The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are underway, and our NBA insiders have you covered for every game in the march to the Finals.

All season long, the Western Conference standings were in constant flux, and Saturday's games hinted at what should be some dramatic first-round matchups. The No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets rallied to an overtime win over the 5-seed LA Clippers to take Game 1, thanks to some late-game heroics by Russell Westbrook. In the late game, the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves pounced on the No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers as Anthony Edwards got the best of LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Sunday's matchups will see MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder welcome Ja Morant and the 8-seed Memphis Grizzlies. Following that game, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets -- one of the season's most improved teams -- will begin their clash with Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors.

Here's what stood out from Saturday's results as we get you ready for Sunday's games.

Jump to a series:
Thunder-Grizzlies | Rockets-Warriors
Lakers-Timberwolves | Nuggets-Clippers

More coverage:
East first-round takeaways
Schedules and results | Offseason guides

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

(Timberwolves lead series, 1-0)

Game 1: Timberwolves 117, Lakers 95

What we learned in Game 1:
The Lakers organization geared up for Game 1 by distributing a hype video with their postseason motto "Unleash Joy." The video, in the Lakers' words, was meant to tip off their "2025 Playoff Run." The anticipation for a deep playoff push was understandable, considering how well L.A. played after trading for Luka Doncic and securing the No. 3 seed in the West.

And the way Saturday started, with Doncic personally outscoring Minnesota with 14 points as L.A. went up 20-12 early in the first, that story was seemingly going to plan. But nobody in L.A.'s marketing department considered that the Wolves, who lost to Doncic in the conference finals a year ago, would become the main characters.

"We know not many people are picking us," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said pregame. "I think our guys have leaned into that a little bit."

After Doncic's initial flourish, the Wolves took control in the second and third quarters, leading by as many as 27 points as they owned the boards (44-38) and spread out the Lakers' defense by making the extra pass to open shooters (hitting a franchise postseason record 21-of-42 from 3). The run-up to this series focused on Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves on one side and Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle on the other. However, Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid combined for 48 points on 19-for-25 shooting to completely outperform L.A.'s role players and put the Wolves in the driver's seat.

Game 2: Timberwolves at Lakers (Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to watch in Game 2:
Lakers starting center Jaxson Hayes played only eight minutes, with coach JJ Redick opting for Jarred Vanderbilt at the 5 and using his activity (and some of his extracurricular efforts to get under the Wolves players' skin) to try to make a dent in the monstrous deficit, getting as close as 12. Redick will have a decision to make regarding whether he will want to give Hayes a second look -- that starting group was 10-3 in the regular season -- or make his first chess move of the series going small from the start, ceding the size disadvantage.

-- Dave McMenamin

(4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers
(Nuggets lead series, 1-0)

Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)

What we learned in Game 1:
Denver can take a punch -- literally. Nikola Jokic got hit in the face by an errant Derrick Jones Jr. forearm, picked up a technical foul for arguing the non-call and somehow rallied the Nuggets back from a 15-point deficit to win this game in overtime. Russell Westbrook was incredible on the glass with clutch offensive rebounds, putbacks and even a key 3-pointer down the stretch. It was his first career go-ahead 3 inside the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his playoff career. Jamal Murray shook off a poor first half to finish with two huge 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Aaron Gordon had six of the Nuggets' 14 points in overtime to seal the win.

The Clippers will wonder what would have happened if James Harden wasn't in foul trouble for most of the game. He was brilliant for the team but the Nuggets survived with grit and might just have rediscovered their championship swagger after a tumultuous final week of the regular season.

Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets (Monday, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)

What to watch in Game 2:
Both teams looked gassed by the end of this slugfest and have just one day to recover before Game 2 on Monday. The Clippers probably would have won this easily if they'd been tighter with the ball. They gave up 29 points off 20 turnovers Saturday. The only Clippers who should get credit for holding on to the ball are probably associate head coach Jeff Van Gundy and trainer Jasen Powell, who teamed up to win a wrestling match with Jokic late in the fourth quarter. On the Denver side, the Nuggets will need more from Michael Porter Jr. to have a chance in this series. He scored Denver's first points of the game and wasn't a factor the rest of the way, finishing with just three points in 26 minutes.

