Starting 5: Wolves, Knicks get Game 1 wins; Pair of Game 1s in semis await tonight

In a game where Victor Wembanyama tallied a Playoff-record 12 blocks, Anthony Edwards and the Wolves refused to be denied.

With Ant-Man back, Minnesota took Game 1 in San Antonio to grab a 1-0 lead in the West Semis.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Wolves Howl: Ant returns as Minnesota edges San Antonio in last-second finish

Knicks Blitz: New York erupts again, extending historic heater to take 1-0 lead over Philly

Lakers at Thunder: LeBron & SGA square off for the first time in the Playoffs

Cavs at Pistons: Two Midwest rivals collide with the East Finals in sight

Power Rankings: How John Schuhmann sees the final eight teams left standing

BUT FIRST … ⏰

The NBA Playoffs roll on tonight with a pair of Conference Semifinal openers on NBC, Peacock and NBCSN:

• Cavaliers at Pistons (7 ET, Peacock/NBCSN | Tap to Watch)
• Lakers at Thunder (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock | Tap to Watch)

1. ANT & RANDLE LIFT WOLVES IN WILD FINISH, TAKE 1-0 LEAD OVER SPURS

The first game of the Western Conference Semifinals came down to the last shot.

Wolves 104, Spurs 102: After missing the last two games with a hyperextended knee, Anthony Edwards (18 pts, 3 ast, 8-13 FG) returned to galvanize the Wolves, while Julius Randle (21 pts, 10 reb) delivered a string of clutch buckets.

And with Minnesota clinging to a two-point lead in the final seconds, the Wolves came up with one last stop, as Julian Champagnie’s potential go-ahead 3 just missed off the iron, giving Minny a huge Game 1 road dub. | Recap

Wemby Wall: Victor Wembanyama (11 pts, 15 reb) swatted 12 shots – the most in a Playoff game since blocks were first recorded in 1973-74 – but the Wolves kept coming and broke the dam in a decisive 4th quarter.

• Ant Ignition: After being held to 24 points or fewer in each of the first three quarters, Minnesota outscored San Antonio 35-30 in the 4th, with 11 points coming from Edwards
• Randle Time: Randle added six in the final 3:41 to stave off a late Spurs push, capped by a tough lead-extending floater with 50 ticks left
• The Difference: It proved to be the deciding bucket, giving the Wolves a gutsy win in a game that featured 19 lead changes and saw no lead greater than nine
• “Resilience,” said Edwards on the win. “That’s what we got.”

Resilience is right.

Just 10 days after an ugly-looking injury, Edwards worked his way back to the floor, rejoining a Wolves squad that’s made a habit of winning shorthanded.

• Pack Mentality: Minnesota went 3-1 since Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) went down vs. Denver, despite Ant missing Games 5 & 6 and Ayo Dosunmu (21.8 ppg in Round 1) missing the last two with a calf injury
• The Solution? Contribution by committee, with six double-digit scorers last night, including Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaden McDaniels each posting 16 points and 5 boards
• Vets Deliver: Naz Reid (12 pts, 9 reb) and Mike Conley (12 pts, 6 ast) also came up big, each hitting key shots in crunch time to keep San Antonio at bay
• “We just want to win ball games as a group,” said Edwards. “No matter whose night it is, we don’t care – we embrace each other.”

Strength In Numbers: That cohesion has proven instrumental against one of the league’s best, as the Wolves are now 3-1 vs. the Spurs this season.

And Ant’s ready for more.

• “I feel great,” said Edwards of his knee. “I don’t think I’m limited at all.”
• Wemby Shine: Wembanyama is the first player in NBA history to record 10+ pts, 15+ reb and 10+ blk in a Playoff game, but his historic triple-double wasn’t enough
• Up Next: The Spurs will now look to even the series at home on Wednesday (9:30 ET, ESPN)

2. KNICKS ERUPT AGAIN FOR GAME 1 VS. SIXERS

One game after dropping 73 1st-half points to close out the Hawks, the Knicks went even higher – blitzing the Sixers with 74 in Game 1 of the East Semifinals.

