Timberwolves await Nuggets as NBA Playoffs upsets are in making

While the Minnesota Timberwolves await the tip-off in their Round 1 NBA Playoff series with the Denver Nuggets, a quick survey of the NBA scoreboard has some positive messaging so far. It’s the age-old argument of momentum versus rest, the incentive to finish as one of the better teams in the NBA (and other professional team sports for that matter) in the regular season to earn an extended rest period between games.

Unfortunately, particularly after an extended period of rest, the less successful teams that have won their own berth in the NBA Playoffs arrive with a bit of positive momentum.

Saturday Scores

6 – Brooklyn Nets         101
3 – Philadelphia 76ers 121

The sixth-seeded Nets were no match for the duo of James Harden and Joel Embiid in this one. This was a Nets roster that was reconstructed at the NBA Trade Deadline, and it showed.

7 – Atlanta Hawks        99
2 – Boston Celtics        112

The Boston Celtics, the team that lost to the Golden State Warriors a year ago, appears to be cocked and loaded to claim their own NBA Championship this year. They are very good defensively

5 – NY Knicks                   101
4 – Cleveland Cavaliers   97

In what you could consider the only upset of the day, the New York Knicks entered this one at full strength and appeared to be the better team from buzzer to buzzer.

6 – GS Warriors              123
3 – Sacramento Kings  126

No matter what their seeding, the Golden State Warriors will seldom be considered a true underdog in the NBA Playoffs. But it was the Sacramento Kings that emerged from this one in what had all the hoopla and trappings of an NBA Championship series opener

Sunday Scores

7 – Los Angeles Lakers       123
2 – Memphis Grizzlies        126

The momentum of their NBA Play-In Tournament carried over in this one, as the Lakers continued to get incredible production from their bench in PG Dennis Schroeder and PF Rui Hachimura.

8 – Miami Heat             123
1 – Milwaukee Bucks  126

The Miami Heat lost point guard Tyler Herro to a broken hand, but the Milwaukee Bucks lost point forward Giannis Antetokompo to a back injury and then lost the game. The Greek Freak left this one after just 11 minutes of play, while Herro could only compete for 19 minutes.

Final
5 – Los Angeles Clippers          115
4 – Phoenix Suns                        110

The Suns made a move to acquire PF Keven Durant at the NBA Trade Deadline, and hope that he is enough to move the needle. He did help the Suns rally with a 15-10 run in the regular season. But the Clippers signed PG Russell Westbrook after he was bought out by the Utah Jazz. This could be one of the most competitive series of Round 1.

Final
8 – Minnesota Timberwolves          80
3 – Denver Nuggets                           109

While the Minnesota Timberwolves have an uphill battle in this series, they also bring some positive momentum from their Friday victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

A fascinating sub-plot in this best-of-seven series is the fact that Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly must pit his new team against his former team, the Denver Nuggets. Because he was the architect who constructed the Nuggets roster, he gives the Timberwolves team invaluable insight and intel about their opponent.

Grudge match? Chess match? We’ll soon find out at the conclusion of Game 1.