NBA Playoffs 2025 – Everything you need to know before the massive game 7 of the weekend

The second round of the NBA playoffs begins on Sunday, but before the league continues, two games 7 are on the schedule.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves quickly worked on their opponents of the first round, but the other two western conference series have proven to be the most competitive round of the NBA Playoffs.

After a 111-105 victory against the Nuggets on Thursday, the La Clipperers forced a game 7 (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., TNT) in Denver, while the Houston Rockets kept their season with a win 115-107 at Golden State on Wednesday. The two teams meet on Sunday (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) with the chance to face the Timberwolves in the second round.

What are the biggest factors for both games 7 and how can each of the four teams have the biggest factors of the first round in front of them? Our NBA insiders answer the biggest questions in the game 7.

How can the clipper progress?

The Clipper finally went into a small line -up with Nicolas Batum in the second half of game 6. No, they were not his words. But he was dull.

“Batum is a much better shooter than Kris Dunn,” said the three -time MVP. “[He] is a great defensive player. He can protect 1 to 5. I don't think they're missing [anything] Defensive with Batum. You will probably start in the next game. “

Clipper's coach Tyronn Lue opposed this crime defender because he appreciates Dunn's defense. But if Batum can be as effective and defensively as effective as on Thursday evening, the clipper already have the winning recipe. You just have to follow.

How can the nuggets progress?

The nuggets are the larger, physical team, and when they make the clipper feel, they have exercised their will in this series. It starts with Jokic.

He has to bring it to the Clipper Center Ivica Zubac and force the referees to designate more fouls than in Los Angeles (Jokic shot just two free throws in game 6), while he all reminds that he is the best player on the planet.

If he is physically and aggressive early, the Denver offensive and explosive options are created. How we saw in game 5 when Jamal Murray punished the clipper with a dazzling exhibition of the shot finding.

How did we get here?

This series was everything we thought – and more. Each star had at least one signature game: Westbrook in game 1; Leonard in game 2, Zubac and Harden in game 3, Jokic and Aaron Gordon in game 4, Murray in game 5; And hard again in game 6.

Both trainers have motivated their teams excellently and adapted throughout the series. My only question is which team is the most left? Everyone is tired and several important players have injuries they play through. The Nuggets have played in most of a team in most games since 2019, while Lue is one of the best coaches of the excretion game ever. Jokic and Leonard have final MVPs.

“If you like basketball,” said Jokic, “like a real fan, not a false fan of basketball, these are the games you should watch.”

This should be a classic. – Ramona Shelburne

Key factors for game 7

I will carefully observe the fatigue factor. Jamal Murray played the most minutes of each player in the first round while Nikola Jokic is fourth. Two other starters in Denver (Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon) played more than any other clipper than James Harden.

The Clippers are a little deeper, but Ty Lue had to rely more on his stars than he would prefer it. Harden played the entire second half of the game on Thursday, the second time in this series, and fatigue certainly played a role on the clipper's offensive, which stumbled up to the finish line.

The fatigue element makes a good start important. In game 5, the early lead of the nuggets enabled interim coach David Adelman to rest and keep it fresh in both halves. If the clipper have a strong start, Adelman may not have a luxury. When Jokic played the entire second half of the two games 2 and 4, he carried out late and had the Clipper Denver stopped in game 2 in the giving and a 16-point deficit in game 4 extinguished before Aaron Gordon's Summerbeater brought the Nuggets a decisive victory.

With the volume of the tight games, the high level of play and the height in Denver, this series has called for a tribute in both teams. The real winner, one way or another? The Oklahoma City Thunder, who was the first team to complete this after season a week ago a sweep from the Memphis Grizzlies.

Which team has more in the tank for game 7 will probably progress. – Kevin Pelton

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How can the warriors progress?

Golden State's Game 7 experience in the playoffs has to be a highest advantage on Sunday. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green played 7 in five games. Jimmy Butler played in four. Steve Kerr also trained in four.

The Warriors have to solve the defense of the Houston Zone and clear curry on the offensive. Curry had 29 points in game 6, but only 13 in the second half when he shot 4-to-13. Curry and Green are 7 3: 2 in game 7 and in Sacramento in their last game 7 in 2023, with Curry exploding 50 points. In his career in game 7, the Golden State star scored an average of 32.6 points, from every player in the NBA story, behind only Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Michael Jordan, says Espn Research.

