Ranking Every NBA Playoff Series So Far: Warriors vs. Kings on Top, Nuggets vs. Wolves Dull

We've witnessed great series; some players have risen to the occasion, while others have shrunk under the bright lights. Only four teams remain in the playoffs, and each will have a chance to fight for a place in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Where does each series rank? We saw some great first and second-round matchups, but there were also others that underwhelmed, failing to live up to expectations. Here's where all 12 series rank, as we head to the conference finals, per CBS Sports.

12. Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

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This was a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed match-up. The Nuggets won their first two games at home, lost one, and won one on the road, before taking care of business at home in five games, per AP. Timberwolves youngster Anthony Edwards was phenomenal and showed why he is the next big star. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic was great. Apart from Game 1, where he scored 13 points, he was almost flawless in the next four games.

11. Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets

This wasn't the most entertaining series, but it did have some drama. After trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets had no star to take them to the next level, allowing the Sixers to sweep them. The Nets had an interesting strategy for defending Joel Embiid, which worked, but they were beaten by other players. The outcome was expected.

10. New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

It was a difficult series to watch. Jalen Brunson outplayed Donovan Mitchell for the second straight postseason. Clevelenad's big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, struggled all series. In the end, the Cavaliers struggled to get past the Knicks, who closed the series in five games, per ESPN. This was expected to be a 50/50 series, but the Knicks were just too strong.

9. Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Suns were favorites to win the title before the playoffs. They lost Game 1 vs. the Clippers, but after Kawhi Leonard went down, it was only a matter of time before the Suns sealed their advance. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker won the next four games to advance to the second round. The result was expected, given Leonard and Paul George were out with injuries.

8. Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Celtics were one of the favorites before the playoffs. They played like a championship team in the first two games vs. the Hawks. However, their invincibility quickly evaporated after the Hawks won Games 3 and 5. The Celtics had enough to end the series in six games, per the Athletic, but as we found out later, they tend to get sloppy.

7. Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

After slaying favorites Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, the Heat proved why they can still hang with the best in the league. This matchup was similar to those grinding battles we saw in the 1990s. Jimmy Butler's return from injury made it more fun. He was able to help them close it in six games.

6. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

This was a fun series, but most of the fun was off the court. Dillon Brooks was the star of the show. He called LeBron James 'old', and refused to speak to the media when the Grizzlies lost. James may not have scored 40 points on him, but the Grizzlies did lose Game 6 by 40 points.

5. Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks

This was probably the biggest upset in the last few years. Of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with an injury, but this was a Jimmy Butler game. He scored 98 combined points in Games 4 and 5, where the Heat overcame double-digit deficits to stun the 2021 NBA champions. The Bucks became the sixth No. 1 seed to lose in the first round.

4. Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

This was an intriguing series. The 76ers stole Game 1, and many expected them to finally get over the hump. However, we've seen this play out so many times. They collapsed in Games 6 and 7, leaving them with plenty of questions with no answers. James Harden and Doc Rivers came up short in an eliminations game, while Joel Embiid was stifled in Game 7, as they exited the second round for the third season in a row, per CBS Sports.

3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors

This was billed as the Stephen Curry vs LeBron James game. Curry was great in the series, but his teammates let him down. James was decent, but Anthony Davis made all the difference. It was a tactical battle all series, which the rookie coach won in six games, per Bleacher Report.

2. Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets

The Suns' depth was tested in the series, and it fell short. Nikola Jokic dragged the Denver Nuggets to victory in six games. The Serbian averaged a 34.5-point triple-double, a performance Durant and Devin Booker couldn't overcome. It was another humiliating exit from the postseason by the Suns, per SI.

1. Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings

The Kings made their first playoff appearance in 16 years, and gave the defending champions a run for their money. They won the first two games, then lost the next three; they stunned the Warriors on the road in Game 6, before Stephen Curry's 50-point performance in Game 7 ended their postseason, per ESPN. There was also a Draymond Green suspension. This series had everything- a classic.

Jason Taytum breaks record

Stephen Curry's 50 points record lasted for only two weeks, before Celtics' Jayson Tatum scored 51 against the Sixers last Sunday.

Kevin Durant, Dominique Wilkins, and Sam Jones are the other players to score the most points in Game 7.