Beginning 5: Lakers tie collection; 3 Recreation 2s tonight – NBA

Lakers pull even with Wolves, Pacers and Thunder take 2-0 leads, Warriors-Rockets, Cavs-Warmth and Celtics-Magic tonight.
NBA.com Employees

Don’t look now… however the Thunder gained their seventieth recreation of the season on Tuesday.
They usually did it by going up +70 up to now of their First Spherical collection.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
April 23, 2025
Lakers pull even: Luka’s 31 leads Lakers previous Wolves in Recreation 2 in L.A.
Indy, OKC up 2-0: Pacers get previous Bucks, Thunder roll towards Grizzlies
Warriors-Rockets: Can Steph repeat Recreation 1 magic or will Houston get a break up?
Cavs-Warmth: Spida Mitchell-Ty Jerome bond on Playoff stage as Cavs search 2-0 lead
Celtics-Magic: Stability lifted C’s in Recreation 1, they’ll want it once more with Tatum uncertain
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Yesterday’s scores & what to observe immediately…

After delivering its most-watched opening weekend in 25 years – averaging 4.4 million views – the 2025 NBA Playoffs offered by Google proceed tonight with a trio of Recreation 2s.
The motion opens with the highest two seeds within the East searching for 2-0 leads because the Celtics host the Magic (7 ET, TNT) and the Cavs welcome the Warmth (7:30 ET, NBA TV). The nightcap shifts West with the Rockets searching for a break up with the visiting Warriors (9:30 ET, TNT).
After Payton Pritchard was named Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year on Tuesday, the Kia NBA Clutch Participant of the Yr shall be revealed tonight (6:30 ET, TNT). The finalists? New York’s Jalen Brunson, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards & Denver’s Nikola Jokiċ.

1. LAKERS HOLD OFF WOLVES TO KNOT SERIES AT 1-1
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Recreation 2 in Los Angeles started with a WOO! and ended with a Lakers W.
A sizzling begin from Luka Dončić and a defensive effort that held the Wolves to a season-low 85 factors helped the Lakers even the collection on Tuesday.
Lakers 94, Wolves 85: Luka scored 22 of his game-high 31 factors within the 1st half as L.A. constructed a 22-point lead and held off the Wolves, who reduce the result in 9 within the 4th quarter, however acquired no nearer after LeBron’s game-sealing steal and layup with 2:41 left. | Recap


Two pack: After 4 Wolves scored 16+ factors of their Recreation 1 win, solely two reached double-digits in Recreation 2. Anthony Edwards (25 pts, 6 reb, 1 must-see slam from all-angles, plus slow-mo) and Julius Randle (Playoff career-high 27 pts, 6 ast) mixed for 52 within the loss.
2. THUNDER, PACERS PROTECT HOME, EARN 2-0 LEADS
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The Thunder set the report for the very best level differential in league historical past through the common season (+12.9).
They’re taking it to a brand new stage to start the postseason.
After posting the biggest Recreation 1 win ever (+51), the Thunder adopted it up with a 19-point win in Recreation 2 to take a 2-0 collection lead.
Thunder 118, Grizzlies 99: The trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (27 pts), Jalen Williams (24 pts) and Chet Holmgren (20 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk) mixed for 71 factors, whereas OKC’s protection stifled Memphis for the second-straight recreation. | Recap

Setting the tone: The Thunder scored the sport’s first 9 factors, holding Memphis scoreless on 0-for-10 capturing for the primary 3.5 minutes.
Headed residence: Jaren Jackson Jr. (26 pts) and Ja Morant (23 pts, 1 unreal chasedown block) mixed for 49 factors within the loss. The Grizzlies go for his or her first win within the collection on Thursday (9:30 ET, TNT) again in Memphis.
Jeff Haynes & Ron Hoskins/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
After dropping Recreation 1 on the highway, the Bucks had Damian Lillard again within the lineup for the primary time in a month as they sought a break up earlier than the collection heads to Milwaukee.
However the Pacers used one other quick begin and a clutch end to fend off the Bucks and take a 2-0 lead.
Pacers 123, Bucks 115: The Pacers dropped a 40-piece within the opening quarter – their highest scoring Playoff quarter of the play-by-play period, constructing a lead that may be challenged however by no means overcome. | Recap

Bucks leaders: Giannis Antetokounmpo (34 pts, 18 reb, 7 ast) and Bobby Portis (28 pts, 12 reb, Playoff career-high 6 3pm) mixed for 62 factors and 30 boards within the loss, whereas Lillard had 14 factors and 7 assists in his first motion since March 18.
3. ROCKETS TRY TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST STEPH, WARRIORS

