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The Denver Nuggets secured victory in the first game of the series, seizing home-court advantage from the Oklahoma City Thunder—only to relinquish it again in Game 4. Oklahoma City triumphed over the Nuggets in their second matchup at Ball Arena, edging them out 92–87 and leveling the series at 2–2 before it shifts back to Oklahoma for Game 5. The …

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The Pacers enjoyed a historic night, triumphing over the Cavaliers with a score of 129-109, which propelled them to a 3-1 series lead, showcasing a performance that was more dominant than the final tally indicates. By halftime, the home team had established a commanding 41-point lead (80-39) and even pushed their margin to 44 points at the beginning of the …

This series has been centered around speed ever since the early moments of the second quarter in Game 1. It was during this time that Golden State’s Stephen Curry, a guard, reached for his left hamstring and exited the court at Target Center, while his Warriors held a 30-20 lead over Minnesota in their Western Conference semifinal opener. From that …

After recording an impressive 42 points, 22 rebounds, and six assists in Denver’s Game 1 victory away from home, Jokic has faced challenges against the tough defense of OKC. In the last two games, he has managed only nine assists while turning the ball over 10 times. His shooting has also been off, as he has made only about 30 …

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)— During the first quarter of Game 4 on Sunday, Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was ejected for delivering a closed-fist punch to the chest of Cleveland Cavaliers’ backup De’Andre Hunter. Despite the absence of one of their key scorers, the Pacers managed to match an NBA playoff record by taking a staggering 41-point lead at halftime, ultimately defeating …

Former Boston Celtics power forward Guerschon Yabusele made his return to the NBA last summer after a year in China and four years competing in Europe with ASVEL and Real Madrid. He signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and made a notable impact in his comeback season, seemingly solidifying his position in the league and in the team’s future goals. According …

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder struggled to ignite their lethargic offenses in an early tip-off for Game 4 on Sunday, setting a record for the slowest start to an NBA playoff matchup. The two teams managed to score just 25 points collectively in the first quarter, tying the record for the least amount of points …

Following the Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round playoff exit in a five-game series against the Indiana Pacers, discussions have intensified around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the team. Shams Charania indicates that this situation could emerge as one of the summer’s major narratives, even though the two-time NBA MVP has not reached any conclusive decisions regarding his status in Milwaukee. Charania notes that …

The Oklahoma City Thunder clamped down on the Denver Nuggets defensively and staged a late comeback to secure a Game 4 victory that was far from polished. DENVER— After a dominant 68-win regular season and a flawless 4-0 sweep in the first round of the playoffs, the Thunder demonstrated their ability to thrive even in less-than-ideal circumstances. In this crucial …

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 …