Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Recap: Western Conference First Round

Author Cam Silver
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 25: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball down the court against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter during Round 1 Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 25, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Nuggets have arguably the best big man in the league in Nikola Jokic. The playoff run they want to go on will have to feature Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and more.

In Game 1 the starters barely played over 30 mins as they won 109-80. In Game 2 the game was a lot closer with Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards going for 41 but it wasn’t enough. Murray had 40 as well with Jokic adding 27 points and nine boards.

The Nuggets won by nine leading the series 2-0. The dangerous thing about this Nuggets team is their depth. In Game 3 Porter Jr. goes for 25 to lead the Nuggets to a win leading the series 3-0. The Wolves did everything they could Edwards had 36 and Karl Anthony Towns had 27. The closeout games are the hardest, a desperate Wolves team needed to win Game 4 to fight off elimination and they did.

Jokic had 41 but it wasn’t enough for the Nuggets. Edwards had 34 points in the overtime win. Going back to Denver for Game 5 the Nuggets had no intentions on going back to Minnesota. Jokic and Murray combine for 63 to finish off the Wolves. The Nuggets will face the Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.

Memphis Grizzles vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Coming into this series it was a toss-up, Memphis is young and the Lakers have experienced vets that have been to the Finals. Memphis star Ja Morant was dealing with a hand injury coming into the series.

In Game 1 the Lakers showed up and showed out but it was the role players that did the damage. Rui Hachimura had 29 off the bench and Austin Reaves had 23 in a 128-112 win.

In game 2 the Grizzles came out hot without Morant. Six players scored in double digits with the Grizzles winning and tying the series at 1. Game 3 the Lakers were up 35-9 at the end of the first. Morant made the game good by the end going for 45 points, 13 assists, and was 6-of-10 from 3-point range.

The Lakers held on to the win. The next game had to go into overtime and Lebron James took over the game. He ended with 22 points and 20 boards. James tied the game at the end of regulation and in overtime got a big and-1 against Dillion Brooks that put the Lakers over the top for the win. Going back to Memphis in Game 5 they took advantage of homecourt.

Winning 116-99, the Lakers did not look like they wanted to be there but that changed Game 6. The game was D’Angelo Russell found his shot again going 5-of-9 from three and scoring 31 points. The Lakers beat the Grizzles 125-85 to close the series and play the Warriors in the conference semis.

Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors: This was the most talked about series and for a good reason. The Kings are up and coming and the Warriors are still fighting to keep their dynasty alive. In Game 1 the Kings won after Stephen Curry’s last-second shot was off.

Game 2 the Kings were able to pull away after Draymond Green was ejected for stepping on Domantas Sabonis. Malik Monk came off the bench and put up 18 points and his former college teammate De’Aaron Fox had 24 points.

In game 3 the tide shifted; the Warriors were without Green, but they had no problems taking care of the Kings 114-97 behind Curry’s 36 points. Draymond came back and was coming off the bench for Game 4. The Warriors had three starters score over 20 and Fox had 38 for the Kings. The Kings lost by one after Harrison Barnes missed a three to win the game.

The series is tied at 2 going back to Sacramento. In Game 4 Fox fractured his finger on his shooting hand and it somewhat made him uncomfortable. He had 24 points but shot 9-of-25 from the field. Curry had 25 helping the Warriors go up 3-2 as they try to close out the Kings at home.

The Kings had other plans, Fox and Monk dominate Game 6 combining for 54 points to tie the series at three for a winner take all game in Sacramento. In Game 7 Curry showed there is levels to this game. Curry went off for 50 putting the Warriors on his back to win by 20 and advance to the conference semis where they will meet the Los Angeles Lakers.

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers: With a healthy Kawhi Leonard it felt like the Clippers had a shot because Leonard knows how to play Kevin Durant. Leonard had 38 while Durant and Devin Booker both scored over 20 but the Clippers came away with the win.

In Game 2 Booker goes off for 38 points and nine assists as the Suns tie up the series at one. Leonard hurt his knee last game and would be out for the series. Russell Westbrook had 30 points, 12 assists, and 8 boards and Norman Powell had 42 points, but it wasn’t enough.

Booker had 45 points leading the Suns to a win to take a 2-1 lead. Game 4 was more of the same Westbrook had 37 points, but Booker and KD combined for 61 leading the Suns to another win. In a closeout game back home, the Clippers fought hard to force a Game 6.

Seven players scored over 10 points for the Clippers but once again not enough. Booker had 47 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds. The Suns win in five and will take on the Nuggets in the conference semis.

Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost

We’ve had to say goodbye to some big names this year in the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and beyond. To be frank, it was an absolutely brutal year.

So many giants in music died in 2023. Guitar god Jeff Beck died suddenly in January at age 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis. In February, legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach died at age 94. Singer, actor and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte died in April at age 96 from congestive heart failure. In May, the world lost Tina Turner – the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll – at age 83. Iconic pop singer Tony Bennett died in July at age 96.

The worlds of television and film were not immune to significant loss in 2023. Sitcom mastermind Norman Lear died in December at age 101. Three’s Company star Suzanne Somers died in October at age 76 from an aggressive form of breast cancer. Matthew Perry also died in October. The Friends star was only 54. Bob Barker, longtime host of The Price is Right, died in August at age 99. Paul Reubens, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, died in July at age 70 following a private battle with cancer.

The sports world was rocked by the deaths of three major wrestling figures. In June, The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) died at age 81. Then, in August, there were two back-to-back deaths. First, WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk died at age 79. Funk’s hardcore style has been influential to generations of wrestlers that followed. Then, Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) suddenly died at age 36. The young wrestler died after contracting COVID, which exacerbated a heart issue and led to a heart attack.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we’ve lost in 2023.

Sign Up For The Sports Fix Newsletter

The sports news you want, find out about local events you need to know about, plus exclusive contests, games and more sent to your inbox.

*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Cam Silver
Category:
Tags:

More Sports

Load More