DENVER — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder finally outplayed Denver in crunch time, beating the Nuggets 92-87 on Sunday to knot their second-round series at two games apiece.
The Thunder trailed 69-63 after three quarters and fell behind by eight when Peyton Watson started the fourth quarter by swishing a hook shot. But Oklahoma City used an 11-0 run fueled by reserves Cason Wallace, who had a pair of 3-pointers, and Aaron Wiggins, who added another, to take control.
Wallace's second 3-pointer put Oklahoma City ahead for good at 75-73.
The Nuggets had outlasted the youngest team in the NBA with wins in Games 1 and 3, crediting their playoff experience and championship pedigree. And they looked poised to put the top-seeded team in the West on the cusp of elimination when Aaron Gordon's turnaround jumper made it 73-66.
This time, however, it was the Thunder who came up big down the stretch and the Nuggets who fumbled away the chance to put OKC in a 3-1 hole.
Game 5 is Tuesday night back in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder had a 43-point blowout of the Nuggets in Game 2.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Christian Braun and Jamal Murray each had 17 points and Gordon scored 15. Michael Porter Jr. scored just three points after scoring 15 Friday night.
Wiggins and Wallace each added 11 points and Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams each scored 10. Williams was 2 for 13 from the floor after scoring 32 in Game 3.
The teams played a physical, overtime game Friday night, not leaving Ball Arena until the early morning hours on Saturday. And the early Mother's Day start - 1:30 p.m. local time - led to some tired legs and a ton of errant shots.
Both teams went 3 for 22 from deep in the first half and they slumbered through a combined 25-point first quarter, which tied an NBA playoff record for fewest points in the opening quarter.
The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder made NBA history on Sunday…just not the kind any team wants to make.
The two teams combined for just 25 points in the first quarter of their Game 4 matchup, equaling the record for fewest points in the first quarter of a playoff game in the shot clock era.
The Thunder led the Nuggets 17-8 after the first, matching the previous low first set in 1999 when the Portland Trail Blazers led the Utah Jazz 14-11 and in 2002 when the Detroit Pistons led the Toronto Raptors 16-9, according to the Associated Press.
The Nuggets and Thunder joined that group after combining to shoot just 18.2% in the quarter, with Denver going 0-14 from deep and the Thunder just 1-for–11.
The two teams returned to form in the second quarter, with the Nuggets outscoring the Thunder 28-25. Oklahoma City took a 42-36 lead into the half and went on to win 92-87.
That first quarter, though, nearly rewrote the record books.
What’s the lowest scoring quarter in NBA history?
The Nuggets, with eight first-quarter points, nearly set a new mark for fewest points scored in a quarter of an NBA playoff game.
The record is held by the 2015-2016 Boston Celtics, who scored seven points in the first quarter of Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics lost the game 89-72.
The fewest points scored in a quarter by a single team in the regular season is five by the Nuggets in 2015 and the Miami Heat in 2016.
What’s the lowest scoring game in NBA history?
The fewest points scored by a single team in an NBA playoff game in the shot clock era is 54 by the Utah Jazz. The Jazz lost 96-54 to the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, scoring no more than 17 points in any quarter and just nine in the fourth.
The New Jersey Nets are the only other team that have failed to reach the 60-point mark in an NBA playoff game, losing 78-56 in Game 1 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.
The fewest points scored by an NBA team in the shot clock era is 49 by the Chicago Bulls, who lost 82-49 to the Chicago Bulls in 1999.
The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder made NBA history on Sunday…just not the kind any team wants to make.
The two teams combined for just 25 points in the first quarter of their Game 4 matchup, equaling the record for fewest points in the first quarter of a playoff game in the shot clock era.
The Thunder led the Nuggets 17-8 after the first, matching the previous low first set in 1999 when the Portland Trail Blazers led the Utah Jazz 14-11 and in 2002 when the Detroit Pistons led the Toronto Raptors 16-9, according to the Associated Press.
