With Sunday’s Sport 7 within the books, and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder having dominated the Denver Nuggets to hitch the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves within the NBA’s last 4, we now have a a lot clearer have a look at the true difference-makers alongside the trail to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Right here, in our playoff MVP post-conference semifinals replace, we’re rating the eight gamers whose performances have stood out most by way of two wild and unpredictable rounds.
2025 playoffs (12 video games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB
After closing out the Detroit Pistons within the first spherical with a nasty step-back 3-pointer, Brunson’s encore was main New York to the convention finals by knocking off the defending champion Boston Celtics. He had a sluggish begin to the collection, however, as is commonly the case, was clutch within the late phases.
That was notably true in Video games 1, 2 and 4, when the Knicks got here again to win from deficits of 20, 20 and 14 factors, respectively.
Subsequent, the All-NBA guard will face the Pacers, in opposition to whom he averaged almost 30 factors and 6 assists through the common season. Brunson and his teammates will search to avenge final 12 months’s loss to Indiana within the convention semis.
If issues go right down to the wire, the league’s Clutch Participant of the Yr will really feel prepared. Brunson has already made 14 clutch baskets in these playoffs. That is almost twice as Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks No. 2.
Earlier rating: 4
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Jokic grateful for private and crew success this season
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic displays on his particular person efficiency and his crew’s displaying this season after 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 severely restricted, and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. combining for less than 19 factors on 24 photographs, Jokic had little or no scoring assist from his fellow veteran starters in Sunday’s elimination loss.
Nonetheless, that actuality — and his crew’s collection loss as an entire — does not essentially harm Jokic’s argument for a excessive placement on this checklist. Positive, he was a painful 0-for-10 from deep in Denver’s Sport 3 time beyond regulation loss and wasn’t way more environment friendly in Sport 4, when he shot 2-for-8 from 3. However he additionally had one of the spectacular video games of the playoffs when he dropped 44 factors with 22 rebounds and 5 assists on solely 25 photographs from the sector within the Nuggets’ Sport 5 defeat.
Jokic gave a traditionally good Thunder group all it may deal with whereas having 24-year-old Christian Braun as his simplest sidekick in Sport 7.
Earlier rating: 1
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 26.5 PTS | 8.0 REB | 5.9 AST | 38.5 3P%
The Wolves’ star bounced again from a much less environment friendly opening spherical in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers to shoot 44% from deep on virtually 9 makes an attempt per recreation within the convention semifinals in opposition to the principally Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors.
Noteworthy in every of Edwards’ closeout Sport 5s up to now: He used the excess of defensive consideration on him to make performs for others, logging eight assists within the clincher in opposition to the Lakers, and a whopping 12 within the collection clincher in opposition to the Warriors.
Edwards must be ready for OKC’s swarming protection, which was the NBA’s finest at shutting down 1-on-1 alternatives through the common season, permitting simply 0.81 factors per possession.
Earlier rating: 5
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 a implausible starting and ending to his collection in opposition to Denver. He struggled along with his shot throughout Video games 3 and 4, however then adopted that up with showings of 31, 32 and 35 factors, respectively, within the collection’ last three video games. He shot no worse than 52% in Video games 5, 6 and seven to raise his membership when OKC wanted it most.
If there is a motive for SGA to be this far down on the checklist, it is that he struggled mightily along with his effectivity within the opening spherical. However he can proceed to make up for that in opposition to the Wolves and within the Finals, ought to the top-seeded Thunder break by way of.
Earlier rating: NR
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 17.5 PTS | 9.3 AST | 5.5 REB
After capturing simply 42% general, and beneath 27% from 3 within the first spherical, Haliburton leveled as much as 54% and virtually 46% from deep in opposition to the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to drag off an upset in solely 5 video games.
One of many largest keys for the Indiana star this postseason: Very like Brunson, he has provide you with big-time photographs to place away video games. He has gone 4-for-5 from the sector with the Pacers within the last minute of clutch situations. Nobody has made extra in these playoffs.
Earlier rating: 10
6. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves
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Mitchell despondent after Cavs’ loss to Pacers: ‘Do not imagine it’
Donovan Mitchell tries to clarify what went improper for the Cavaliers of their semifinal collection defeat to the Pacers.
2025 playoffs (10 video games): 23.9 PTS | 5.9 REB | 5.9 AST | 50.9 FG%
Sure, this is identical participant who struggled mightily throughout his first two postseason appearances. Randle shot 29.8% from the sector in 2021 and 37.4% in 2022, each with the Knicks.
However Randle has been implausible for Minnesota up to now, capturing virtually 51%, averaging 23.9 factors within the postseason (proper behind Edwards) and a team-high 5.9 assists (the identical as Edwards). Lengthy one of many NBA’s finest setup males for corner-3 alternatives, Randle merely seems comfortable proper now, one thing that would pay large dividends if OKC blitzes Edwards.
Earlier rating: NR
2025 playoffs (9 video games): 29.6 PTS | 4.7 REB | 3.9 AST
Very like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mitchell gave all of it he had and at instances single-handedly carried his crew’s offense. The Cavs’ star led all second-round scorers with greater than 34 factors per recreation.
However with an ankle harm that he performed by way of in hopes of resurrecting a Cleveland membership that discovered itself prone to being bounced early after a 64-win season, Mitchell’s effectivity from deep fell sharply from the opening spherical, sliding from 46% to 24% on large — however obligatory — quantity within the convention semifinals.
Earlier rating: 8
2025 playoffs (5 video games): 33.0 PTS | 15.4 REB | 6.6 AST | 60.6 FG%
The Bucks’ ahead is the one participant who was so excellent within the opening spherical that he deserved to make this checklist once more, albeit nowhere close to the highest given the added weight of the convention semifinals.
In case you forgot simply how dominant Antetokounmpo was with out an injured Damian Lillard (and with an immensely quiet Kyle Kuzma): Antetokounmpo averaged 33 factors, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists in his 5 video games in opposition to Indianapolis. And he did it on virtually 60.6% capturing from the sector.
Earlier rating: 2
