Saturday's NBA Games: Cavaliers-Heat, Thunder-Grizzlies,
Oklahoma City has an opportunity to secure its area in Round 2. Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers can get to the doorstep of the second round. And the Houston-Golden State winner is going to have control of their matchup.
Those are the headings going into a quadruple-header of NBA playoff games on Saturday: Oklahoma City can sweep its series with a win at Memphis, Cleveland can take a 3-0 lead over Miami, the Clippers will go for a 3-1 edge when they host Denver and the nightcap is a Rockets-Warriors match in San Francisco with those teams tied at a video game each.
And there are some injury worries, particularly for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant took a bad fall that knocked him out of Game 3 versus Oklahoma City with a bruised hip - and assisted contribute to the rallying from a 29-point deficit - while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler likewise is handling the consequences of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.
"I never ever wish to see anybody get harmed. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated of Morant. "You desire everybody to be at complete strength. He's a fantastic competitor. He was playing fantastic. Obviously, that had something to do with the video game also. It 'd be incorrect of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, given that moving to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in games where they trailed by at least 27 points - up until Thursday.
"Never surprised. Always amazed," Daigneault said. "They just feel an incredible duty to one another."
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., right, attempts to get a loose ball ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) in the second half of Game 3 of an NBA first-round playoff series Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, 1 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series: Cavaliers lead, 2-0.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Cavaliers by 6.5.
What to Know: Miami did a great deal of things right in Game 2 - groups in championship game were 76-0 all-time when scoring a minimum of 112 points, making 16 threes, shooting 50% or much better from the field and holding their challenger to under 50% shooting. The Heat did all that and lost Game 2 anyhow, merely due to the fact that of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s ability to make huge plays down the stretch to ward off a Miami run. The Heat state Game 3 is a must-win, so expect a big push to open the game. It ´ ll be a good test for Cleveland, which was excellent on the roadway all year, to see how it manages a playoff road environment.
When/Where to Watch: Game 4, 3:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series: Thunder lead, 3-0.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Thunder by 14.5.
What to Know: Oklahoma City will have a chance to be the first string to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can round off a first-round sweep for the 2nd successive year after ousting New Orleans 4-0 last season. The 14.5-point spread, presuming it does not move before video game time, would be the largest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any road group in a playoff game over the last years. (Excluding bubble games, the biggest road favorites in the postseason since 2012 were San Antonio at Memphis in 2016 and Milwaukee at Detroit in 2019. Both were 12.5-point favorites and both covered). The challenge for Memphis will be how to fight back after losing a 29-point lead in Game 3.
When/Where to Watch: Game 4, 6 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Series: Clippers lead, 2-1.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Clippers by 5.5.
What to Know: The Clippers tracked 26-19 after 9 minutes of Game 1 - and outscored the Nuggets 98-57 the rest of the method. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had 37 of those final 57 points for Denver while their teammates combined to shoot 7-for-37 and rating just 20 points in those 39 minutes. That is all an obvious credit to the Clippers' defense, which has been an ignored story all season. Another increase for the Clippers out of that video game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't need to log big minutes; he played only 34. Denver has to get some shooting going in Game 4, after getting outscored 54-21 on 3-pointers in Game 3.
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, 8:30 p.m. EDT (ABC)
Series: Tied, 1-1.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Warriors by 2.5.
What to Know: Golden State forward Jimmy Butler's injury status is the big question entering into Game 3. And if he plays, can he work? The Warriors still have the upper hand in the series after getting a split of Games 1 and 2 in Houston and now come home to Chase Center - where they are 16-4 in playoff and play-in video games. The Rockets are only 2-8 because structure, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference groups, ahead of just Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston has to like what it has done defensively up until now in the series, holding the Warriors to 95 and 94 points in the first 2 matches. That's a clear pattern, with the Warriors being held under 100 points in five of their last 6 video games against the Rockets. The combined numbers from those video games: Rockets 582, Warriors 579, and each group going 3-3.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) manages the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) in the 2nd half of Game 3 of an NBA first-round playoff series Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) gestures after a 3 point basket in the very first half in Game 2 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) battles in the second half in Game 2 of an NBA first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, defend a loose ball with Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, and Rockets center Steven Adams during the 2nd half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Patty Mills, left, and Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett grab a loose ball throughout the second half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans taunt the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" throughout the second half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series versus the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)