First-round series MVPs
First-round series MVPs:
Nuggets 4, Clippers 3: Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic wielded his newfound power within the Nuggets organization – sans Michael Malone, sans Calvin Booth – to instill tremendous resolve and resiliency in his team. The Clippers were excellent. Jokic did whatever was necessary to be better, and Denver followed his lead. Jokic averaged a triple-double (24.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists per game). More importantly, he focused on areas outside his comfort zone (45% 3-point shooting and 2.3 steals per game), proving he has the most essential skill of all-time greatness – just finding ways to win, no matter what.
Timberwolves 4, Lakers 3: Anthony Edwards
Edwards in his epic post-series, trash-talking walk from the arena in Los Angeles said, "The good guy gonna die in this movie." Opposed to taking the face-of-the-league moniker himself, Edwards is casting himself as LeBron James' foil. Whether villain or successor, Edwards is proving himself worthy on the biggest stages. Edwards – 26.8 points (including 43 in a roaring Game 4), 8.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game – left LeBron and Luka Doncic in the dust with a frenzied show of skill and swagger.
Pacers 4, Bucks 1: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo stared down an underrated Pacers team, intensifying questions about his future in Milwaukee and Tyrese Haliburton's towel-waving father – and should walk away with his held high. Antetokounmpo (33.0 points on 61% shooting, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assist per game) did nearly everything the Bucks' could have asked of him. Sure, it would've helped if he defended better. But he had his hands more than full propping up this lacking supporting cast.
Knicks 4, Pistons 2: Jalen Brunson
Brunson's lethal crossover sent Ausar Thompson flying and the Knicks into the second round for the third straight year – their longest run of sustained success since the Patrick Ewing era. Maybe Brunson, who pounds the air out of the ball, is partially responsible for New York's offensive shortcomings. But as constructed, the Knicks needed all he provided. The Clutch Player of the Year, Brunson (31.5 points and 8.2 assists per game) repeatedly came up big late in a tightly contested series.
Warriors 4, Rockets 3: Stephen Curry
Late in Game 7 of a hard-fought series against a much-younger and much-more-athletic team that held him to 0-for-6 shooting to begin the game, 37-year-old Stephen Curry was running circles around the Rockets. The exquisitely conditioned Curry literally got to take a victory lap. Curry got plenty of help in this series – primarily from Draymond Green, whose excellent defense was essential. But Curry (not bad defensively himself) was so responsible for Golden State's offense, whether scoring 31 points in Game 1 or scoring 36 with nine assists in Game 3 or attracting attention throughout the series. Curry's shooting skill (60% on 2s, 39% on 3s, 89% on free throws) was amplified by his motor – somehow still revving strong all these years later.
Celtics 4, Magic 1: Jayson Tatum
Tatum closed the series with 36-, 37- and 35-point games – putting Orlando and a Game 2 absence in the rearview mirror. Boston won without Tatum, who was sidelined by a wrist injury. But with him, it was overall a breeze. The Celtics got outscored by one point without Tatum and outscored the Magic by 20 per 48 minutes with him on the floor.
Cavaliers 4, Heat 0: Donovan Mitchell
Unsurprisingly, the most-lopsided series in NBA history with the highest series offensive rating on record produced several candidates – Jarrett Allen (14 points per game on 78% shooting), Evan Mobley (16 points per game on 71% true shooting), Ty Jerome (16 points per game on 50% 3-point shooting). Darius Garland might have been better than everyone when he played, but he missed two games. Despite lower efficiency, Mitchell (24 points per game on 62% true shooting) gets the nod for shouldering a larger burden, especially scoring 17 of Cleveland's 28 fourth-quarter points in the lone semi-close game, Game 2.
Thunder 4, Grizzlies 0: Jalen Williams
Expected 2024-25 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander largely sleepwalked through the sweep. He even failed to crack 20 points in a game! Though Gilgeous-Alexander was still good, Williams (23-5-5 with a 58% effective field-goal percentage to Gilgeous-Alexanders 44%) was a smidge better and hit some big shots in the close games in Memphis.
Warriors-Rockets
The Warriors beat the Rockets in the 2015 Western Conference finals, 2016 first round, 2018 Western Conference finals and 2019 second round. Eventually, Houston crumbled under the weight of continuously falling short. James Harden demanded a trade, and the Rockets were forced to rebuild. They suffered through a few miserable seasons, but they accumulated high draft picks then acquired savvy veterans via trade and free agency. Houston, which has completely turned over its roster since the Harden era, surged to the No. 2 seed this year. Meanwhile, Golden State's stars have aged and/or departed, and management has cut costs. The class of the West while nearly annually beating up the Rockets, the Warriors were just the No. 7 seed this year.