The Nuggets and Thunder joined that group after combining to shoot just 18.2% in the quarter, with Denver going 0-14 from deep and the Thunder just 1-for–11.
The two teams returned to form in the second quarter, with the Nuggets outscoring the Thunder 28-25. Oklahoma City took a 42-36 lead into the half and went on to win 92-87.
That first quarter, though, nearly rewrote the record books.
What’s the lowest scoring quarter in NBA history?
The Nuggets, with eight first-quarter points, nearly set a new mark for fewest points scored in a quarter of an NBA playoff game.
The record is held by the 2015-2016 Boston Celtics, who scored seven points in the first quarter of Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics lost the game 89-72.
The fewest points scored in a quarter by a single team in the regular season is five by the Nuggets in 2015 and the Miami Heat in 2016.
What’s the lowest scoring game in NBA history?
The fewest points scored by a single team in an NBA playoff game in the shot clock era is 54 by the Utah Jazz. The Jazz lost 96-54 to the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, scoring no more than 17 points in any quarter and just nine in the fourth.
The New Jersey Nets are the only other team that have failed to reach the 60-point mark in an NBA playoff game, losing 78-56 in Game 1 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.
The fewest points scored by an NBA team in the shot clock era is 49 by the Chicago Bulls, who lost 82-49 to the Chicago Bulls in 1999.
There has been plenty of talk about officiating during the 2025 NBA playoffs, and whether or not referees are allowing too much physicality in some of these crucial postseason games.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy understands the conversation both as a former player and current front-office executive, and he believes officials might be having a hard time finding a happy medium.
“I think it’s an interesting dichotomy because clearly, in the regular season, the league, the fans, everybody wants this open, free-flowing type of play, a lot of points, all those things,” Dunleavy told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Zena Keita on “Warriors Pregame Live” before Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday at Chase Center.
“But then when you flip the page of the postseason, everybody’s used to physicality, grind it out, tough possessions, and whether it’s the players, the fans, the coaches, everybody wants that. So, we put the referees in a tough spot, where the all of a sudden the postseason kicks in, and now guys are expecting whistles. But, ‘Hey, no, we want them to be able to play more and play more free.’
“It’s a tough spot that [referees are] in. There’s been a lot of discussion about it. I think it’s good. I think playoff basketball is the best. We’ve got to let it keep playing out like it is, but we’ve got to find a balance.”
After the Warriors won Game 1 of their semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, both coaches criticized the lack of calls in what was a very physical game. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said Minnesota would “take justice into our own hands” if the refs didn’t clean things up, while Warriors coach Steve Kerr called the physicality allowed by officials “crazy.”
That was the case after Game 1. In Game 3, which featured Draymond Green fouling out with four minutes and 38 seconds remaining, Kerr challenged the Warriors veteran’s controversial fourth foul of the night to no avail. The day after Golden State’s eventual 102-97 loss, Kerr told reporters he had no problem with the officiating.
“I thought the [Green foul] we challenged was a charge,” Kerr said via Zoom on Sunday. “… We thought it was a charge, but those are always subjective calls, and you just live with them. I didn’t like [Green’s] sixth one, but it doesn’t matter. The calls are what they are. Sometimes they go your way, sometimes they don’t. So, I haven’t given [Green’s fouls] a second thought today.
“As I said, I thought the officials did a really good job [Saturday]. And we just have to play a little better.”
Dunleavy knows firsthand how difficult it can be for players like Green to adjust to how referees officiate certain plays. He comes from an era of basketball that was physical itself, and Mullin joked that Dunleavy’s father, former NBA guard and 1999 Coach of the Year Mike Dunleavy Sr., played during a time where physicality was taken to a “whole other level.”
“Put it like this,” Dunleavy said of his father’s playing days with a laugh, “Draymond Green would have zero technical fouls in their era.”