-- Ramona Shelburne

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

Game 1: Grizzlies at Thunder (Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, ABC)

One thing to watch from the Thunder:
Given we're talking about a team that came just two wins short of 70 wins and finished with the best point differential in NBA history, the best-case scenario is winning the championship with ease. The two largest margins of victory in recent vintage came from the 2016-17 Warriors, who went a record 16-1 in the playoffs, and last year's Celtics, who finished 16-3. That kind of dominance is hardly out of the question for Oklahoma City, although the Thunder are all but certain to face stiffer postseason competition than last year's Celtics did. -- Kevin Pelton

One thing to watch from the Grizzlies:
By the time March rolled around Memphis was starting to slide, losing its first three games to start the month and eventually dropping 10 of 16 games. That led to the firing on Mar. 28 of Taylor Jenkins, the winningest coach in franchise history, and the promotion of new staffer Tuomas Iisalo to interim head coach. The move was made to optimize Ja Morant, who thrives with the ball in his hands. Memphis lost its first three games under the new regime but team appears be adjusting to Iisalo. -- Michael C. Wright

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Golden State Warriors

Game 1: Warriors at Rockets (Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)

One thing to watch from the Rockets:
When the action slows and every possession matters, can Houston consistently generate enough half-court offense to best a battle-tested Warriors club for an entire seven-game series? It's a conundrum Rockets coach Ime Udoka had already been pondering as his team closed the regular season, leaning into its physical identity while working to clean up issues on offense. The last time Udoka faced Golden State in the playoffs, he was the coach in Boston and watched Stephen Curry average 31.2 points against his Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. Fortunately for the Rockets, they might have the ideal Curry-stopper in rising star Amen Thompson, who locked down Curry when the teams met April 6, holding him to 1-for-10 shooting. Can Thompson handle such an important responsibility in the first postseason series of his career? -- Michael C. Wright

One thing to watch from the Warriors:
The Warriors will have to figure out a way to free Curry of Houston's physical defenders like Thompson and Dillon Brooks. But that is where Jimmy Butler III comes in. He will not only have to help Curry with the scoring load, but also carry the critical non-Curry minutes. And then the 6-foot-6 Draymond Green will have to find a way to contain 6-11 Alperen Sengun inside, especially on the glass, despite the height disadvantage. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

TORONTO -- Right-hander Jose Berrios suspected Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was relaying pitch information to his teammates and wanted the hard-hitting veteran to know what he thought of it.

Berrios, Saturday's starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, exchanged angry words with Raleigh as he walked back to the dugout at the end of the fourth inning of Saturday's 8-4, 12-inning loss to the Mariners.

"I don't react that way very often," Berrios said. "I'm a quiet and chill guy. But when some people are trying to fight with us in the field, I don't respect that. I don't like that."

Both benches cleared as Berrios and Raleigh jawed back between third base and home plate, but the situation did not escalate. As relievers from both teams were running in from the bullpens, Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was waving his teammates back.

Raleigh denied relaying pitch information but said he understood Berrios' reaction.

"I'd want my pitchers doing the same thing," Raleigh said. "If somebody thought they were tipping, I'd want them to say something. Just how it is. Competitive baseball game. People are right in the heart of it."

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said stealing signs and relaying pitch information is "fair game," and also a "part of the game."

"Teams do that. We get it," Schneider said. "In the heat of the moment, you get a little bit fired up. I didn't think the benches needed to clear. There was nothing crazy going on. But I like when our guys are sticking up for themselves."

Raleigh came up again in the fifth and hit a two-run double to right field that put Seattle ahead 2-1. Raleigh finished 2 for 3 with three walks, one of them intentional.

In 20 games against the Blue Jays, Raleigh is batting .292 (21 for 72) with 9 home runs and 18 RBIs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ATLANTA -- Alex Verdugo shook his head when reminded the Atlanta Braves are 2-0 since he was recalled this week.

"I'm not taking credit for it yet," Verdugo said.

