-win game against the visiting No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
Tuesday’s action saw the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets take a commanding 3-2 lead in their series against the No. 5 seed LA Clippers, thanks to a raucous home crowd. The Clippers now find themselves in a must-win situation as the series shifts back to Intuit Dome on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder have already secured their spot in the next round, having swept the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. They now await the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers series.
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.
Wednesday’s Games
(7) Golden State Warriors lead the (2) Houston Rockets 3-2
Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116
What we learned: The Rockets played with the urgency of a team on the brink, while the Warriors seemed to rest on their laurels with a two-game cushion. The game was effectively over by the seven-minute mark in the second quarter when Houston led 54-24. Houston’s defense was relentless, with Amen Thompson racking up five steals in the first half alone. By the 5:50 mark of the third quarter, Warriors coach Steve Kerr had already turned to his reserves, trailing 93-64.
This scenario felt eerily similar to the Warriors’ 2022 title run when they led 3-1 in the second round against a young Memphis Grizzlies team before being blown out in Game 5. However, those veteran Warriors were unfazed and closed out the series in Game 6 at home.
Golden State now faces a similar challenge: repeat history or face a do-or-die Game 7 in Houston. The Rockets have newfound life but must find a way to win at Chase Center, overcoming the championship pedigree of Kerr, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler III, who has a knack for stepping up in big playoff moments.
One silver lining for Golden State was that Curry, Green, and Butler played no more than 25 minutes. The team’s reserves fought hard, with Pat Spencer being ejected for head-butting Alperen Sengun, who was shoved by Trayce Jackson-Davis, as the Warriors cut the deficit to 13 late in the game.
— Ohm Youngmisuk
Game 6: Houston at Golden State (Friday, TBD)
What to watch for: Houston’s three losses in this series have been close, while their victories have been decisive blowouts. The Rockets’ performance in Game 5 has given them a confidence boost heading into Friday’s Game 6 at Chase Center. Houston knows it has advantages in youth, physicality, and athleticism, which they can leverage by playing with focus, consistency, and attention to detail, along with their trademark tenacity on defense.
Golden State’s performance against the Rockets was reminiscent of their Game 5 blowout loss to Memphis in the 2022 conference semifinals. The Warriors eventually won the championship that season. But this time, they’re facing a hungry Rockets team that has grown in confidence with each game, even the losses.
— Michael C. Wright
(6) Minnesota Timberwolves lead the (3) Los Angeles Lakers 3-1
Game 5: Timberwolves at Lakers (Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
What to watch for: The Lakers’ resilience will be put to the test. They had opportunities to win both games in Minnesota but couldn’t close out either. L.A. should get a boost from their home crowd, but the Wolves are a confident team. Given how they stole Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena, there’s no reason to think they’ll be intimidated by the atmosphere.
— Dave McMenamin
(4) Denver Nuggets lead (5) LA Clippers 3-2
Game 5: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
What we learned: Jamal Murray still has the ability to elevate his game in the playoffs. Denver’s point guard, known for breaking the hearts of Los Angeles teams in the postseason, delivered a masterful performance against the Clippers. He shot 17-for-26, scoring 43 points, including eight 3-pointers, leading the Nuggets to a wire-to-wire victory.
Before the game, Denver’s interim coach David Adelman emphasized Murray’s importance in alleviating pressure on Nikola Jokic, who was relatively quiet with a pedestrian triple-double of 13 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. Murray’s stellar performance set the tone for the Nuggets, with all starters finishing in double figures, and sixth man Russell Westbrook contributing 21 points after sitting out Game 4 due to a foot injury.
— Ramona Shelburne
What to watch for: James Harden needs to step up for the Clippers. Despite Christian Braun‘s excellent defense, Harden’s quiet performance in Game 5 was a setback. The 11-time All-Star managed only 11 points and five assists in 35 minutes, with the team scoring just 0.72 points per play when he touched the ball, his lowest of the series.
While the Clippers scored enough to win, their defense faltered, allowing Murray to have a big night. They’ll need to tighten up defensively to stay alive in the series.
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder win series against (8) Memphis Grizzlies 4-0
Game 4: Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
What we learned: The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder made quick work of the Memphis Grizzlies, sweeping them in the series. The Grizzlies, who haven’t won a playoff series since 2022, struggled against Western Conference teams with winning records after January. Likely MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered his first efficient scoring performance of the series, finishing with 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting. With Ja Morant out, the Grizzlies couldn’t handle the Thunder’s defensive pressure, committing 22 turnovers that Oklahoma City converted into 32 points. The Thunder now await the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers series.
— Tim MacMahon
Originally Written by: NBA insiders