The 2025 NBA Playoffs have brought the drama, this has been a wildly entertaining postseason. That said, injuries are playing a massive role in the second round. What follows are some notes from around the league and with some key injuries.
Karl-Anthony Towns injures hand
In the second quarter against Boston on Saturday, Karl-Anthony Towns and Luke Kornett were battling for a rebound around the basket, which Towns got and threw the outlet. Then Towns instantly grabbed his left hand in pain and appeared to say, “I broke it.” Towns could be seen wincing at other points in the second half, clearly bothered by whatever happened.
After the game, Towns and coach Tom Thibodeau played it down.
“It is what it is," Towns said. "I just want to do whatever I can to be out there. It is what it is. I’m gonna keep finding ways to play, so I ain’t tripping.”
Tom Thibodeau was asked if he's concerned about Karl-Anthony Towns' hand:
"It's the playoffs and people are gonna get hit. You've got to play through things. That's why you do it the entire season." pic.twitter.com/X5A2E1EDrs
Towns finished with 21 points on 5-of-18 shooting, and pulled down 15 rebounds. New York will need him in a critical Game 4. The Knicks had dramatic comeback wins in the first two games of the series, but in Game 3 the Celtics' 3-pointers fell and they seemed to get their identity and rhythm back. New York needs the Game 4 win or this series is tied and the momentum is going the other way, and it will need a big game from Towns to get that win.
It would also help if the Knicks could not fall behind by 20 points in Game 4.
Stephen Curry return
Unsurprisingly, the Golden State Warriors' offense has fallen apart in the last two games without Stephen Curry. The Warriors failed to score 100 points in either Game 2 or 3, and their offensive rating in both games would have been the worst in the NBA over the course of the regular season.
When can Curry return? Expect Game 6. Curry will be re-evaluated on the day of Game 5, but most likely, the earliest he will return is the following game, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. That lines up with what was reported here and by injury experts in the wake of Curry's Grade 1 hamstring strain, that it would be more like 10 days before he got back on the court.
The only question: Will that be too late? Warriors coach Steve Kerr said his team's defense will be the key to his team winning games without Curry, and Golden State did a good job of mucking up Game 3, but they still need to score enough to win and without Curry that is an issue (despite the best efforts of Jimmy Butler III and Buddy Hield).
Kristaps Porzingis health
Through three games in this series, Kristaps Porzingis is averaging just a little more than 15 minutes a night, scoring 4.3 points a game while shooting 25% overall (and 33.3% on 3-pointers). He had to leave Game 1 early because of the illness impacting him, and it's not just this round, Porzingis struggled in the first round as well.
Porzingis' illness is believed to be a flare-up of a condition he battled back in March that caused him to miss a few games. Doctors couldn't exactly determine what it Porzingis had or what was going on. ESPN’s Shams Charania had more details on their broadcast.
"It’s led to him having energy zaps and stamina ebbs and flows over the last couple of months... and he’s tried a lot of different things to try to mitigate the side effects. I’m told he’s been receiving IVs, immune boosters. He’s even changed up his sleep patterns to try to get more rest. He’s essentially waking up every day, hoping and praying that he feels better."
If the Celtics are going to repeat as champions, they will need him to find his health and form again. Boston won a ring last year with Porzingis out for several games in the NBA Finals, that will not happen this year.
Tatum said he was not trying to prove anything
The Boston Celtics have taken a lot of criticism for their poor shooting and blown leads in the first two games of the series against the resiliant Knicks, and a lot of that fell on the shoulders of their best player, Jayson Tatum.
Things felt different in Game 3, when Tatum finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and was a plus-23 in a game where the Celtics cruised to a win. That led some to speculate Tatum heard the criticism and responded, but after the game Tatum said that wasn't the case. He gave a thoughtful answer about accepting that there will be criticism when you are in the position he is in.
"I wasn't trying to prove anything today to anybody. It was an important game. It was important for us to respond as a team and just wanted to come out here and win. And that's all that was really on my mind."