Even so, Verdugo's four hits and two runs scored in Saturday night's 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins provided evidence he has given a spark to the offense as the team's new leadoff hitter and starting left fielder.

With Verdugo in the lineup, the Braves have posted back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Verdugo's four hits included two doubles and a sixth-inning single that drove in the go-ahead run.

"It feels good," Verdugo said. "Obviously, being at the top of the lineup, kind of instantly thrown into it, get on base, have good at-bats, things like that. And I think for me it feels good to get some hits."

Verdugo was recalled Thursday to help boost a slumping offense after signing a $1.5 million, one-year contract on March 20.

When asked after Saturday night's game what he expected when Verdugo was added to the roster, manager Brian Snitker said, "Just professional at-bats, good at-bats, which he's done already."

Added Snitker: "It's kind of why we're excited about getting him here."

Bryan De La Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett with Verdugo's arrival. In his first two games, Verdugo has started in left field with Michael Harris II in center and Jarred Kelenic in right field.

The left-handed hitting Verdugo has a career batting average of .272. He could retain a starting job even after 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from surgery to repair his torn left ACL, perhaps in May.

The 28-year-old Verdugo hit .233 with 13 homers and 61 RBIs for the New York Yankees in 2024 following four seasons with Boston. He had an $8.7 million base salary last season and earned $50,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances.

Snitker hopes Verdugo's disciplined at-bats have an impact on others in the lineup.

"He gives me a lot of information from his first at-bat," Harris said. "It helps me out as another lefty."

TAMPA, Fla. -- Three-and-a-half weeks into his New York Yankees career, Devin Williams doesn't resemble the All-Star closer who dominated hitters with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Brandon Lowe tied the score with a two-run single in a four-run ninth inning off Williams, Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run homer in the 10th against Yoendrys Gomez, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 10-8 on Saturday to stop New York's five-game winning streak.

"Yeah, four-run lead, you'd like to get in and get out," Williams said. "Made some good pitches; made some bad ones. Not enough good ones today."

Williams has a 9.00 ERA and has allowed runs in four of nine appearances. While he has four saves in four chances, Williams has walked seven in eight innings, and opponents have a .333 average against him.

"We got a long way to go," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Williams. "It's a little bump here early, and he's got all the equipment to get through it."

Luke Weaver, who struck out two in a perfect eighth, could become an increasingly enticing option to replace Williams as closer. After thriving when he took over the closer role from Clay Holmes late last season, Weaver has not allowed a run in 11 innings over nine games this year and has given up just two hits while striking out 13 and walking five.

Acquired in December from Milwaukee for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin, Williams can become a free agent after the season.

Williams converted 14 of 15 save chances with a 1.25 ERA for the Brewers last year, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 innings. Diagnosed during 2024 spring training with two stress fractures in his back, he didn't make his season debut until July 28.

Given an 8-4 lead, Williams allowed Jose Caballero's one-out single on a chopper as third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera made a high throw, for an error, then walked No. 9 batter Ben Rortvedt. Chandler Simpson hit an opposite-field RBI double to left for his first big league hit, Yandy Diaz hit a run-scoring infield single and Lowe singled to left.

"A lot of soft contact," Boone said.

Williams allowed the hits to Caballero, Diaz and Lowe on his changeup, known as an airbender.

"Just the changeup to Lowe. I'd like to have that one back," Williams said. "Tough luck on that double down the line, but aside from that, I thought I threw the ball pretty well."

Williams generated just one swing-and-miss among his seven changeups.

"Maybe using it too much," he said. "We'll work on that."

As well as Lowry's injury, hooker Rob Herring and props Andrew Warwick and Callum Reid also sustained knocks, and Murphy says "there was a lot of disruption" with the injuries.

Murphy admitted Leinster, who top the URC table "are a top-class side" but felt the hosts benefited from a number of 50/50 calls at the scrum and breakdown in the first half.

Dan Sheehan scored a hat-trick off the bench in the second half, and the defeat leaves Ulster outside the top eight with three rounds of fixtures remaining.