Yet, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green once again eliminated Houston, leading Golden State to a Game 7 win in their first-round series last night:
The Curry/Green Warriors are the first team – defined by at least one player remaining on the roster – to go 5-0 or better against another franchise in decades. Everyone to do it in NBA history:
Stephen Curry/Draymond Green Warriors vs. Rockets (2015-2025): 5-0
Shaquille O'Neal/Kobe Bryant/Robert Horry/Derek Fisher Lakers vs. Trail Blazers (1997-2002): 5-0
Michael Jordan Bulls vs. Knicks (1989-1996): 5-0*
Scottie Pippen/Horace Grant/John Paxson Bulls vs. Cavaliers (1988-1994): 5-0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Lakers vs. Suns (1980-1989): 5-0
Bill Russell/Sam Jones Celtics vs. Lakers (1959-1969): 7-0
Bill Russell/Sam Jones/Tom Sanders Celtics vs. Lakers (1962-1969): 6-0
Bill Russell/Sam Jones/Tom Sanders/John Havlicek Celtics vs. Lakers (1963-1969): 5-0
Bill Russell/Sam Jones/Tom Sanders/K.C. Jones Celtics vs. Lakers (1959-1966): 5-0
*Jordan retired during this run, technically beating New York over two separate tenures with Chicago.
LeBron James, Anthony Johnson
I included only players with the same team above, as that mostly seemed more telling.
LeBron James is 5-0 vs. the Pacers. Though those series are split between the Heat and Cavaliers, LeBron is a contender unto himself. His tormenting of Indiana from both Miami and Cleveland is meaningful.
Derek Fisher going 5-0 vs. Rockets (three with Lakers, one with Jazz, one with Thunder) and Robert Horry going 6-0 vs. Suns (two with Rockets, one with Lakers, three with Spurs) doesn't carry the same bite. Which is not to say no bite. I'm sure some Phoenix fans have nightmares about Horry. It's just not quite the same, though.
The really fun one: Anthony Johnson is 5-0 vs. the Celtics. The mostly backup guard beat Boston with the New Jersey Nets in 2002 and 2003, with the Pacers in 2004 and 2005 and with the Magic in 2009.
Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield's combination of volume (33 points) and efficiency (110% true shooting) in Game 7 is UNPRECEDENTED in a playoff game.
Keep in mind: Free-throw shooting can boost true shooting percentage, and Hield didn't attempt a single free throw. He was just that blistering from the field – 9-of-11 on 3-pointers (tying Donte DiVincenzo's Game 7 record for made 3s) and 3-of-4 on 2-pointers.
Warriors-Rockets
Warriors-Rockets
After seven games:
Warriors 728, Rockets 728
This is the fourth seven-game series that ended in a points tie (hat tip: ESPN):
2025 first round: Golden State Warriors 4, Houston Rockets 3 (728-728)
2008 second round: San Antonio Spurs 4, New Orleans Hornets 3 (645-645)
1994 Eastern Conference finals: New York Knicks 4, Indiana Pacers 3 (612-612)
1961 Western Division finals: St. Louis Hawks 4, Los Angeles Lakers 3 (800-800)
The Rockets could view this as evidence they're close, but Houston had home-court advantage and Golden State barely tried in a 15-point Game 5 loss. That means the Rockets could expect to be behind the Warriors on a neutral court, and Houston got outscored by 15 in the six games both teams tried.
6-7
In the first 76 years of the NBA, there was one 6-7 series.
The Warriors will play their second in three years.
6-7 series all-time:
2025: No. 6 seed Timberwolves vs. No. 7 seed Warriors
2023: No. 7 seed Lakers 4, No. 6 seed Warriors 2
1987: No. 7 seed SuperSonics 4, No. 6 seed Rockets 2
James Harden
James Harden became the fourth player in NBA history to lose a Game 7 with four different teams:
James Harden (HOU, BRK, PHI, LAC)
Chris Paul (NOH, LAC, OKC, PHO)
Joe Johnson (ATL, BRK, MIA, HOU)
Paul Silas (STL, PHO, BOS, SEA)
If you think pure field-goal percentage is unfair because Harden shoots a lot of 3s, his Game 7 3-point percentage is also lowest all-time – 22% (minimum: 25 attempts).
That said, Harden passed phenomenally Saturday (13 assists with many left on the table, as his teammates missed good looks he set up). He also played inspired defense. Still had some gaffes, but he locked in on that end to a notable degree for him.
However, his team needed more scoring, and Harden once again failed to deliver late in a series.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets' Game 7 win was the first time since March they outscored their opponent with Nikola Jokic sitting. Denver was +16 in Jokic's 32 minutes, a historic +3 in the other 16 minutes.
Dunc'd On Live
Will Hardy
The Jazz signed Will Hardy to a contract extension – for six years, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Hardy was the biggest divide in John's and Nate's coach rankings. Nate had him No. 8 – John No. 20.
Eventually, Hardy must prove his coaching skills translate to winning. But with Utah committed to patience in its rebuild, that day isn't today.
-Dan Feldman