It’s Monday, May 12, and the Boston Celtics (61-21) and New York Knicks (51-31) are all set to square off from Madison Square Garden in New York for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Celtics bounced back in Game 3 with a 115-93 win in New York thanks to a quick start. Boston built a 36-20 lead after the first quarter and maintained that double-digit lead for the entirety of the game. Payton Pritchard led the way for the Celtics with 23 points, while Boston as a team went 20-for-40 from three (50%). For New York, Jalen Brunson (27 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (21 points) were the only Knicks above 12 points as the team struggled with 20% from three and 40% from the field.
The Celtics are currently 33-8 on the road with a point differential of 9, while the Knicks have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Celtics vs. Knicks live today
Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Site: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Celtics vs. Knicks
The latest odds as of Monday:
Odds: Celtics (-253), Knicks (+205)
Spread: Celtics -6.5
Over/Under: 209 points
That gives the Celtics an implied team point total of 106.83, and the Knicks 103.43.
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Expert picks & predictions for Monday’s Celtics vs. Knicks game
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Mikal Bridges to go Over his 13.5 points prop:
"Mikal Bridges had his strongest offensive performance of the series in Game 3. Bridges scored 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting after scoring 14 points on 6-of-18 in Game 2. In Game 1, Bridges had eight points on 3-of-13 from the field, so he is getting more efficient, and part of that is getting more confident and figuring out you're being defended. With Game 4 being so pivotal in how this series will go, I like Bridges to be aggressive and go Over his 13.5 points prop."
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Celtics & Knicks game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +6.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 209.
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Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Celtics vs. Knicks on Monday
The Celtics are on a 5-game win streak at the Knicks
The Under is 49-40 in the Knicks' home games and the Celtics' road games combined this season
The Knicks have covered in 4 of their last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
The Celtics have failed to cover in 33 of their 60 matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) - Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) - Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) - Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Warriors forwards Jimmy Butler III and Jonathan Kuminga answered the wishes of every soul anxiously walking the streets of Dub Nation on Saturday. Butler dramatically increased his scoring, and Kuminga delivered one of most impressive performances of his NBA career.
And, still, it was not enough to prevent the Warriors from a 102-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinals.
Worse for the Warriors, hoping Butler and Kuminga can come out for Game 4 on Monday and repeat their combined excellence in Game 3 – 63 points on 23-of-44 shooting from the field, along with 10 assists – likely is a wish too far.
“My experience is that they probably won’t combine for 63 tomorrow,” coach Steve Kerr conceded Sunday after the team’s video evaluation. “But that other people will fill in some of those gaps.”
With Stephen Curry sidelined with a strained left hamstring, the “other people” disappointed in Game 3. The eight Warriors not named Butler or Kuminga combined for 34 points on 12-of-37 shooting from the field. The four starters aside from Butler scored 28 points on 10-of-29 shooting. Kuminga accounted for all but six points off the bench.
“Like I tell everybody, me and him can thrive together,” Butler said of Kuminga after Game 3. “I know how to space the floor. I can tell him, ‘Hey, when I have the ball, you go here, and you do this.’ We talk, we listen to one another, and then he has an incredible game like [Saturday].
“He did so many good things out there on the floor. I know that he’s going to be a huge part of us winning on Monday.”
The Game 3 result serves as proof that the Warriors need more than the Butler-Kuminga duo. If the “other people” can’t bring something to the party in Game 4 and beyond, the music will stop, lights will come on and the cleanup crew will come shuffling in.
Butler, aka “Playoff Jimmy,” delivered the kind of game he practically trademarked in Miami. Scoring. Rebounding. Playmaking. Leading. Everything the Warriors hoped for in February when they handed him a nine-figure contract to come to the Bay Area. His team-high 33 points on 12-of-26 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from deep, came from the dreams of CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy.
Butler’s 43 minutes, however, probably came from the nightmares of the front office.
