April 20-21 Western Conference Fantasy Basketball Takeaways: Top Individual Performances | Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, James Harden, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and More

Discussing the first game of each Western Conference first round playoff series.

The NBA playoffs are underway, with each series a game into things. Before any series hits game 2, let’s break down what happened in game 1 so that you know which fantasy players to get into your lineups.

We’ll take a look at the Western Conference matchups here after already going over the Eastern Conference.

Nuggets 114, Lakers 103

Denver rallied past Los Angeles to grab a 1-0 series lead.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 32 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals across 39 1/2 minutes. He was 15-of-23 from the floor.

Jamal Murray tallied 22 points despite going just 9-of-24. He also had 10 assists, six rebounds and one block in just under 39 minutes.

Michael Porter Jr. contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and an assist. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon each added 12 points - KCP also had three steals, two boards and an assist, while Gordon had 11 rebounds and seven assists.

Peyton Watson led the bench with eight points. Christian Braun added two points and five boards in under 18 minutes.

Anthony Davis went for 32 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks for Los Angeles. LeBron James posted 27 points, eight assists, six rebounds and one steal and block, but turned the ball over seven times.

D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves had 13 points each. Russell was just 6-of-20 overall and 1-of-9 from deep, while adding three rebounds and assists and two steals. Reaves had four boards, three assists and one block. Rui Hachimura provided seven points, three rebounds and one assist.

Taurean Prince had 11 points off the bench. No other bench player scored.

Timberwolves 120, Suns 95

Minnesota dominated from the second quarter on to throttle Phoenix.

Anthony Edwards finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals in under 36 minutes. He made 14 of his 24 shots and half of his eight 3-pointers.

Karl-Anthony Towns totaled 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one assist in just 26 1/2 minutes, while Rudy Gobert had 14 points, 16 rebounds and two assists.

Jaden McDaniels totaled nine points, six rebounds and two blocks, while Mike Conley had four points (on 2-of-12 shooting), seven assists and three rebounds.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker went 7-of-12 overall to score 18 points off the bench. He also had four rebounds and steals and two assists. Naz Reid tallied 12 points, two rebounds and assists and one assist.

Kevin Durant powered Phoenix with 31 points, seven rebounds and one assist, steal and block in under 39 minutes.

Devin Booker was just 5-of-16 on his way to 18 points, five assists, two rebounds and one steal. Bradley Beal had 15 points, six assists, three steals and two boards. Royce O'Neale provided 14 points and four rebounds off the bench.

Jusuf Nurkic finished with nine points, four rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist in 26 1/2 minutes. Grayson Allen had four points, five rebounds and two assists - he sprained his ankle in the contest and could miss some time. Eric Gordon played 21 minutes, but didn’t score.

Clippers 109, Mavericks 97

Los Angeles toppled Dallas without Kawhi Leonard playing.

James Harden guided LA, tallying 28 points, eight assists and two rebounds and blocks across 39 1/2 minutes.

Paul George added 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal, while Ivica Zubac had 20 points, 15 boards and one assist, steal and block. Terance Mann chipped in 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while Amir Coffey started and had six points, three rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes.

Russell Westbrook totaled 13 points, four boards and assists and two steals across 23 1/2 minutes off the bench. Norman Powell played nearly 30 minutes and scored five points, while Mason Plumlee scored two points and grabbed five rebounds in 12 1/2 minutes of action.

Luka Doncic recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and one steal in 42 1/2 minutes for Dallas. Kyrie Irving added 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 39 minutes.

P.J. Washington was the only other player in double figures, tallying 11 points, seven boards, two steals and one block in under 37 minutes.

Derrick Jones Jr. didn’t score in 17 1/2 minutes, while Daniel Gafford posted three points and a block in just 14 minutes. Maxi Kleber, Dereck Lively II, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dante Exum all played 15+ minutes, but all finished with six or less points.

Thunder 94, Pelicans 92

Oklahoma City held off New Orleans to win game 1 at home.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went for 28 points, six rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes to lead OKC. 

Jalen Williams provided 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Chet Holmgren had 15 points, 11 boards, five blocks, two assists and one steal.

Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey also started, but scored just six and two points, respectively. No OKC bench player went over six points, with Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe all playing 15+ minutes.

With Zion Williamson out, Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, three blocks and one steal. CJ McCollum had 20 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal and block. Murphy shot 8-of-18 overall, while McCollum was 9-of-22.

Jonas Valanciunas totaled 13 points, 20 rebounds, two assists and one steal, while Brandon Ingram had 12 points (on 5-of-17 shooting), six boards, three assists and one block. Herbert Jones added eight points (on 2-of-10 shooting), seven boards, four assists and one steal.

Larry Nance Jr. added eight points and boards off the bench, with Jose Alvarado and Naji Marshall also playing over 15 minutes.

#nba-playoffs