Saturday's NBA Games: Cavaliers-Heat, Thunder-Grizzlies,
Oklahoma City has a possibility to protect its area in Round 2. Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers can get to the doorstep of the 2nd round. And the Houston-Golden State winner is going to have control of their match.
Those are the headings going 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 groups connected at a video game each.
And there are some injury concerns, particularly for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies protect Ja Morant took a bad fall that knocked him out of Game 3 against Oklahoma City with a bruised hip - and assisted contribute to the Thunder 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 injured. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated of Morant. "You want everyone to be at complete strength. He's an excellent rival. He was playing great. Obviously, that had something to do with the game as well. It 'd be wrong of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, considering that transferring to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in video games where they trailed by a minimum of 27 points - till Thursday.
"Never stunned. Always pleased," Daigneault said. "They just feel an incredible obligation 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 2nd 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 - teams in championship game were 76-0 all-time when scoring at least 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 because of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s capability to make big plays down the stretch to fend off a Miami run. The Heat say Game 3 is a must-win, so expect a huge push to open the video game. It ´ ll be a great test for Cleveland, which was fantastic on the road all year, to see how it handles a playoff roadway 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 first string to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can round off a first-round sweep for the second consecutive year after ousting New Orleans 4-0 last season. The 14.5-point spread, assuming it doesn't move before video game time, would be the biggest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any roadway group in a championship game over the last years. (Excluding bubble video games, the greatest roadway favorites in the postseason because 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 tracked 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 integrated to shoot 7-for-37 and rating only 20 points in those 39 minutes. That is all an apparent credit to the Clippers' defense, which has been an overlooked story all season. Another increase for the Clippers out of that game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't have to log huge minutes; he played just 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 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 just 2-8 because building, the third-worst record among Western Conference teams, ahead of only Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston needs to enjoy what it has actually done defensively up until now 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 five 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 versus Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) 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)
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 versus 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 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 Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, and Rockets center Steven Adams during the second 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 tease 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)