“He was incredible [in Game 3],” Kerr said. “In hindsight, I would have loved to have gotten him a couple more minutes [rest] during the meat of the game. But it’s tricky. Without Steph, we’re walking a fine line. So, we’ve got to balance the risk of keeping him off the floor versus the gain of getting him a little more rest.”
Butler faded badly in the fourth quarter, missing six of his seven shots, committing two fouls and one turnover. But through the first three quarters, after which Golden State had a 73-69 lead, he was one of the two best players on the floor for either team.
The other player was Kuminga. He had 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, five rebounds and two blocks through three quarters. He finished with 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
“Elite. Elite,” Buddy Hield, whose 14 second-half points amounted to proof of life, said of Kuminga after Game 3.
“Kuminga was great,” Kerr said on Sunday. “Just the energy, the effort spreading the floor, just the extra efforts, and, of course, the scoring. We needed all his points.”
What’s needed now, however, is a higher quality of help for Butler and Kuminga – no matter how productive they are in Game 4 and beyond.
For the Warriors to have a chance to tie the series 2-2, Draymond Green must be better. Same for Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II. Curry’s absence has made Hield the focus of Minnesota’s defense, but another scoreless first half would be tough to overcome.
“You just kind of move forward, and you look at where you can attack, what you can do better, and then different guys step up,” Kerr said. “I’m very confident that both JK and Jimmy will play well. But to expect 63 points combined, again, it’s probably unrealistic.”
The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder made NBA history on Sunday…just not the kind any team wants to make.
The two teams combined for just 25 points in the first quarter of their Game 4 matchup, equaling the record for fewest points in the first quarter of a playoff game in the shot clock era.
The Thunder led the Nuggets 17-8 after the first, matching the previous low first set in 1999 when the Portland Trail Blazers led the Utah Jazz 14-11 and in 2002 when the Detroit Pistons led the Toronto Raptors 16-9, according to the Associated Press.
The Nuggets and Thunder joined that group after combining to shoot just 18.2% in the quarter, with Denver going 0-14 from deep and the Thunder just 1-for–11.
The two teams returned to form in the second quarter, with the Nuggets outscoring the Thunder 28-25. Oklahoma City took a 42-36 lead into the half and went on to win 92-87.
That first quarter, though, nearly rewrote the record books.
What’s the lowest scoring quarter in NBA history?
The Nuggets, with eight first-quarter points, nearly set a new mark for fewest points scored in a quarter of an NBA playoff game.
The record is held by the 2015-2016 Boston Celtics, who scored seven points in the first quarter of Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics lost the game 89-72.
The fewest points scored in a quarter by a single team in the regular season is five by the Nuggets in 2015 and the Miami Heat in 2016.
What’s the lowest scoring game in NBA history?
The fewest points scored by a single team in an NBA playoff game in the shot clock era is 54 by the Utah Jazz. The Jazz lost 96-54 to the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, scoring no more than 17 points in any quarter and just nine in the fourth.
The New Jersey Nets are the only other team that have failed to reach the 60-point mark in an NBA playoff game, losing 78-56 in Game 1 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.
The fewest points scored by an NBA team in the shot clock era is 49 by the Chicago Bulls, who lost 82-49 to the Chicago Bulls in 1999.
It’s Sunday, May 11, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) and Indiana Pacers (50-32) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Indiana is up 2-1 in the series, but Cleveland took Game 3 in demanding fashion, 126-104. Thanks to a massive 34-13 second quarter, the Cavaliers never looked back once they built a double-digit lead. The trio of Darius Garland (10 points, 3 assists), Evan Mobley (18 points, 13 rebounds), and Deandre Hunter (8 points, 5 rebounds) all returned for Cleveland, but it didn't make much of a difference for Donovan Mitchell who had a series-high 43 points (9 rebounds, 5 assists).
