There’s nothing like the first playoff weekend to remind every contender — and every hopeful underdog — that NBA basketball in late April is a brand‑new beast. Rotations shrink, nerves swell, and a single momentum swing can turn eight months of good vibes into a pile of second‑guessing. 

Out West, teams came out swinging. OKC ran Memphis out of the gym, Denver and L.A. gave us an overtime thriller, the Wolves handed the Lakers a beatdown, and Golden State reminded everyone they’re still built for this.

Each series brought its own energy and raised its own questions. Some teams looked polished, some looked completely out of sorts, and some are already facing real pressure heading into Game 2.

Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80 — Grizzlies' Pace Bacfires

It Got Out of Hand Quickly

Paycom Center was rocking well before tip-off. Thunder fans came ready, and with every fast break and highlight play, the noise just kept building. Nobody saw this kind of beatdown coming, but by halftime, it felt like the Grizzlies were already toast. It ended up going down as the most lopsided Game 1 win in NBA history, and for Memphis, it was one of those nights where not a single thing goes right.

The energy really popped after Holmgren’s early block on Ja Morant. That play lit the place up — fans jumped out of their seats, high-fived complete strangers, and stayed on their feet from there. By the second quarter, it didn’t even feel like a basketball game anymore. It felt like a block party in a packed arena.

With four minutes left in the first, OKC turned a 17‑15 edge into a 32‑20 quarter split with a turnover frenzy. It started with that Holmgren block on Morant, Williams pickpocketed Bane at half‑court, and Aaron Wiggins streaked the lane for a two‑hand hammer that rattled the rim. The crowd hadn’t even reset when the second frame opened with back‑to‑back threes from Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe. 

Suddenly, it was 38‑20 and Taylor Jenkins looked as if he’d aged five dog‑years, searching his bench for answers that simply didn’t exist.

How the Thunder Built the Avalanche

Relentless Length on Defense

Daigneault’s roster looks like it was assembled by an architect obsessed with wingspans. Holmgren’s timing erased floaters, Dort’s hips stayed glued to Desmond Bane’s drives, and Jalen Williams helped off the weak side to blow up back‑cuts. By the third quarter, Morant’s initial burst was dying in traffic, and you could almost see his internal battery flashing red.

Offensive Democracy

Six different guys hit double figures, and the ball was moving the whole time. Williams ran the show with SGA having a quiet night, Holmgren knocked down elbow jumpers, and Aaron Wiggins gave the bench a big lift. Everyone knew their role and played it sharp — no hero ball, just clean offense and smart movement.

Stat Lines That Pop Off the Page

• 24 Memphis turnovers → 24 Thunder points. Every loose handle became a jailbreak. Hard to execute half‑court sets when the ball is jetting the other direction.

• +44 for Jalen Williams in 28 minutes. That’s rec‑league ridiculous. Sub him out and you’re still winning; leave him in and the party keeps rocking.

• 51‑point cushion on a night SGA shot 4‑for‑13. When your superstar’s worst scoring game coincides with a historical blowout, you’re in a pretty good spot.

Where the Grizz Go From Here

Ja told the media, “We’ll never play that bad again.” And yeah, they’ve got to hope he’s right. Memphis can’t fix its size issues overnight, but they can slow the game down, hit the glass harder, and try to keep Bane from getting picked on defensively — probably by stashing him on someone like Dort. They’ll also need to test Holmgren inside more, put a body on him, and see if they can get him in foul trouble. If they don’t bring a lot more fight in Game 2, this thing could get away from them quick.

Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT) — Jokic’s Calm Beats Hollywood Tremors

Clippers Start Strong, But Denver Grinds Its Way Back

For most of the night, it looked like the Clippers were in control. James Harden came out hot, dropping 15 in the first quarter, and Ivica Zubac gave Denver problems inside. Kawhi Leonard was doing his usual quiet damage, and L.A. had built up a 15-point lead by the middle of the second. But Denver closed the half strong with a 13–2 run that shifted the momentum. 

Jokic started to take over in the third, calmly picking apart mismatches and getting his teammates involved. By the start of the fourth, it was a one-possession game, and everything tightened up from there. 

