The West Is Set For The 2025 WHL Playoffs
The first-round matchups in the Western Conference are set for the 2025 WHL Playoffs. This year's first round will feature four intriguing series, including one of the best rivalries in the U.S. Division. Here is a quick preview of which teams will be facing off next week.
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Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nuggets Predicted to Land Celtics Star After Russell Westbrook News
Nuggets Predicted to Land Celtics Star After Russell Westbrook News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Nuggets came close to beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, pushing them to seven games. If the Nuggets just had one more piece, they might re-stake their claim as the favorites in the Western Conference. Advertisement The question will be who they could look to for help. They could turn to the Boston Celtics, a team whose main priority this offseason will be to get under the NBA's second tax apron. A lot of players will be available to acquire from Boston's end on the condition that it saves them a fair amount of money. That's how a team like the Nuggets can swoop in and get another veteran to round out their rotation. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0)© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Last week it was announced by veteran point guard Russell Westbrook that he will be returning for an 18th NBA season. However, Westbrook did not reveal whether he will be exercising his player option with Denver or testing free agency. Advertisement Just one week later, the Nuggets were linked to a different veteran guard. The latest odds from BetOnline named Denver as the favorite to land Jrue Holiday if the Celtics star is dealt. The Nuggets currently have the highest odds of landing Holiday in a trade at five to one. They are not the overwhelming favorites, as the Sacramento Kings are right behind them with their odds of getting Holiday at 11 to two. However, the Nuggets are still ahead, and the offseason is not too far away. With all that out there, it would be difficult to see how the Celtics and Nuggets could agree to a deal. The Nuggets would have to send out enough salaries to match Holiday's. Advertisement A three-team deal could work, but it would hinge on teams taking someone like Michael Porter Jr. or multiple contracts to make it work. Holiday would be a significant addition for Denver, especially if Westbrook departs, but a trade would be difficult. Related: Celtics' Unexpected Kristaps Porzingis Plan Amid Trade Rumors Related: Celtics-Spurs Trade Report Surfaces Amid Jaylen Brown News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Thunder's resiliency will be tested again after Game 3 loss to Pacers
'I thought it was an uncharacteristic night in a lot of ways for us,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'We got to learn from it and then tap back into being who we are in Game 4. If we do that, I think we'll have a much better chance to win.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It was not very Thunder-like in Game 3. They blew a fourth quarter lead for the second time in the series, gave up 21 points off turnovers and let the Pacers' bench run wild — outscoring the OKC reserves, 49-18. Advertisement 'We'll watch it. It wasn't all bad,' Daigneault said. 'But we definitely have to play our style and impose our will for more of the 48 minutes if we want to come on the road and get a win.' There are uncanny similarities between the first three games of this series and the first three games of the Western Conference semifinal matchup between Oklahoma City and Denver. Advertisement ⋅ In Game 1 of the West semifinals, Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with about 3 seconds left to give the Nuggets a win in Oklahoma City. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to give the Pacers a win in Oklahoma City. ⋅ In Game 2 of the West semifinals, the Thunder evened things up with an easy win. In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Thunder evened things up with an easy win. ⋅ In Game 3 of the West semifinals, Denver — at home for the first time in that series — played from behind most of the night before fighting into overtime and eventually getting a win for a 2-1 series lead. In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Indiana — at home for the first time in the series — trailed for much of the first half before eventually getting a win for a 2-1 series lead. The Thunder dug their way out of that hole against the Nuggets. And now, the same task awaits — with an NBA title at stake. 'I wouldn't say that now is the time for emotions, to be thinking about how you're feeling, emotional this, emotional that,' Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said. 'You kind of have to cut that out and look at the substance of what it is. We have a great opportunity here and the great thing is we have another game coming up, Game 4.'
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
The Thunder are in familiar territory in NBA Finals, trailing in the best-of-seven series after Game 3
'I thought it was an uncharacteristic night in a lot of ways for us,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'We got to learn from it and then tap back into being who we are in Game 4. If we do that, I think we'll have a much better chance to win.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It was not very Thunder-like in Game 3. They blew a fourth quarter lead for the second time in the series, gave up 21 points off turnovers and let the Pacers' bench run wild — outscoring the OKC reserves 49-18. Advertisement 'We'll watch it. It wasn't all bad,' Daigneault said. 'But we definitely have to play our style and impose our will for more of the 48 minutes if we want to come on the road and get a win.' There are uncanny similarities between the first three games of this series and the first three games of the Western Conference semifinal matchup between Oklahoma City and Denver. Advertisement ▪ In Game 1 of the West semifinals, Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with about 3 seconds left to give the Nuggets a win in Oklahoma City. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds left to give the Pacers a win in Oklahoma City. ▪ In Game 2 of the West semifinals, the Thunder evened things up with an easy win. In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Thunder evened things up with an easy win. ▪ In Game 3 of the West semifinals, Denver — at home for the first time in that series — played from behind most of the night before fighting into overtime and eventually getting a win for a 2-1 series lead. In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Indiana — at home for the first time in the series — trailed for much of the first half before eventually getting a win for a 2-1 series lead. The Thunder dug their way out of that hole against the Nuggets. And now, the same task awaits — with an NBA title at stake. 'I wouldn't say that now is the time for emotions, to be thinking about how you're feeling, emotional this, emotional that,' said Thunder forward Chet Holmgren . 'You kind of have to cut that out and look at the substance of what it is. We have a great opportunity here and the great thing is we have another game coming up, Game 4.' Indiana hasn't lost back-to-back games in three months. Oklahoma City hasn't done so in two months. The Thunder are 6-0 after losses since early April, 5-0 after losses in these playoffs. Advertisement 'There's a maximum four games left in the season,' said Shea Gilgeous-Alexander . 'It's what you worked the whole season for. It's what you worked all summer for. To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win.' Turner update Pacers center Myles Turner , who had five blocks for Indiana in Game 3, including two against Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren with about 2 minutes left — first on a 3-pointer and then on a 6-footer on the same possession — is dealing with an illness. Turner was with the Pacers for film on Thursday and then was sent home. It seems Indiana is expecting he will play in Game 4. Haliburton's free throws In five games against Oklahoma City this season, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has been fouled in the act of shooting just once — in the first half of a Thunder-Pacers game on March 29. He has not taken a free throw in this series. He's the first player to log at least 109 minutes in the first three games of a finals and not take a single free throw since Miami's Mario Chalmers in 2012 — also against the Thunder. In the lead again In this current 16-team playoff format that dates back to 1984, Indiana is the sixth team to have a 2-1 lead in all four of its postseason series. The others were the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2020, Boston in 2008, Detroit in 2004 and San Antonio in 2003. All five of those teams went on to win the NBA title.
