The 2024-25 NBA postseason concluded its first round with the Golden State Warriors defeating the Houston Rockets, 103-89, in Game 7 on May 4 at Toyota Center.
Buddy Hield scored a game-high 33 points to lead the seventh-seed Warriors by going 9-of-11 from 3, while Stephen Curry registered 19 of his 22 points in the second half to go along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals.
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The NBA playoffs continue May 5 with two Game 1s in the second round.
Conference semifinals
East: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (4) Indiana Pacers (Indiana up 1-0, winning 121-112, Sunday); (2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) New York Knicks (Game 1 Monday).
West: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Denver Nuggets (Game 1 Monday); (6) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (7) Golden State Warriors, (Game 1 Tuesday, April 6).
Here are five takeaways from the first round
Are the Rockets a Kevin Durant away?
Jalen Green averaged a career-high 21 points, Alperen Sengun became a first-time All-Star and Amen Thompson is perhaps their best overall player.
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Houston went from 22 wins the season before Ime Udoka became head coach to 52 in its second season under him. Udoka is a finalist for NBA Coach of the Year.
The Rockets are young and talented, have key veterans in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, but should they break up that core and go after say Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant in an offseason trade to give them a closer who can go for 30 points on any given night?
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston on March 12, 2025.
The other Game 7
The Los Angeles Clippers were up 2-1 and forced a Game 7, but the Nuggets rocked them, 120-101 on May 3 after leading by as many as 35 points to claim the series.
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Kawhi Leonard was healthy in the postseason for the first time in recent memory. Ty Lue is a great coach, but the Clippers continue to fold in the biggest playoff games.
And James Harden? He scored just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting in 35 minutes to add more fuel to the postseason narrative that he can’t deliver when it really matters.
LA Clippers guard James Harden prepares to pass the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets during Game 7 of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena.
Cavs, Thunder impressive sweeps
Cleveland evaporated the Miami Heat by an average margin of 30.5 points in the series, winning Game 4 by a ridiculous 55 points, 138-83, without All-Star guard Darius Garland.
Garland remained out for Game 1 with a left great toe sprain. The Cavaliers need him because they’ll struggle to match Indiana’s offensive pace without him.
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Miami has some serious soul searching and restructuring to do. As Bam Adebayo said, changes are on the way. Team president Pat Riley won’t sit idly on this.
OKC opened its playoff run with a 51-point victory, 131-80. The Memphis Grizzlies at least made it competitive at home, but they were no match for the NBA’s best team.
Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) greets Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells (0) after the Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 117-115 in Game 4 to win the first-round NBA playoff series at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Can Luka-LeBron duo work in L.A.?
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t trade for Luka Doncic to pair him up with LeBron James to lose this early, but Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves only needed five games to put them away.
The Doncic-James duo may need more time. After all, the blockbuster move that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks happened right before the trade deadline.
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However, James and Doncic are both used to playing with the ball. JJ Redick can design that, but it’ll be all for naught if the Lakers don’t drastically improve defensively.
Apr 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) leave a court after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-85 in game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Beef overshadows Milwaukee’s issues
Tyrese Haliburton’s dad got too comfortable when taunting Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Indiana Pacers’ crazy Game 5 overtime comeback win to take the series in five games.
The Pacers have since banned John Haliburton from Indiana home and away games after Antetokounmpo confronted him in an aggressive manner.
The Bucks have now been eliminated in the first round three straight years with one of the game’s best players in Antetokounmpo. Not good.
Detroit basketball reborn
The Detroit Pistons could’ve very easily won their first-round series, but Jalen Brunson lived up to winning NBA Clutch Player of the Year with his series-sealing 3 in Game 6.
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Experience is the best teacher. The Pistons lost the series, but came out of it knowing they can compete with the NBA’s best teams. Cade Cunningham has taken the next step.
Jalen Duren has some Ben Wallace-isms and Ausar Thompson’s potential is scary. They have a great coach in J.B. Bickerstaff and established a physical, aggressive identity.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Warriors win Game 7; can LeBron-Luka duo work? NBA 1st round takeaways