No Western Convention staff held Stephen Curry to fewer factors per recreation through the common season than the Houston Rockets.
Because the 2025 NBA Playoffs started, Steph modified the narrative.
After averaging simply 16.3 ppg towards the Rockets in three regular-season matchups, Curry dropped a game-high 31 factors with 5 threes in Recreation 1, cheffing up a highway victory for the Warriors.
Tonight in Houston (9:30 ET, TNT), Curry and the Warriors look to take a commanding lead heading again to the Bay, whereas the Rockets look to knot the collection at 1-1.
“To ensure that us to win basketball video games, it requires Steph Curry to be nice,” Draymond Inexperienced mentioned after Recreation 1. “And he was simply that.”
Logan Riely/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
The Rockets have the instruments to strike again, together with an elite protection, which ranked fifth in defensive score at 110.3 and sixth in opponent factors per recreation with 109.8.
Noah Graham/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Coach Ime Udoka was happy with the Rockets’ defensive effort in Recreation 1, however referred to as for extra from his offense.
“Not our greatest offensive evening by any means,” mentioned Udoka. “(However) holding someone to 95, you’d count on to win if in case you have an honest offensive evening.”
The Warriors had been 0-8 when held to 95 factors or much less this season… till Recreation 1.
4. CAVS BACKCOURT LOOKS TO STAY HOT VS. HEAT IN GAME 2

It takes historic numbers to attain a historic season. The Cavaliers amassed a 58.0% efficient FG% and averaged 121.9 ppg in 2024-25 – neither of which had been performed throughout 54 years of franchise lore.
They stayed true to such unprecedented offense to open these Playoffs.
Cleveland took Recreation 1 towards Miami handily on Sunday, scoring its most factors (121) in a Playoff recreation since 2018, and might lengthen its collection lead with one other favorable end in Recreation 2 tonight (7:30 ET, NBA TV).
Donovan Mitchell by way of X
Mitchell and Jerome have launched into their first postseason collectively, and their connection dates method again. They as soon as performed on the identical groups in AAU basketball and youth baseball.
Miami will look to Tyler Herro (21 pts) and Bam Adebayo (24 pts) for solutions after their mixed 45 factors Sunday wasn’t sufficient. However the man guiding them is extra ready than most for what comes subsequent.
5. CAN BOSTON’S DEPTH PROPEL THEM TO A 2-0 LEAD?

The defending champs had been challenged in a method Sunday they not often have been this season. For simply the third time in 2024-25, neither Jayson Tatum nor Jaylen Brown scored 20 factors in a recreation they performed collectively.
However not like the final two events – each losses – Boston didn’t want its All-Stars to shine.
Because of Derrick White’s 30 factors and Payton Pritchard’s 19 off the bench, the Celtics return to the parquet tonight for Recreation 2 (7 ET, TNT) towards the Magic with the 1-0 collection benefit in hand.
5 members of their roster entered the postseason averaging 14+ ppg.
Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Sunday additionally represented the Magic tasting their very own medication. They had been restricted to 86 factors themselves after holding groups to a league-best 105.4 factors per recreation through the common season.
Minnesota nonetheless has no reply for Luka Dončić and the Lakers show they’ll match the Wolves' model in a series-tying victory.
Pritchard is the fourth participant to earn the dignity with the Celtics, becoming a member of Kevin McHale (1983-84 and 1984-85), Invoice Walton (1985-86) and Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23).
For the groups that missed the 2025 NBA playoffs, every has a case to imagine issues can flip round in 2025-26.
Bam Adebayo, Harrison Barnes, CJ McCollum, Chris Boucher and Jrue Vacation are the finalists for 2024-25.
Minnesota nonetheless has no reply for Luka Dončić and the Lakers show they’ll match the Wolves' model in a series-tying victory.
Pritchard is the fourth participant to earn the dignity with the Celtics, becoming a member of Kevin McHale (1983-84 and 1984-85), Invoice Walton (1985-86) and Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23).
For the groups that missed the 2025 NBA playoffs, every has a case to imagine issues can flip round in 2025-26.
Bam Adebayo, Harrison Barnes, CJ McCollum, Chris Boucher and Jrue Vacation are the finalists for 2024-25.
Bam Adebayo, Harrison Barnes, CJ McCollum, Chris Boucher and Jrue Vacation are the finalists for 2024-25.
For the groups that missed the 2025 NBA playoffs, every has a case to imagine issues can flip round in 2025-26.
Minnesota nonetheless has no reply for Luka Dončić and the Lakers show they’ll match the Wolves' model in a series-tying victory.
Newly employed to supervise the New Orleans Pelicans, Dumars wouldn't decide to the futures of Zion Williamson or Willie Inexperienced in his 1st press convention.
Pritchard is the fourth participant to earn the dignity with the Celtics, becoming a member of Kevin McHale (1983-84 and 1984-85), Invoice Walton (1985-86) and Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23).
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