Key Points Summary – NBA Playoffs First Round Drama
- The NBA Playoffs exploded with upsets and blowouts on Day 1.
- Los Angeles is in shambles after both the Lakers and Clippers lost Game 1.
- The Lakers were overwhelmed by Minnesota despite Luka Doncic’s 37 points.
- The Clippers choked away a 15-point lead and lost to Denver in overtime.
- New York is on fire after the Knicks destroyed the Pistons with a 21-0 run.
- The Indiana Pacers shocked the Bucks with a nearly 20-point win, despite Giannis scoring 36.
- Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook fueled a stunning comeback.
- Tuesday’s Game 2 matchups could already decide LA’s fate.
NBA Playoffs First Round Drama – Madness Erupts on Day One!
What. A. Start. The 2025 NBA Playoffs tipped off with fireworks, heartbreak, and pure chaos on Saturday—and no city felt it harder than Los Angeles.
The basketball capital of the world was left in ruins as both the Lakers and Clippers got humiliated in their first-round openers. Meanwhile, New York City threw a basketball party, and the Pacers stunned the entire East with a beatdown of the Bucks.
Let’s break it all down, game by game, from buzzer-beaters to blowouts.
LA Lakers Collapse Against Timberwolves – Doncic’s 37 Not Enough
If Lakers fans thought Luka Doncic was going to be their playoff savior—well, not yet.
Doncic dropped a sensational 37 points, and LeBron James added 19 in his 18th NBA postseason, but it was nowhere near enough. The Minnesota Timberwolves silenced Crypto.com Arena and sent LA fans home in shock, winning 117-95.
The Timberwolves didn’t just win—they dominated. They shot the lights out, defended like dogs, and crushed the Lakers’ chemistry, which is still clearly a work in progress after adding Doncic just two months ago.
“They were better. Way better,” said one Lakers insider. “And that should worry everyone in LA.”
Game 2 is already looking like a must-win. Another loss at home? That might be all she wrote for this year’s title dream.
Clippers Choke in Overtime – Nuggets Stun LA With Jokic, Westbrook Magic
Meanwhile, just across the tunnel, things went from bad to worse for LA’s second playoff hope.
The Clippers looked ready to cruise in their series opener against the Denver Nuggets. They led by 15 early. James Harden was cooking with 32 points, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac combined for 43, and all five starters hit double digits.
But 20 turnovers killed them.
“If you turn the ball over 20 times, you’re gonna lose,” said a furious Tyronn Lue postgame.
The Clippers coughed up a 49-34 lead, allowed Denver to tie it in the final seconds, and then got buried in overtimeby Nikola Jokic (29 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds) and—plot twist—former Clipper Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook hit a clutch corner three, then knocked a Harden inbounds pass out of bounds with 9.6 seconds left to ice the game.
“I know that play,” Westbrook smirked. “I was there two years.”
Denver’s interim coach David Adelman, now 4-0 since taking over, said the comeback started late in the second quarter.
“It felt like crawling uphill, but we got there,” Adelman said.
New York Knicks Deliver Fourth-Quarter Madness – 21-0 Run Destroys Pistons
While LA burned, New York was electric.
The Knicks beat the Pistons 123-112, but don’t let that final score fool you. They were down 98-90 with 9 minutes left, and Madison Square Garden was deathly quiet.
Then it happened: A 21-0 run.
Jalen Brunson, Cam Payne, and Josh Hart turned into flamethrowers. Brunson led with 34 points, Payne hit 11 of his 14 in the fourth, and the Knicks snatched the game—and the souls of the Pistons.
“I’ve been waiting for a game like this all year,” Payne said.
The Knicks now look like legit contenders, especially with Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each chipping in 23 points.
The Pistons? Still searching for their first playoff win since 2008.
Pacers Shock the Bucks – Giannis Gets No Help
In what might be the most shocking blowout of the day, the Indiana Pacers absolutely roasted the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98.
Giannis Antetokounmpo did everything he could—he scored 36 points—but no one else showed up. Literally. Not a single teammate scored more than 15 points.
The Bucks looked flat. Coach Doc Rivers couldn’t light a fire. And the Pacers? They smelled blood.
Now Indiana leads a series many thought would be a toss-up, and the Bucks are in deep trouble.
Quick Recap: First Round Day 1 Results
- Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95 – Doncic shines, but Wolves dominate.
- Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT) – Westbrook revenge game stuns LA.
- Knicks 123, Pistons 112 – 21-0 fourth-quarter run rocks MSG.
- Pacers 117, Bucks 98 – Giannis drops 36, gets zero support.
The Fallout in Los Angeles – Panic Already?
It’s just Game 1, but for the Lakers and Clippers, this feels like a full-blown crisis.
The Lakers got humbled. The Clippers collapsed. And both teams have to bounce back immediately—or risk falling into 0-2 holes heading on the road.
“LA fans expected fireworks. They got funeral vibes instead.”
Can LeBron and Luka find magic? Can Harden and Kawhi stop turning it over?
We’ll find out Tuesday.
New York and Indiana – The Surprises of the Night
The Knicks didn’t just win. They sent a message. This team is deep, fast, and built for the playoffs. MSG is alive—and that 21-0 run might be the moment we all look back on.
The Pacers? Nobody picked them. Now they’re up 1-0 on the East’s former kings.
Watch out, NBA. These underdogs bite.
NBA Playoffs First Round Drama – LA in Tears, NY in Cheers
Day 1 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs was absolute chaos.
Los Angeles is in full-blown basketball panic mode, while New York is partying in the streets. The Pacers destroyed the Bucks. The Knicks embarrassed the Pistons. The Nuggets pulled off a miracle. And the Timberwolves made the Lakers look lost.
If this is how it starts? Just imagine what’s coming next.
Game 2s are right around the corner—and for some teams, they’re already do-or-die.
This isn’t just a postseason. It’s a playoff circus. And the NBA drama has never been juicier. Stay tuned. It’s only getting wilder.