Ulster face the Sharks in Belfast next week before trips to Munster and Edinburgh to round out their campaign.

"Over the past number of weeks we have shown a lot of resilience," Murphy added.

"That's growing within the group. The guys are very disappointed in relation to the scoreline.

"We have to dust ourselves down very quickly and get on to Sharks. We knew this was going to be a really tough game and Sharks at home will not be easy.

"We'll have to see who is fit. We picked up quite a lot of injuries today, but we'll dust ourselves down and go again next week."

"I was terrified to be anywhere near a rugby pitch or a rugby ball."

Following a second neck injury in February 2024, the thought of playing again was a huge ask for England wing Claudia MacDonald, who had already considered retirement.

A comeback that seemed nearly impossible, when MacDonald barely left her house after being told not to go in a car, is now at an unimageable point.

The 29-year-old picked up the player-of-the-match award after scoring two tries in a convincing win over Scotland in the Women's Six Nations.

She has not just come back on the biggest stage, but is thriving and pushing for a starting spot against France in Saturday's Grand Slam decider at Allianz Stadium.

"I'm just loving every second of being back," a beaming MacDonald told the BBC. "We're just surrounded by so many talents - amazing, incredible rugby players.

"It's a privilege to put the shirt on. To be picked out today, player of the match? It makes me a bit emotional to be honest.

"The best is yet to come. Look at the skill we have throughout the squad. People say we need to be beaten but we beat each other up in training and push each other so hard."

Having only returned in Exeter's Premiership Women's Rugby defeat by eventual champions Gloucester-Hartpury last December, John Mitchell decided to select MacDonald in his Six Nations squad.

After more than 12 months away from the Red Roses, she scored on her return against Italy in round one, but had to wait until the game against Scotland in Leicester to get a second shot.

Jess Breach's form in MacDonald's absence has made getting back into the side difficult, with the Saracens wing scoring four tries in last year's Six Nations.

A brilliant take in the air and some nifty footwork helped MacDonald break through the Scotland defence early in the game, but her final pass failed to find full-back Ellie Kildunne.

However, her electric start continued throughout the game as she again showed her balanced running to slice through and this time round the final defender for England's fourth try.

The Exeter Chief, who can also play at scrum-half, then grabbed another try in the second half, showing her punchy and deceptively quick running style to race clear down the left wing.

Having said she had to "learn to trust her body again", MacDonald is back in the form that saw her start England's World Cup semi-final win over Canada in 2022.

"Coming back from a double neck injury is all about whether you are going to be brave," former England captain Katy Daley-McLean told the BBC.

"Can you still be brave and play in that same way? For me Claudia doesn't look like she has been away.

"She looks fitter and stronger and really powerful. We know she is a balanced runner but she had some smart touches off the ball as well."

The Edmonton Oilers on Saturday signed defenseman Ty Emberson to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.3 million.

The Oilers, who will take on the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, inserted 24-year-old Emberson into the lineup for 76 games this season, recording two goals and 13 point. He averaged 15:07 of ice time for the defending Western Conference champions.

Emberson has turned into a reliable force on Edmonton's penalty-kill unit, and figures to maintain that role vs. the Kings. Emberson led all Edmonton defensemen in total short-handed time on ice (149:32) this season, while ranking second in hits (125).

The Kings will host Game 1 on Monday night at 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.

Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart made history on Saturday as the first Bundesliga game to feature eight goals before halftime.

The score was 4-4 at the interval, and the game finished that way after a much quieter second half.

Four previous Bundesliga games had featured seven goals in the first half, the most recent being Eintracht Frankfurt's 6-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in May 2019.

Andrej Ilic scored twice for Berlin, while Stuttgart had four different scorers.

While most of the goals came from set-pieces, Union defender Leopold Querfeld made his mark with a powerful shot into the top-right corner from 37 yards out.

It wasn't a day for the goalkeepers as Union's goals came from just five shots on target all game. Stuttgart had six shots on target.

Stuttgart are 11th after a setback to its faint hopes of qualifying for European competition next season and Union are 13th after a draw which ensured they cannot be relegated this season.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.