Plot Twist: Westbrook Becomes the Mile‑High Hero

Ball Arena had that nervous hum in the second quarter: Denver trailing by 15, Kawhi cruising, Harden shimmying. Then Nikola Jokić, basketball’s resident problem‑solver, started stacking answers — and Russell Westbrook, playing against his old team, decided to write a narrative nobody saw coming. What Thunder‑Grizz lacked in suspense, Nuggets‑Clippers delivered in spades.

Westbrook’s Redemption Reel

1. Baseline put‑back (1:09, 4Q): A quick put-back tied the game and finally got the home crowd going again.

2. Corner three (0:29, 4Q): Clippers left him 10 feet of air. Russ paused — almost offended — then drilled the shot, smirked at the bench, and back‑pedaled like he’d rehearsed the stare‑down.

3. Overtime inbound deflection (1:27, OT): Batum tried a safety valve, Westbrook’s fingertip popped it loose, Murray dove, and Denver ended up with a possession that turned into a Gordon dunk.

Denver Finds a Way to Slow It Down Late

Early on, the Clippers had Denver scrambling with their double-drag screens. Jokic was playing in drop coverage, and Harden took advantage with floaters and clean looks in the midrange. But things started to shift in the fourth. The Nuggets adjusted the coverage — Gordon showed higher on screens, Jokic played more at the nail, and KCP started digging down on Harden's drives. 

It worked. Harden coughed up three turnovers in a seven-minute stretch. Now it's on Ty Lue to adjust back — probably by having the first screener slip out early and forcing Jokic to step up higher than he wants to.

Series Forecast

Don’t book beach vacations yet — L.A. can absolutely steal one if it takes care of the ball and toggles matchups to keep Russ guessing. This one could’ve gone either way. The Clippers led most of the night and had their chances, but Denver made just enough plays late to take it. Game 1 showed us that both teams can win this series — it’s going to come down to adjustments, execution, and who can finish close games when it counts..

Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95 — Wolves Come Out Swinging, Lakers Stumble Early

Pregame Talk vs. Reality

Coming into the game, the talk was all about whether Minnesota’s offense could hold up once things tightened up in the playoffs. Safe to say they answered that — and then some. The Wolves were faster, tougher, and honestly, looked way more relaxed than a Lakers squad that never really found its footing. By the time the third quarter rolled around, the game had slipped away.

The crowd at Crypto.com Arena knew it too. You could hear the groans by the middle of the third quarter. Anthony Edwards flexed after a big transition dunk, and the usual buzz around the celebs in the front row turned quiet. Then Naz Reid knocked down his sixth three, and fans started heading for the exits. 

Luka still did his part — he dropped 37 and looked every bit like Playoff Luka — but outside of him, the offense just couldn’t keep up. The Wolves made life tough, and L.A. didn’t have many answers.

Inside the Beatdown

Minnesota’s Blueprint: Switch 1‑4, plant Gobert like a Redwood, coax L.A.’s iffy shooters into nerve‑testing threes. Offensively, deploy double‑drag screens for Edwards, scatter shooters, rinse‑repeat.
The result: 21 made threes (franchise record), +12 paint margin, and a bench mob that outscored L.A.’s reserves 43‑13 — pure deflation for a team whose depth was already suspect.

Naz Reid: The Sixth Man L.A. Didn’t Have

Remember the “overpaid” chatter when Minnesota matched Naz Reid's offer sheet? Six triples and an and‑one put‑back over Rui Hachimura later, that take is in cold storage. Reid punished every small‑ball lineup JJ Redick tried, forcing the Lakers to abandon their switch‑everything philosphy.

LeBron’s Quiet Night & the Center Problem

LeBron still posted a respectable 19‑7‑6, but the trademark ignition plays — chase‑down blocks, step‑back daggers — never happened in this one. Some of that’s age; most of it’s Minnesota’s verticality funneling him into Gobert’s wingspan. Worse: L.A. still lacks a credible center for 48 minutes. Christian Wood tried, got bulldozed, sat. The Lakers still haven’t figured out how to hold up inside for a full game. Christian Wood tried, got bulldozed, and sat. And with no reliable big behind him, it’s a glaring problem Minnesota didn’t hesitate to exploit.

With that being said, the last time LeBron lost the opener of a series at home by 20+, he roared back to win (2018 vs. Indiana). But that Cavs squad had peak Kyrie and role players who played their roles extremely well. This Laker roster is a mystery box once you peel back the two superstars.