The Cavaliers are currently 30-11 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Pacers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers live today
Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM EST
Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
City: Indianapolis, IN
Network/Streaming: TNT / truTV / Max
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Pacers
The latest odds as of Sunday:
Odds: Cavaliers (-207), Pacers (+172)
Spread: Cavaliers -5
Over/Under: 231 points
That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 117.19, and the Pacers 114.58.
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Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Cavaliers vs. Pacers game
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Tyrese Haliburton Over 17.5 Points in Game 4:
"Tyrese Haliburton is coming off a playoff-low four points on 2-of-8 shooting and a combined 0-for-1 from three-point range and the free-throw line. That performance will be unacceptable for Haliburton and Indiana, so I expect a bounce-back performance in Game 4 at home. Haliburton scored 19 and 22 points in Games 1 and 2 and scored at least 17 points in five of the previous seven postseason games. I like the upside for a 20-plus point game from Haliburton, so I like the Over 17.5 Points up to 18.5."
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Cavaliers & Pacers game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 231.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Pacers on Sunday
The Pacers have won eight of their last 10 home games
The over is 4-1 in the Pacers' last five divisional matchups
The Pacers are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games as an underdog
The Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 home games against Eastern Conference teams
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Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) - Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) - Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) - Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
It’s no secret the Warriors hope to extend their Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves to Game 6.
Why? Because that would give injured superstar Steph Curry (left hamstring strain) a chance to return and potentially help Golden State, who trails Minnesota two games to one in the series, win out and advance to the next round.
Warriors guard Gary Payton II, who was mic’d up during Golden State’s 102-97 loss to Minnesota in Game 3 on Saturday at Chase Center, acknowledged as much while being playfully taunted by Timberwolves superstar guard Anthony Edwards.
“Y’all trying to get to a Game 6, get Wardell [Curry] back,” Edwards told Payton.
“That is the plan,” Payton responded with a smile.
Curry suffered his Grade 1 left hamstring strain in the second quarter of the Warriors’ Game 1 win on Tuesday at Target Center. Golden State put out an official update on Wednesday, stating Curry will be re-evaluated in one week (May 14) and would miss Games 2, 3 and 4 before Game 5 on Wednesday in Minnesota.
However, ESPN’s Shams Charania stated Friday on “The Pat McAfee Show” that his understanding is that Curry probably will not return until Game 6 at the earliest.
That would be 12 days from the time Curry initially sustained the injury, which is slightly longer than the estimate Stanford Medicine’s Marc Safran, M.D., gave to NBC Sports Bay Area in a recent interview.
If the Warriors are able to win one game without Curry, there’s a good chance Edwards’ assumption will be accurate.
It’s Sunday, May 11, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) and Denver Nuggets (50-32) are all set to square off from Ball Arena in Denver.
To the surprise of many, the Nuggets have a 2-1 series lead over the Thunder. It was another amazing fourth quarter from the Nuggets, and a dominating overtime period saw them take game three of the series.
In game three, they held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 18 points.
The Thunder are currently 32-8 on the road with a point differential of 13, while the Nuggets have a 4-6 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Thunder vs. Nuggets live today
Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
Time: 3:30PM EST
Site: Ball Arena
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: ABC, ESPN2
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Thunder vs. Nuggets
The latest odds as of Sunday:
Odds: Thunder (-245), Nuggets (+199)
Spread: Thunder -6.5
Over/Under: 227 points
That gives the Thunder an implied team point total of 115.81, and the Nuggets 112.41.
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Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Thunder vs. Nuggets game
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Thunder & Nuggets game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Denver Nuggets on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Denver Nuggets at +6.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 227.
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Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Thunder vs. Nuggets on Sunday
The Nuggets have won 5 of their last 6 games at home
The Over is 4-1 in the Nuggets' last 5 games
The Thunder have gone 26-17 on the road against the spread this season
The Nuggets have won 5 of their last 6 games at home
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There are plenty of superlatives to describe Steph Curry’s NBA greatness.
While some, like ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, often describe the Warriors sharpshooter as the “greatest shooter God ever created,” or even the “closest thing to a God-like figure,” Curry’s teammate, Buddy Hield, offered perhaps the most eloquent Curry praise yet.
