With spring having started and March Madness having finally ended, the 2025 NBA playoffs have begun, where the teams that have made the cutoff will face the final game to bring the 2024-2025 season to a close, but not before a fierce playoff.
This year has been one with multiple curveballs, from the surge of the Detroit Pistons, the controversial trade of former Maverick star Luka Dončić and former Laker Anthony Davis, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic competing for MVP status. The western side adds to the chaos with the Memphis Grizzlies, new coaching setups and switch-ups.
However, even with all these changes, the cut to make the playoffs was finalized, with the west having the Oklahoma Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors.
Heading to the east, the competing teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic.
The teams have already started to compete, with the most looked-upon teams, Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves, who were at first tied 1v1. With leading star Luka Dončić having 31 points and 9 assists in game two.
“Is nine assists good enough for you?” Dončić said to ESPN after some controversy over the Lakers’ loss in game one.
However, the team wasn’t letting the confidence of the last win get to their heads, with Lakers player Austin Reaves saying, “I think it just goes back to the other night when we basically got punked.”
Even with the win, the Lakers ultimately slipped off, leaving the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 4v1 win.
On the East side, the Celtics compete against the Magic, at first up 2-0. Celtic star Jason Tatum missed game one, but was on the sidelines supporting his team as they competed without their star player.
Tatum was out due to a midair collision between Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Wendell Carter Jr. while trying for a two-handed dunk.
“This season was the most relaxed and carefree that I’ve been in my career, understanding that we won last year and we accomplished the ultimate goal, and you kind of got that monkey off your back,” Tatum said.
He is day-to-day right now, but the team still managed the court just fine, leaving the Magic behind in a 1v4 loss.
The Indiana Pacers also won against the Milwaukee Bucks with another 4v1 win.
However, Golden State faces off against the Houston Rockets, only up 3-2, with a potential final game if they win against the Rockets in game 5. The Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers are in the same position, with the Nuggets up 3-2.
In just a short time, playoff round two will begin, to finalize who will be the final 4 and ultimately who has a chance to play in the finals to hold the 2024-2025 championship.
