Saturday's NBA Games: Cavaliers-Heat, Thunder-Grizzlies,
Oklahoma City has a chance to protect 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 headlines going into a quadruple-header of NBA championship game 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 matchup in San Francisco with those groups tied at a game apiece.
And there are some injury concerns, particularly for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies safeguard Ja Morant took a bad fall that knocked him out of Game 3 against Oklahoma City with a bruised hip - and helped contribute to the Thunder rallying from a 29-point deficit - while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler also is handling the effects of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.
"I never want to see anyone get harmed. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated of Morant. "You want everyone to be at complete strength. He's a fantastic competitor. He was playing fantastic. Obviously, that had something to do with the game as well. It 'd be incorrect of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, because transferring to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in games where they routed by a minimum of 27 points - up until Thursday.
"Never surprised. Always amazed," Daigneault said. "They just feel an amazing duty to one another."
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., right, tries 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 lot of things right in Game 2 - groups in playoff video games were 76-0 all-time when scoring at least 112 points, making 16 3s, shooting 50% or much better from the field and holding their opponent to under 50% . The Heat did all that and lost Game 2 anyway, merely due to the fact that of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s capability to make huge plays down the stretch to ward off a Miami run. The Heat state Game 3 is a must-win, so anticipate a big push to open the game. It ´ ll be a great test for Cleveland, which was terrific on the roadway all year, to see how it handles a playoff road atmosphere.
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 possibility to be the very first team 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 roadway group in a playoff video game over the last decade. (Excluding bubble video games, the most significant road favorites in the postseason given that 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 combat 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 trailed 26-19 after 9 minutes of Game 1 - and outscored the Nuggets 98-57 the rest of the way. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had 37 of those final 57 points for Denver while their teammates integrated 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 actually been an overlooked story all season. Another boost for the Clippers out of that game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't have to log big minutes; he played only 34. Denver needs to get some shooting entering 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 concern going 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 games. The Rockets are just 2-8 in that structure, the third-worst record among Western Conference groups, ahead of only Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston has to like what it has actually done defensively so far in the series, holding the Warriors to 95 and 94 points in the very first 2 matches. That's a clear pattern, with the Warriors being held under 100 points in 5 of their last 6 video games versus 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 versus 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 three 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) duels in the 2nd 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, fights for 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 2nd 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 tease the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" throughout the 2nd 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)