Path Forward

JJ Redick’s going to be under the microscope moving forward. They need to shoot it better from deep, settle into cleaner offensive possessions, and find some sort of defensive answer for Anthony Edwards. If they can win Game 2, they’re right back in it. But if they don’t show up with more fight and a better plan, Minnesota’s taking the series home with a 2–0 lead and a ton of confidence.

Warriors 95, Rockets 85 — Same Script, Different Ensemble

Early Jitters, Mid‑Game Mastery

Golden State spotted Houston an eight‑point early burst, yawned, then unleashed a 34‑19 third‑quarter blitz — vintage Warriors timing. The names have changed, but the rhythm’s still the same: take the first half to figure things out, make the right tweaks at the break, then come out swinging after halftime.

Kerr’s halftime adjustment was devilishly simple: more off‑ball screens for Curry instead of initiating on‑ball. That forced Houston’s rookie wing Cam Whitmore into switch chaos — he lost Curry twice, Butler once, and Kuminga on a back‑cut. Six minutes, 14‑0 run, ballgame.

Curry Still Runs the Show

Thirty‑one points on 17 shots, 5‑of‑9 deep, plus an 18‑point swing during his floor time. Curry’s shooting was obviously big, but it was the attention he drew that really made a difference. The Rockets kept sending two defenders out to him way beyond the arc, which opened things up for Butler to work in space and make plays. His 25‑7‑6 didn’t jump off the screen, but it was exactly what Golden State needed — steady, smart basketball next to Steph.

Houston’s Missed Opportunity

Alperen Sengun bullied the Warriors inside: bully‑ball layups, slick dump‑off passes, a 26‑9 line that screamed “future 1st Team All‑NBA.” When he owned the paint, Houston clawed to single digits. But 6‑for‑29 from deep (20.7%) killed every rally. Jalen Green pressed, Fred VanVleet short‑armed floaters, and rookie nerves peeked through like a singer's first time on stage.

Strategic Chess

Kerr mixed in both his usual Looney lineups and some smaller looks with Curry, Butler, Kuminga, Wiggins, and Draymond. Houston tried to switch everything to keep up, but their help defense wasn’t sharp. Golden State took advantage with a bunch of easy backdoor cuts and layups. Second‑half shot chart: Warriors 12‑of‑18 in the paint; Rockets 7‑for‑20 from mid‑range — Golden State will live with that math every day ending in ‘y’.

What It’ll Take to Tip This Matchup

If Houston wants to even things up, they’ve got to start hitting open threes — especially the ones Sengun creates with his passing. He did his part inside, but when the ball swung out, too many good looks just didn’t fall. Jalen Green will also need to go toe-to-toe with Curry at some point in this series. Golden State was the better team in the second half, but this matchup feels closer than the score suggested. And with the Warriors' road struggles, Houston has every reason to believe they can bounce back in Game 2.

Same West, New Rules

One weekend in, every series already has a headline:

• Thunder: Youth doesn’t equal naivety—it equals jet fuel in transition, and they’re flooring the pedal.

• Nuggets: Having the release valve (Jokić) is priceless when things go haywire.

• Timberwolves: Depth plus defensive size is a playoff cheat code — not just a trendy talking point.

• Warriors: Experience isn’t old news; it’s an algorithm that keeps spitting out winning adjustments.

But Game 2 is where the stubborn either pivot or perish. We’ll learn if Memphis can slow the pace, if Ty Lue can flip Westbrook back into a liability, if L.A.’s role players remember how to shoot, and if Houston’s kids can translate regular‑season swagger into postseason poise.

Quick‑Hit Storylines to Watch

1. Ja Morant vs. Lu Dort Round 2: Does Memphis run more pick-and-roll action to free their star?

2. Kawhi’s Touches: Denver forced seven Kawhi turnovers — does L.A. move him off‑ball to avoid late help?

3. Anthony Edwards’ Shot Diet: Will L.A. switch bigger wings to push him toward mid‑range?

4. Rockets’ Corner Threes: Golden State over‑helps on Sengun posts — can Jabari Smith Jr. punish that?

Game 1 gave us some answers, but a whole lot of questions too. If this opening weekend showed us anything, it’s that (almost) every series is up for grabs — and we’re just getting started.