Knicks 137, 76ers 98: Jalen Brunson (35 pts, 12-18 FG) came out scorching, dropping 27 points in the first two quarters as New York jumped out to a 74-51 lead and rolled past Philly for its largest home Playoff win in franchise history. | Recap

• “Focus,” said Brunson on the key to the Knicks’ hot start. “Making good reads, getting out on transition, and obviously, the ball going in the hoop.”
• That It Did: Brunson scored 14 points in the 1st quarter to put New York up eight. Then he sparked the eruption – dropping 13 in the 2nd to fuel a 41-point outburst
• Just Like That: He finished the half 10-of-14 from the field, capped by a last-second 3 to put the Knicks up 23, sending MSG into a frenzy

Historic Heater: The closing 3 was a snapshot of what’s made the Knicks so dangerous: Brunson drawing a double and finding the open man. Miles McBride making one more pass to Josh Hart for a clean look.

It doesn’t fall, but Mikal Bridges sells out for the offensive board – then finds Brunson for a second chance. No hesitation. Splash

That chemistry and buy-in fueled 48 minutes of dominance, the latest chapter in a run unlike anything the franchise has seen before.

• Everybody Eats: OG Anunoby finished with 18 points (7-8 FG), while Bridges (5 ast, 7-10 FG) and Karl-Anthony Towns (6 ast, 7-11 FG) scored 17 apiece
• All Out: Josh Hart was everywhere (8 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl), while the bench added 43 points as New York shot 63.1% from the field – a franchise Playoff record

All-Time Tear: The Knicks are now averaging 120.6 ppg this postseason – 4.1 points better than their regular-season average (116.5). That surge has fueled three straight wins of 25+ points (+29, +51, +39), something no team has ever done in the Playoffs.

• The Result? A combined +119 point differential – the largest over any three-game span (regular season or Playoffs) in Knicks franchise history
• “We’re playing well,” said KAT. “But it doesn’t mean anything if we can’t find a way to get three more wins.”

Up Next: Joel Embiid (14 pts, 4 reb) and Tyrese Maxey (13 pts) will look to lead Philly to a bounce-back win in Game 2 on Wednesday (7 ET, ESPN).

3. TONIGHT OUT WEST: LAKERS AT THUNDER, GAME 1

LeBron James. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Two generational talents defining two eras – now meeting in the Playoffs for the first time, each standing in the other’s path.

Tonight on NBC & Peacock (8:30 ET), those paths collide. | What to Expect

• LeBron’s Lakers are back in the West Semis for the first time since 2023, chasing their first NBA championship since 2020
• Shai’s Thunder return for a third straight season, seeking back-to-back titles for the first time in franchise history

Full Circle: The last time the Lakers and Thunder met in the Playoffs was in 2012 – also in the West Semis – when Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden led OKC past Kobe Bryant and company en route to the NBA Finals.

Their Finals opponent? LeBron and the Heat, who went on to win the title. James  – then 27 and now 41  – hasn’t faced OKC in the Playoffs since. But 14 years later, he’s still dictating Playoff series from every angle.

• His Latest Act? With Luka Dončić out (hamstring), James led the Lakers past the Rockets in Round 1 – pacing the team in points, assists and field goals while ranking 2nd in rebounds

New Era, New Storm: In 2012, the Heat were the league’s standard, taking down OKC’s up-and-coming squad for LeBron’s first ring.

Now chasing his fifth title, James faces a different test: a dominant Thunder team defending its title, led by SGA – the reigning Kia MVP whose efficiency has mirrored prime LeBron’s.

• Shai Scorching: SGA averaged a Playoff-high 33.8 points and 8 dimes in OKC’s First-Round sweep over Phoenix, while shooting 55.1% from the floor
• Special Company: Only one other player has averaged 33 & 8 while shooting over 55% in the first four games of a Playoff run: LeBron in 2010 with Miami
• But James sees shades of another all-time great in SGA’s game …
• “That’s one thing I love about Shai,” said LeBron on his “Mind the Game” podcast. “For him to play on the perimeter as much as he does … the mid-range … and still be as super efficient as he is – it’s Jordan-esque.”

Thunder Formula: As SGA has elevated his scoring, OKC’s defense has locked in.

