Steph Curry remains absent, but the Golden State Warriors, along with Jimmy Butler’s impressive 33 points, put forth a commendable effort. Nonetheless, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 102-97 victory, gaining a 2-1 advantage in the Western Conference semifinals. Anthony Edwards led the scoring for the Timberwolves with 35 points. Julius Randle recorded a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and …

By its very essence, a seed signifies something minute—an insignificant speck until it blossoms into something greater over time. However, seeding in the context of the NBA playoffs carries substantial weight, laden with expectations and responsibilities. This is particularly true for the top seed. Teams that earn this status in both conferences must manage the accompanying pressure, enduring both triumphs …

As the Western Conference Semifinals shifted to Ball Arena, the Denver Nuggets outperformed the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing 113-104 in overtime and securing a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series on Friday. Nikola Jokic faced challenges in Game 3, struggling with a shooting performance of 8/25 from the field and failing to make any of his ten three-point attempts. Additionally, …

It was beyond anyone’s expectations to foresee the outcomes of the initial two games in the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Entering the series, the Knicks had just scrapped their way past the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round, and they held a dismal record of 0-10 during the regular season against …

As his Milwaukee Bucks teammate, Bobby Portis Jr., gained viral fame, Giannis Antetokounmpo playfully commented on offseason speculation, diverting attention from himself to the 30-year-old American forward. “Stop worrying about me! What’s going on, Bobby? Are you staying or heading out?” the ‘Freak’ wrote in an Instagram post, alluding to Portis’s player option of approximately $13.4 million for the 2025-26 …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and All-Star guard Darius Garland rejoined the starting five for the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Key backup De’Andre Hunter was also available after being sidelined for Game 2 due to a sprained right thumb. This update came approximately half an hour prior to the commencement of Game …

Despite finishing the game with an 8-for-25 shooting performance, which included a dismal 0-for-10 from beyond the arc, and recording eight turnovers, Nikola Jokic celebrated a significant victory for the Denver Nuggets on Friday. “I focused on being aggressive, setting solid screens, and taking shots whenever I was open,” he described his personal struggles in an interview with Katy Winge …

**Editor’s note:** This article is featured in Peak, The Athletic’s new platform that explores leadership, personal growth, and achievement through the lens of sports. Peak aims to inspire readers with actionable insights they can apply in both their personal and professional endeavors. Follow Peak here. During my tenure as head coach at Iowa State, I traveled to Las Vegas one …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)— Throughout his career, the Minnesota Timberwolves have often watched Anthony Edwards in agony on the court, only to see their standout guard return to action. However, this incident unfolded differently. The sprained left ankle that sidelined Edwards during the second quarter of Game 2 against Golden State on Thursday night genuinely concerned him. “I was genuinely apprehensive about …

MINNEAPOLIS – Forget the peculiar phenomenon of road teams thriving in the Eastern Conference; the focus turned to Oklahoma City and Minnesota Timberwolves, who managed to restore some semblance of order in the Western Conference after the homecourt turmoil experienced at the start of this round. The Timberwolves’ 117-93 triumph over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at Target Center …

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors are currently even at 1-1 following two semifinal clashes in the Western Conference held in Minneapolis. After suffering a defeat in the opening game, the Timberwolves responded strongly with a decisive 117-93 victory against the Warriors, who played without the injured Steph Curry. Minnesota faced a moment of concern when Anthony Edwards had …

This NBA playoff season has been a showcase for top-tier talent delivering outstanding performances, featuring players like Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Gordon, Jalen Brunson, and Jimmy Butler, among others. This period is all about key players stepping up to fulfill the roles they’ve been given and earned. No team can advance unless their standout player comes through. Additionally, many role players …

A successful revival is in the books. Jalen Brunson and the Knicks depart TD Garden, heading to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 advantage. 5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀 May 8, 2025 They’ve Done It Again: New York secures a second consecutive victory in Boston to kick off the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Historic Opening: The 2025 Playoffs are already …

**Editor’s Note:** For more in-depth NBA content, check out The Athletic here. The opinions expressed on this page may not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its member teams. * * * BOSTON — Mikal Bridges finds comfort in the glow of a TV screen, his long fingers clutching a game controller, a headset resting atop his hair, …

MINNEAPOLIS – With Steph Curry out for at least the next week due to a strained left hamstring, the Timberwolves may find themselves in an advantageous position against the Golden State Warriors. Or perhaps the opposite is true. It might seem that facing a playoff contender missing its top player just 13 minutes into the series should be a ticket …

Following an impressive outing in which he scored 42 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to give the Denver Nuggets a 1-0 series lead, Nikola Jokic and his squad faced a crushing defeat in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Oklahoma City Thunder, spearheaded by MVP contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dominated the Colorado team with a 149–106 victory, leveling the …

BOSTON — The New York Knicks have pulled off another remarkable feat. Trailing by 20 points in the third quarter of both Game 1 and Game 2, they orchestrated two significant comebacks. Their game featured tremendous performances on both sides of the court, with contributions from every player in the rotation. These are back-to-back impressive victories … on the road …

The reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, find themselves in a 0-2 hole after two games at TD Garden in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. Following the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla and Kristaps Porzingis spoke about the Latvian center’s recurring health issues that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Since his …

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)— In an impressive performance, the Oklahoma City Thunder shattered the NBA playoff record for first-half scoring by racking up 87 points against the Denver Nuggets during Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Wednesday evening. The Thunder eclipsed the former record of 86 points, which was set by the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of …

**Editor’s Note:** For more comprehensive coverage of the NBA, check out The Athletic here. The opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the NBA or its franchises. **OKLAHOMA CITY**— The Denver Nuggets are unconcerned about Draymond Green’s grievances regarding their new tagline. Nor do they seem fazed by Baron Davis’ comments. It’s well recognized that “We Believe” …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)— The Golden State Warriors are set to compete in their second-round series against Minnesota without Stephen Curry for at least the next three games, following an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed he has a mild strain in his left hamstring. According to the Warriors, Curry will be out for a minimum of a week after the injury he …

The Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a final score of 121-119 at the Paycom Center on Monday, thanks to a strong late-game surge. After overcoming a 14-point deficit, Aaron Gordon capped off the comeback with a crucial three-pointer just 2.8 seconds before the game concluded, giving the Nuggets a 1-0 advantage in the Western Conference Semifinals …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Stephen Curry, the standout guard for the Golden State Warriors, suffered a left hamstring strain early in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As the Warriors celebrated their 99-88 victory in the series opener on Tuesday, they were preparing for the possibility of an extended absence from their prolific scorer. Curry is scheduled …

Maintaining their flawless performance away from home in the Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google, the Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a score of 99-88 at the Target Center on Tuesday. The Warriors managed to endure an early setback when Stephen Curry exited Game 1 of the best-of-seven Western Conference series. The …

During the Cavaliers-Pacers matchup on Tuesday, a notable moment unfolded when Cleveland fans directed an “overrated” chant at Tyrese Haliburton as he stood at the free-throw line. In a display of sportsmanship, Donovan Mitchell signaled for the crowd to quiet down. Haliburton would go on to make them reconsider their words, as he nailed the game-winning shot just before the …