Saturday's NBA Games: Cavaliers-Heat, Thunder-Grizzlies,
Oklahoma City has a possibility to protect its spot 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 entering into a quadruple-header of NBA playoff video 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 matchup in San Francisco with those teams connected at a game each.
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 versus Oklahoma City with a bruised hip - and helped contribute to the Thunder rallying from a 29-point deficit - while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler likewise is handling the aftereffects 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 an excellent rival. He was playing great. Obviously, that had something to do with the video game also. It 'd be incorrect of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, because moving to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in games where they tracked by a minimum of 27 points - till Thursday.
"Never surprised. Always impressed," Daigneault stated. "They just feel an incredible responsibility 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 playoff video games were 76-0 all-time when scoring a minimum of 112 points, making 16 threes, shooting 50% or better from the field and holding their challenger to under 50% shooting. The Heat did all that and lost Game 2 anyhow, just since of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s capability to make substantial plays down the stretch to fend off a Miami run. The Heat say Game 3 is a must-win, so expect a big push to open the video game. It ´ ll be a great test for Cleveland, which was excellent on the roadway all year, to see how it deals with 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 an opportunity to be the first team to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can round off a first-round sweep for the 2nd consecutive year after ousting New Orleans 4-0 last season. The 14.5-point spread, presuming it does not move before game time, would be the biggest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any roadway group in a playoff game over the last decade. (Excluding bubble games, the greatest roadway favorites in the postseason given that 2012 were San Antonio at Memphis in 2016 and Milwaukee at in 2019. Both were 12.5-point favorites and both covered). The obstacle 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 routed 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 last 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 a neglected story all season. Another boost for the Clippers out of that video game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't need to log huge 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 huge 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 video games. The Rockets are only 2-8 because structure, the third-worst record among Western Conference teams, ahead of just Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston needs to love what it has 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 trend, with the Warriors being held under 100 points in 5 of their last 6 video games against the Rockets. The combined numbers from those games: Rockets 582, Warriors 579, and each team going 3-3.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) deals with 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 2nd half in Game 2 of an NBA first-round playoff series versus 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 versus 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 reach for a loose ball during 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 ridicule the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" during the 2nd half in Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)