The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a major upset in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, beating the Los Angeles Lakers. Wednesday night’s 103-96 victory at Crypto.com Arena sealed the series with a commanding 4-1 result.
This outcome likely wasn’t in many people’s plans. The Lakers, especially after the arrival of Luka Doncic, were seen as strong favorites to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West. However, an outstanding performance from Rudy Gobert, supported mainly by Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, was enough to eliminate LeBron James’ team.
With their spot in the next round locked in, the Timberwolves must now wait to find out who their next opponent will be. That’s because on Wednesday, the Houston Rockets picked up a key 131-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, cutting the series lead to 3-2 for the San Francisco team.
Given this scenario, the matchup will feature at least one more game, set to take place Friday at Chase Center. If the Warriors win there, they’ll punch their ticket to the semifinals and face Minnesota. But if the Rockets prevail, they’ll force a Game 7 on Sunday at Toyota Center.
The outcome of the Rockets-Warriors series will determine the scheduling of the semifinal matchups. If Game 7 isn’t needed and the Warriors clinch at home on Friday, they’ll be ready to face the Timberwolves on Sunday, May 5 or Monday, May 6. If the series extends, Minnesota will have to wait a few extra days before returning to action.
How are the other NBA playoff series shaping up?
In the West, OKC were the first team to lock in their spot in the semifinals. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies with ease, also setting an impressive point differential against their opponents — a clear sign of their offensive firepower, led by 2025 NBA scoring champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The other series has been much more competitive. Ahead of Game 6 at Intuit Dome this Thursday night, the Denver Nuggets hold a valuable 3-2 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers. Even so, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden still have hopes of forcing a Game 7 and keeping their postseason run alive.
In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers will meet in the semifinals after comfortably defeating the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. The Boston Celtics have also secured their place in the next round after beating the Orlando Magic, but they’re still waiting to find out who they’ll face. The New York Knicks lead their series 3-2 against the Detroit Pistons ahead of Game 6 at Little Caesars Arena.
SURVEY Who will advance to the Western Conference Semifinals?
Who will advance to the Western Conference Semifinals?
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