The NBA playoffs are off to a fascinating start. So far, the only Western Conference team undefeated in the first round is the Oklahoma City Thunder, which blew out the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0.
“I think the Western team that has the best chance of making the Finals is the Thunder because they have been dominating the West so far this year, and they have no holes in their roster anywhere,” junior Thomas Hanlon said
The Nuggets and Cavs series has been very close. On Saturday, April 26, the Denver Nuggets played the Los Angeles Clippers, and it was a very close game. The game was tied, and the ending of the game got intense. Nuggets star Jokic had the ball with five seconds left, turned around and attempted a fade-away three, and air-balled it, but Aaron Gordon caught the ball and dunked it with .4 seconds left to tie the series 2-2.
On Tuesday, April 29, the Nuggets pulled off a win 131-115 with Jamal Murray finishing with 43 points. On Thursday, May 1, the Clippers pushed the series game to game seven with James Harden finishing with 28 points, tying the series 3-3. This series is one of the most injurious series of them all, both tied at 3-3.
“I am most excited to see the end of this Clippers vs Nuggets series. They are very evenly matched. The teams are tied 2-2 in the first round because of the crazy buzzer-beater dunk by Aaron Gordon,” junior Jack Grunske said.
In another matchup, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Edwards scored 43 points to push the lead of the series to 3-1. Then Rudy Gobert had an outstanding game 6, finishing with 27 points and 24 rebounds to finish the series 4-1.
“I think that teams are going to have to be able to play defense because the West is stacked with the top talents, so teams are just scoring tons of points in games,” junior Charlie Sheridan said. “Also, I think teams need to come out with a lot of intensity, which I think is where the Timberwolves will have a chance to make a run, just because of the defense of intensity they bring to every game.”
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors pushed the lead to 3-1 this past Monday, April 28. Jimmy Butler finished with 27 points, Brandin Podziemski with 26, and Curry with 17. The Warriors secured the win within 10 seconds of the game clock in the fourth quarter. The score was 106-107 Warriors, and the Houston Rockets got called for an offensive foul, sending Butler to the line to knock down two free throws to end the game 106-109.
On Wednesday, April 30, the Rockets defeated the Warriors 131-116, making the series 3-2. Dillon Brooks finished with 24 points, Amen Thompson finished with 25 points, and Fred VanVleet finished with 26 points.
“I’m excited about the Warriors vs. Rockets series because Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks will go at it. It’s also a young Rockets team vs an old and experienced Warriors team that has been in the playoffs multiple times,” junior Tyler Roche said.
