Top five headlines from first weekend of 2025 NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs are now underway. Here are five headlines from the opening weekend.

5) Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat enter the NBA Playoffs.

We found out who the eighth seeds were on Friday night. In the final two games of the play-in tournament, the Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123-114 in overtime and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106. Guard Tyler Herro of Greenfield, Wisconsin led Miami with 30 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. of Plainfield, New Jersey led Memphis with 24 points.

4) Two exciting games between the Clippers and Nuggets.

There have been two great games between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets so far. The Nuggets won game one on Saturday by a score of 112-110 in overtime. Then in game two on Sunday, the Clippers won 105-102.

3) Timberwolves and Warriors deliver game one upsets.

Minnesota was a 4.5 point underdog on Saturday, but came through with a dominant 117-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Then on Sunday, the Golden State Warriors were a 1.5 point underdog against the second seeded Houston Rockets, but came through with a 95-85 game one win.

2) Pistons win first playoff game in 17 years.

Last season, we documented how bad the Pistons were in the regular season. In the last decade and a half, they have not done well in the postseason either. Since 2009, they have lost 15 straight playoff games. At Madison Square Garden on Easter Monday, the Pistons got in the winner’s circle to tie their Eastern Conference first round series at one with the New York Knicks. Cade Cunningham of Arlington, Texas had the double-double (33 points and 12 rebounds) in a 100-94 Detroit victory.

1) Thunder beat Grizzlies by 51 points.

Oklahoma City clobbered Memphis 131-80 on Sunday. The 51 point victory was the fifth largest postseason victory in NBA history. Aaron Wiggins of Greesnsboro, North Carolina led the Thunder with 21 points.