Saturday's NBA Games: Cavaliers-Heat, Thunder-Grizzlies,
Oklahoma City has a possibility to secure its spot 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 matchup.
Those are the headings entering 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 will aim for a 3-1 edge when they host Denver and the nightcap is a Rockets-Warriors match in San Francisco with those groups tied at a game apiece.
And there are some injury worries, particularly for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies secure Ja Morant took a bad fall that knocked him out of Game 3 versus Oklahoma City with a bruised hip - and helped add to the Thunder rallying from a 29-point deficit - while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler likewise is dealing with the side effects of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.
"I never ever want to see anyone get hurt. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Morant. "You want everybody to be at full strength. He's an excellent competitor. He was playing great. Obviously, that had something to do with the video game too. It 'd be wrong of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, considering that moving to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in video games where they trailed by a minimum of 27 points - till Thursday.
"Never stunned. Always satisfied," Daigneault stated. "They simply feel an astounding 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 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 - groups in championship game were 76-0 all-time when scoring a minimum of 112 points, making 16 3s, 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 ability to make huge plays down the stretch to fend off a Miami run. The Heat say Game 3 is a must-win, so anticipate a big push to open the video game. It ´ ll be a good 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 chance to be the first group to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can end up off a first-round sweep for the 2nd consecutive year after ousting New Orleans 4-0 last season. The 14.5-point spread, assuming it does not move before game time, would be the largest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any road team in a championship game over the last years. (Excluding bubble games, the greatest road 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 obstacle 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 method. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had 37 of those last 57 points for Denver while their colleagues integrated to shoot 7-for-37 and rating only 20 points in those 39 minutes. That is all an obvious credit to the Clippers' defense, which has actually been an ignored story all season. Another increase for the Clippers out of that game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't have to log big minutes; he played just 34. Denver has 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 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 just 2-8 because building, the third-worst record among Western Conference groups, ahead of only Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston needs to like what it has done defensively up until now in the series, holding the Warriors to 95 and 94 points in the very first two matches. That's a clear pattern, with the Warriors being held under 100 points in 5 of their last 6 games versus the Rockets. The combined numbers from those games: Rockets 582, Warriors 579, and each group going 3-3.
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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 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 Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, and Rockets center Steven Adams throughout 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 taunt the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" during the second 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)