Speaking to reporters after Golden State’s 102-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday at Chase Center, Hield was asked if he, as an elite marksman himself, feels any pressure to try and replicate what Curry can do on the court.
“If you’re coming in thinking you’ve got to, like, fill his role, you’re crazy because he does so much for his team,” Hield said. “Trust me, everybody would like to do it, but he’s touched by an angel. He’s touched by God. He’s blessed. He’s Steph Curry, man. He’s always supportive, always there, talking to the guys…I’m getting the Steph rules right now. And I told him, I see what you go through. But it’s fun.”
Well put.
Curry suffered a left hamstring strain in the Warriors’ Game 1 win over the Timberwolves, and has missed the previous two games, both Golden State losses, as he continues to work his way back to the court. The Warriors reportedly are targeting a Game 6 return for Curry — that is, if they can win one of the next two contests and force a Game 6 next Sunday at Chase Center.
If Curry truly is “blessed” and “touched by God,” those angelic healing properties certainly would come in handy right about now.
SAN FRANCISCO – Winning isn’t going to be easy for the Warriors when Draymond Green has three times as many fouls (six) as points (two), and more turnovers (five) than rebounds (two) and assists (four). His stats weren’t pretty.
Neither was the eye test in the Warriors’ 102-97 Game 3 Western Conference semifinals loss Saturday night at Chase Center. But both the stats and the nature of the game also showed how much he means to this team. His final three fouls were a brutal blow.
The Warriors led by three points halfway through the third quarter when he was called for a controversial fourth call. They were down by two when he fouled out with four minutes and 38 seconds left in the game, which led to two free throws for Jaden McDaniels – two makes – and the Warriors lost by five points.
During, and after the game, the Warriors didn’t agree with how he got those final three fouls. Steve Kerr challenged the fourth one. Green’s fifth was assessed during a review that he wasn’t part of it, and they felt like his sixth was soft.
“Yeah, we felt pretty strongly that the one on,” Kerr said about challenging the fourth foul called on Green. “I think it was his fourth on the block, it looked like [Julius Randle] went through his chest, so we felt pretty good about challenging and plus, it was his fourth. But obviously we didn’t get the call and that’s part of the game. Randle was great, and yeah, the foul trouble.
“The sixth one was a tough one. That didn’t feel great looking at the replay, but it is what it is, and they outplayed us in the fourth and they deserved to win.”
It wasn't a good game for Draymond Green
But his final three fouls completely changed the nature of the Warriors' Game 3 loss, especially the fourth foul pic.twitter.com/NqPGCiFlTY
Green was called for a block by Scott Foster at the 6:46 mark of the third quarter on a play where Randle seemed to extend his left arm. It wasn’t even Green’s reaction that made Kerr challenge the foul. His coaching staff was sure the officiating crew would see why Green went flying to the floor. Foster didn’t agree.
Kevon Looney then replaced Green because of his foul trouble. The Timberwolves saw a Thanksgiving dinner. They started feasting at the rim. It wasn’t all because Looney was in, but even more so because Green wasn’t.
The Timberwolves attempted five straight layups, and made three. All three were made by Anthony Edwards, who got comfortable and went on a heater once Draymond took a seat with four fouls. Every shot involved Looney.
Clearly, the Timberwolves were at more ease with Green off the floor, and then in foul trouble.
“Obviously, he’s one of the top defenders in the world,” Jimmy Butler said. “For sure the best defender on this squad. You know, when he’s out, it is just different. You don’t got nobody back there that’s quarterbacking the way that he does it, that can switch everything, and that can get every loose ball and that can rebound.
“Even whenever he comes out, we’ve still got to be better.”
Buddy Hield shared his frustration with how Green was officiated in the loss. The Warriors overall were called for 24 fouls, one more than the Timberwolves, and each team attempted exactly 21 free throws.
