The NBA postseason in the West tipped off with two very different but equally compelling openers on Sunday. In Colorado, the Denver Nuggets leaned on their stars to survive a bruising battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In California, the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers stunned the Houston Rockets by capitalizing on Kevin Durant’s absence and riding unexpected heroes. Both contests set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive first round.
Murray, Jokic Power Nuggets Through Physical Test
The Denver Nuggets had to claw their way through a rugged opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, eventually pulling out a 116-105 win at Ball Arena. Jamal Murray poured in 30 points, going a perfect 16-for-16 from the free-throw line, while Nikola Jokic delivered yet another triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists—plus a bloody nose to show for the night’s physicality.
The game was defined by whistles and hard contact, with 42 fouls called and multiple technicals assessed. Jaden McDaniels picked up an unsportsmanlike foul for shoving Jokic, Nuggets coach David Adelman was hit with a technical, and late-game frustrations saw Julius Randle and Aaron Gordon penalized as well. Gordon, despite early foul trouble, still contributed 17 points and a key dunk in crunch time.
Denver trailed by as many as 12 in the first half before unleashing a decisive 17-2 run in the third quarter. Minnesota went scoreless for more than four minutes during that stretch but clawed back to within 97-95 midway through the fourth. Jokic responded with a personal five-point burst, and Murray’s desperation heave from halfcourt grazed the rim to reset the shot clock—leading to Gordon’s dunk that sealed the win.
Anthony Edwards, playing through a sore knee, finished with 22 points and 7 assists, becoming the franchise’s career postseason assists leader. Donte DiVincenzo added four triples, but the Wolves couldn’t sustain their offense. “We’ve got to make smarter, more solid plays,” coach Chris Finch admitted. “We’ve got to be more composed.”
Denver’s victory extended its winning streak to 13 games since March 18, underscoring the defending champions’ resilience. Game 2 is set for Tuesday, with the Wolves needing to regroup quickly against a team that thrives in grind-it-out battles.
Luke Kennard, LeBron James Lead Short-Handed Lakers Past Rockets
Across the Western Conference bracket, the Los Angeles Lakers delivered one of the weekend’s surprises by toppling the Houston Rockets, 107-98, at Crypto.com Arena. Luke Kennard erupted for a career playoff-high 27 points, while LeBron James orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 13 assists in his 19th postseason appearance.
The Lakers were missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both sidelined since early April, but Houston suffered an even bigger blow when Kevin Durant was scratched late with a bruised knee. Los Angeles took full advantage, shooting a blistering 60.6% from the field while holding the Rockets to just 37.6%. Despite attempting only 66 shots—the fewest in any NBA game over the past three seasons—the Lakers’ efficiency and defense carried them through.
Deandre Ayton chipped in 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Marcus Smart added 15 points, 8 assists, and four triples. Kennard, acquired in February, continued his rise as the league’s most accurate three-point shooter, hitting four from deep and nine of his first 12 attempts overall. “That’s what it has to be—a collective group,” James said. “We all have to do a little bit more, protect one another offensively and defensively, and I think we did that tonight.”
Houston’s Alperen Sengun scored 19, Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 boards, and Amen Thompson added 17. Reed Sheppard knocked down five threes for 17 points, but the Rockets’ poor shooting doomed them. “We won a lot of areas, but just shot poorly,” coach Ime Udoka said. “That’s going to be tough to beat.”
The night also featured a milestone moment as Bronny James logged his first significant playoff minutes alongside his father, adding a generational subplot to the Lakers’ victory. Game 2 is on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where the Rockets will hope Durant’s return can tilt the balance back in their favor.
