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With Sunday’s Game 7 within the books, and the Oklahoma City Thunder having ruled the Denver Nuggets to enroll in the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves within the NBA’s ultimate 4, we have a far clearer take a look at the actual difference-makers alongside the trail to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Here, in our playoff MVP post-conference semifinals replace, we are score the 8 gamers whose performances have stood out maximum thru two wild and unpredictable rounds.
1:39
Brunson happy with Knicks’ composure to near out Celtics in 6
Jalen Brunson displays at the Knicks’ large win over the Celtics to achieve the Eastern Conference Finals for the primary time since 2000.
2025 playoffs (12 video games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB
After remaining out the Detroit Pistons within the first around with an unpleasant step-back 3-pointer, Brunson’s encore was once main New York to the convention finals by way of knocking off the protecting champion Boston Celtics. He had a gradual begin to the collection, however, as is frequently the case, was once take hold of within the past due phases.
That was once in particular true in Games 1, 2 and 4, when the Knicks got here again to win from deficits of 20, 20 and 14 issues, respectively.
Next, the All-NBA guard will face the Pacers, towards whom he averaged just about 30 issues and 6 assists all through the steady season. Brunson and his teammates will search to avenge closing 12 months’s loss to Indiana within the convention semis.
If issues cross right down to the cord, the league’s Clutch Player of the Year will really feel able. Brunson has already made 14 take hold of baskets in those playoffs. That’s just about two times as Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks No. 2.
1:00
Jokic grateful for private and crew good fortune this season
Nuggets celebrity Nikola Jokic displays on his particular person efficiency and his crew’s appearing this season upon getting eradicated from the playoffs.
2025 playoffs (14 video games): 26.2 PTS | 12.7 REB | 8.0 AST | 2.0 STL
With teammate Aaron Gordon critically restricted, and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. combining for simplest 19 issues on 24 photographs, Jokic had little or no scoring strengthen from his fellow veteran starters in Sunday’s removing loss.
Still, that truth — and his crew’s collection loss as an entire — does not essentially harm Jokic’s argument for a excessive placement in this record. Sure, he was once a painful 0-for-10 from deep in Denver’s Game 3 extra time loss and wasn’t a lot more environment friendly in Game 4, when he shot 2-for-8 from 3. But he additionally had some of the spectacular video games of the playoffs when he dropped 44 issues with 22 rebounds and 5 assists on simplest 25 photographs from the sector within the Nuggets’ Game 5 defeat.
Jokic gave a traditionally just right Thunder crew all it might deal with whilst having 24-year-old Christian Braun as his best sidekick in Game 7.
0:29
Anthony Edwards ‘scrapes the sky’ for filthy poster slam
Anthony Edwards drives and punishes the rim as he places Kevon Looney on a poster.
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 26.5 PTS | 8.0 REB | 5.9 AST | 38.5 3P%
The Wolves’ celebrity bounced again from a much less environment friendly opening around towards the Los Angeles Lakers to shoot 44% from deep on nearly 9 makes an attempt in line with recreation within the convention semifinals towards the most commonly Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors.
Noteworthy in every of Edwards’ closeout Game 5s up to now: He used the excess of defensive consideration on him to make performs for others, logging 8 assists within the clincher towards the Lakers, and a whopping 12 within the collection clincher towards the Warriors.
Edwards should be ready for OKC’s swarming protection, which was once the NBA’s best possible at shutting down 1-on-1 alternatives all through the steady season, permitting simply 0.81 issues in line with ownership.
1:31
SGA chefs Nuggets for 35 in Game 7
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carries the Thunder to a victory in Game 7 over the Nuggets with 35 issues, 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 28.4 PTS | 6.6 AST | 6.2 REB | 1.3 STL
The Thunder guard, prone to be named the league’s regular-season MVP within the coming days, had an implausible starting and finishing to his collection towards Denver. He struggled together with his shot all through Games 3 and 4, however then adopted that up with showings of 31, 32 and 35 issues, respectively, within the collection’ ultimate 3 video games. He shot no worse than 52% in Games 5, 6 and 7 to raise his membership when OKC wanted it maximum.
If there is a reason why for SGA to be this a long way down at the record, it is that he struggled mightily together with his potency within the opening around. But he can proceed to make up for that towards the Wolves and within the Finals, will have to the top-seeded Thunder smash thru.
1:31
Tyrese Haliburton breaks Cavs’ hearts with dagger game-winning 3
Tyrese Haliburton will get the ball after a ignored loose throw, then nails a step-back 3 to permit the Pacers to rally for a win in Game 2.
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 17.5 PTS | 9.3 AST | 5.5 REB
After taking pictures simply 42% total, and beneath 27% from 3 within the first around, Haliburton leveled as much as 54% and nearly 46% from deep towards the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to drag off an disillusioned in simplest 5 video games.
One of the largest keys for the Indiana celebrity this postseason: Much like Brunson, he has get a hold of big-time photographs to position away video games. He has long past 4-for-5 from the sector with the Pacers within the ultimate minute of take hold of eventualities. No one has made extra in those playoffs.
6. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves
2:17
Randle stars as Wolves whole collection win
Julius Randle drops a game-high 29 issues to gasoline the Timberwolves in knocking out the Warriors in 5 video games.
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 23.9 PTS | 5.9 REB | 5.9 AST | 50.9 FG%
Yes, this is identical participant who struggled mightily all through his first two postseason appearances. Randle shot 29.8% from the sector in 2021 and 37.4% in 2022, each with the Knicks.
But Randle has been incredible for Minnesota up to now, taking pictures nearly 51%, averaging 23.9 issues within the postseason (proper in the back of Edwards) and a team-high 5.9 assists (the similar as Edwards). Long one of the crucial NBA’s best possible setup males for corner-3 alternatives, Randle merely seems to be comfy presently, one thing that would pay large dividends if OKC blitzes Edwards.
1:28
Mitchell despondent after Cavs’ loss to Pacers: ‘Don’t imagine it’
Donovan Mitchell tries to give an explanation for what went mistaken for the Cavaliers of their semifinal collection defeat to the Pacers.
2025 playoffs (9 video games): 29.6 PTS | 4.7 REB | 3.9 AST
Much like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mitchell gave all of it he had and every now and then single-handedly carried his crew’s offense. The Cavs’ celebrity led all second-round scorers with greater than 34 issues in line with recreation.
But with an ankle damage that he performed thru in hopes of resurrecting a Cleveland membership that discovered itself prone to being bounced early after a 64-win season, Mitchell’s potency from deep fell sharply from the outlet around, sliding from 46% to 24% on large — however important — quantity within the convention semifinals.
1:26
JWill: There’s a global by which Giannis says he desires to be a Warrior
Jay Williams and Brian Windhorst speak about the potential of Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up with Steph Curry in Golden State.
2025 playoffs (5 video games): 33.0 PTS | 15.4 REB | 6.6 AST | 60.6 FG%
The Bucks’ ahead is the only participant who was once so exceptional within the opening around that he deserved to make this record once more, albeit nowhere close to the end given the added weight of the convention semifinals.
In case you forgot simply how dominant Antetokounmpo was once with out an injured Damian Lillard (and with an immensely quiet Kyle Kuzma): Antetokounmpo averaged 33 issues, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists in his 5 video games towards Indianapolis. And he did it on nearly 60.6% taking pictures from the sector.