“There was an offensive foul,” Hield said. “I just don’t understand the rules. Draymond is an all-world defensive player. The guy put a forearm in his chest. I’ve seen referee challenge and it was automatic. They don’t take that long. I feel like they were debating it too long on the challenge and reviewing it and going over time and trying to figure out what’s the right call.
“I just know that everything just didn’t go our way today, and that’s how the game is. We don’t want no excuses. We don’t want nobody to feel sorry for us, but nothing went his way today, picking up a foul on McDaniels, and his hand is on the ball. We didn’t get calls.
“It is what it is. That’s the fun part about it. Just got to figure it out, and we’re down 2-1, we just got to weather the storm.”
On Green’s fifth foul, Jonathan Kuminga beat his man off the dribble and Julius Randle was called for a blocking foul. Randle right away told Minnesota’s coaching staff to challenge the call and was tugging at his jersey. Upon review, Green was called for an offensive foul for holding onto Randle’s jersey, something the veteran forward basically predicted.
That was a whole 18 seconds before Green’s sixth foul, a call that had him flabbergasted running down the sidelines. Green and the Warriors thought he had great positioning on Jaden McDaniels’ dunk attempt. Draymond didn’t think he touched him at all, and for the final four and a half minutes the Warriors didn’t have him in a game Kerr said pregame they had to win with their defense.
Edwards in the 18-plus minutes he played after Green’s fourth foul scored 25 of his 36 points. Before that fourth foul, Edwards was a minus-12 with 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting. After, he was 9 of 15 and a plus-8.
Randle scored 15 points and was a plus-4 in the 24 minutes he played prior to Green’s fourth foul, but he also was 6 of 16 from the field. He played 16-plus minutes after and was a plus-10 with nine points, made four of his seven shots, had seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals. That’s part of the Draymond Effect, even when he’s having a subpar overall game to his standards.
While Butler and Kuminga combined to score 63 points for the Warriors, Edwards and Randle scored 60 points, with 34 of them from Green’s fourth foul to the rest of their series-shifting Game 3 win.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 10: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Round 2 Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBAE via Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Anthony Edwards hit a baseline 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining and scored 36 points, Julius Randle had a triple-double of 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 102-97 on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.
Jimmy Butler had 33 points, seven assists and seven rebounds and Jonathan Kuminga scored 30 off the bench, but the Warriors still lacked the kind of rhythm they have with Stephen Curry on the floor.
Kuminga shot 11 for 18 as the Warriors again mixed and matched while playing without Curry as he nurses a strained left hamstring that he injured early in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Game 4 is Monday night at Chase Center.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr stressed his team had to win with defense - and his team couldn't make the key stops down the stretch.
Edwards, who showed no signs of being hampered after spraining his left ankle in the second quarter of Game 2, knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 6:16 remaining, while Jaden McDaniels made another key 3 with 3:20 to play.
Randle began 1 for 6 and missed his initial four 3-point tries before connecting 6:30 before halftime to put Minnesota up 39-29 and force a Warriors timeout. He shot 10 for 23.
Buddy Hield's 3-pointer with 1:56 left pulled Golden State within 93-89 then McDaniels threw the ball away moments later but the Warriors were sloppy.
Golden State missed all five of its 3-point tries in the first half but still led 42-40, then Hield found some rhythm and scored 14 second-half points.
Draymond Green fouled out with 4:38 to play, whistled for his sixth personal trying to block a shot by McDaniels that appeared questionable on several replay reviews. Green sprinted down the floor to the Warriors bench in frustration then pulled on his warmup jacket and stood with hands on hips.
Green kept his emotions in check two days after a fan was ejected and being investigated by the Wolves whether he directed racially charged comments toward the Warriors forward. Kerr applauded Minnesota's handling of the situation.
Trayce Jackson-Davis moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup after he made all six of his field goals and had 15 points and six rebounds in Game 2 but played just 11 minutes.
