Minnesota Takes 1–0 Lead After Road Win
The NBA conference semifinals opened with Minnesota and New York taking 1–0 leads in their respective playoff series. Minnesota Timberwolves made a major breakthrough on the road by defeating San Antonio 104–102 in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinal. The win gave Minnesota an immediate advantage in the series and denied San Antonio the chance to protect home court.
Victor Wembanyama delivered a historic defensive performance for San Antonio, setting a playoff record with 12 blocks. However, despite his dominance near the basket, San Antonio failed to turn that performance into victory. Spurs were hurt by Wembanyama’s poor shooting night and by many missed three-point attempts.
Anthony Edwards returned from injury and scored 18 points for Minnesota, while Julius Randle led the winning team with 21 points. Minnesota’s ability to survive Wembanyama’s defensive impact and close the game on the road proved decisive in the narrow two-point victory.
New York Dominates Philadelphia by 39 Points
In the Eastern Conference semifinal, New York Knicks continued their strong playoff run with a dominant 137–98 win over Philadelphia. The Knicks controlled the game convincingly and won by 39 points, taking a 1–0 lead in the series.
Jalen Brunson was the top scorer for New York with 35 points. The reports emphasize that the Knicks became the first team in NBA history to record three consecutive playoff wins by more than 25 points, extending their winning streak in emphatic fashion.
Philadelphia appeared without enough energy, especially from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who spent the closing part of the game on the bench. New York’s performance confirmed its strong momentum entering the conference semifinal stage.
Philadelphia Reached the Semifinals After Comeback Against Boston
The reports also recall that Philadelphia reached this stage after eliminating Boston in a dramatic first-round series. Philadelphia had trailed 1–3 in the series but completed a major comeback and defeated Boston at TD Garden to secure a place in the conference semifinals.
That comeback gave Philadelphia a strong emotional boost before facing New York, but the opening semifinal game showed a completely different picture. After eliminating Boston, Philadelphia was heavily beaten by the Knicks, while New York entered the series with confidence, rhythm and another historically convincing playoff win.