Butler has to add another chapter with an epic game in Houston to his legacy “Playoff Jimmy”. But the warriors have to get curry and Butler offensive help. A third top scorer has to improve, regardless of whether the Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield or a Moses Moody, who strikes outside of shots in time to break this zone. Green also has to play like a defender of the year after taking third place in the vote for the award this season. The Golden State must keep its sales low and hold Fred Vanvleet. And in addition to everything else, they were able to use a wild card. Kerr said “Everything is on the table” for game 7, including maybe Jonathan Kuminga, who saw some time. – Ohm Youngmisuk

How can the rockets progress?

Trainer Ime Udoka has preached the meaning of the consistency, the right direction and made the simple games again and again, so that nothing has changed from this point of view. Houston gave Golden State a difficult time in which it uses its double Big positions, which, according to Udoka, look “from the need” to protect some matchups there. “

Surprisingly, the rockets used a zone defense with the sniper that Stephen Curry was on the floor.

“Our activity is great, and the principles with obviously curry and knowledge where it is in the zone is needed a lot of communication,” said Udoka. “And if you stay with him, we fill the places behind it.”

Golden State will search for ways in game 7 to pay Houston if these systems use curry on the ground. Houston must continue to impose his physicality to the older warrior, while they continue to gain the second chance of painting and points. Udoka often talks about Houston's mantra to transform defense into offensive, which often enables the Rockets to get out and run. The Rockets scored 6 22 points in front of 17 Golden State Turnovers in game. Players like Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green will give the decisive key to increasing the Rockets sacking points. – Michael C. Wright

How did you come here?

The Warriors stole the 1 in Houston and won a game that Steve Kerr said was in 1997 in terms of physicality, defense and the importance of any property. Curry scored 31 points and Butler looked like 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals like Playoff Jimmy. However, Houston recovered in game 2 with a 109-94 route, in which Jalen Green solved 38 points. Butler was limited to just eight minutes in the first quarter after Amen Thompson interrupted him in a defensive rebound, which led to a painful and deep gluten muscle contusion.

Butler missed game 3 due to the injury, but the Warriors at home have a 104-93 victory, thanks to 36 points, nine templates and seven rebounds from Curry. Golden State then took a lead 3-1, when Butler scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and secured the greatest rebound of the season after Draymond Green had enforced an Alperen Sengun miss with a lead of 6.4 seconds.

However, the Rockets initiated 5 Golden State in game and climbed in the third quarter at 31 a.m. before Kerr remained his starters with 5:50. Golden State did not fail in game 6 to end the series at home because it missed 14 of its first 15 shots of the fourth quarter, so that Houston could take a 20: 5 run. The Rockets zone defense has hindered the Golden State and temporarily neutralized curry to force a game 7. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Youngmisuk

Key factors for game 7

Houston's use of double Big sets with Steven Adams and Sengun was a determining element of this series. Golden State managed to win game 4, although she had been exceeded in the 22.5 minutes with 18 points. Adams and Sengun played together. With everything that worked in game 5, Udoka didn't have to use his two centers so much, but they were in 13 minutes plus.

The fourth quarter of game 6 was the largest stage for Adams and Sengun so far, which shared the space for almost the entire period before both teams pulled their starters. The Doppelbigs of the Rockets were plus in this time, and this time Udoka did not blink when Steve Kerr Adams deliberately directed to play 4 when Udoka pulled Adams and only brought him back in the last two minutes, as intentional fouls from the play like a technical foul.

Adams went 9 out of 16 from the line to deliberate fouls and Sengun managed to recover two of his misses, which translated a total of 13 points to eight possessions, which were well suited for an offensive rating of 162.5.

Part of the challenge for the Warriors is that Houston was able to use Adams-and in a hybrid defense that holds a defender in Stephen Curry's airspace in Stephen Curry's airspace. Curry still shook in game 6 for 29 points and six 3s, but only shot 9 out of 23 and celebrated five sales.

While Udoka has found new installation combinations that work well, the Warriors trainer team cannot find out the best fivesome. Kerr started Payton in game 6 to improve the defense of the team on Vanvleet, but the Rockets don't have to worry about Payton as a 3-point shooter like Brandin Podziemski. In addition to curry, the other four starters of the Golden State shot a combined 3-of-18 from the 3-point area. – Pelton