After allowing just 106.3 ppg en route to last year’s title, the Thunder have been even better through one round this year (105.5 ppg), while forcing 16 turnovers per game – the most of any remaining Playoff team.

Now they face a Lakers group that averaged 17.7 turnovers against Houston, the highest mark of any team in the First Round.

That edge showed in the regular season, as OKC went 4-0 against the Lakers.

The counter? James, who is 12-3 (.800) in his career in Conference Semifinals – the best win percentage of any player with 12+ appearances (min. 1 GP).

And OKC knows what’s coming.

• “Guy is one of the best players to ever pick up a basketball in the history of human beings,” said SGA of LeBron. “Playing against an all-time great like that, you get up for those games.”

4. TONIGHT IN THE EAST: CAVS AT PISTONS, GAME 1

Two days after Game 7 wins, Cleveland and Detroit meet in Game 1 of their East Semifinal duel.

The last time the Pistons were the No. 1 seed was in 2007, when the Cavs ended their season in the East Semis in six games – highlighted by 27 straight points from a 22-year-old LeBron in Game 5 to swing the series.

Tonight (7 ET, Peacock/NBCSN), the two rivals meet again in a series with a trip to the East Finals on the line. | What to Expect

• Sixteen-Year Wait: Detroit returns to the East Semis for the first time since 2008 – the same year it last made the Conference Finals
• Elusive Breakthrough: Cleveland is back in the Semis for a third straight year, but each of its last two seasons has ended here. Now, it looks to make the jump to the East Finals for the first time since 2018

Midwest Made: Two longtime Central Division rivals — representing two states, in Ohio and Michigan, with famed sports rivalries of their own — Cleveland and Detroit have met twice in the Playoffs since 2007.

Both were First Round sweeps by the Cavs (2009, 2016).

Now, they renew their rivalry after two hard-fought series.

• Detroit’s Rally: Detroit became just the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit, winning Games 5-7 over Orlando behind Cade Cunningham’s 36.3 ppg
• Cade’s Moment: That’s the most points by any player in a three-game elimination stretch since Steph Curry in 2023 – and Cunningham did it on 61.1% shooting
• “To lose in the First Round would have stung the city,” said Cunningham. “The city’s gotten more and more excited about this team. We feel the love … and the ultimate goal is a championship.”

Cavs Answer: Cleveland battled for every inch in a seven-game marathon vs. Toronto, bouncing back from a heartbreaking Game 6 overtime loss to claim Game 7 at home.

• “It’s mental toughness,” said Evan Mobley of the response. “Mental strength, sticking together – just hard work and grit.”

Same Attitude, Different Identities: The Pistons and Cavs arrive with a similar edge, but have leaned on different strengths to overcome adversity.

• Detroit Clamps: Detroit has relied on its top-rated defense all season, and dug in when it mattered most, holding Orlando to 94 ppg over Games 5-7 to complete the comeback
• Cleveland Firepower: The Cavs ranked 4th in scoring this season – the key to their four First-Round wins, where they poured in 120 ppg on 51.2% shooting

Now, both sides are looking for more: Detroit riding an unwavering belief as it chases its first East Finals berth in 18 years, and Cleveland aiming to push past the round where its last two seasons have ended.

• “This is a special group,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who earned a contract extension Monday. “You can’t count us out. No matter the circumstance, no matter the situation.”
• “When you go through these things, it teaches you a lot about yourself,” said Mitchell on Sunday. “When you don’t face certain challenges, you don’t know what you’re capable of…
• “And we have another mental test on Tuesday.”

5. SCHUHMANN’S POWER RANKINGS: CONFERENCE SEMIS SNAPSHOT

Sixteen teams are down to eight.

After one of the most competitive First Rounds in recent memory, only eight teams remain standing in the race for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. But which squads look the strongest?

In his latest Power Rankings, John Schuhmann breaks down where every Conference Semifinalist stands – and just how tightly packed the field is:

There has been at least one sweep in the First Round of the Playoffs in each of the last 23 years, a streak that goes back to 2004, the second year after the First Round changed to a best-of-seven format.

But there was only one sweep this year, and only one other series that ended in fewer than six games … every series is different though…

Read on for the full Power Rankings and three key takeaways from each team’s First Round series.

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