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 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 aim for a 3-1 edge when they host Denver and the nightcap is a Rockets-Warriors match in San Francisco with those teams connected at a game each.
And there are some injury worries, especially for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies secure Ja Morant took a bad fall that knocked him out of Game 3 against 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 handling the consequences of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.
"I never desire to see any person get injured. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Morant. "You desire everyone to be at full strength. He's a fantastic rival. He was playing great. Obviously, that had something to do with the video game as well. It 'd be incorrect of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, considering that relocating to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in games where they tracked by a minimum of 27 points - up until Thursday.
"Never surprised. Always amazed," Daigneault said. "They just feel an astounding responsibility 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 great deal of things right in Game 2 - teams in championship game 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 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 fend off a Miami run. The Heat state Game 3 is a must-win, so expect a huge push to open the video game. It ´ ll be an excellent test for Cleveland, which was fantastic on the roadway all year, to see how it manages a playoff roadway 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 an opportunity to be the first string to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can complete 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 biggest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any road group in a championship game over the last decade. (Excluding bubble video games, the greatest roadway 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 tracked 26-19 after 9 minutes of Game 1 - and outscored the Nuggets 98-57 the remainder of the method. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had 37 of those last 57 points for Denver while their teammates combined to shoot 7-for-37 and score only 20 points in those 39 minutes. That is all an apparent credit to the Clippers' defense, which has actually been a neglected story all season. Another for the Clippers out of that game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't have to log big minutes; he played just 34. Denver needs 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 huge concern entering into Game 3. And if he plays, can he be reliable? 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 structure, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference groups, ahead of just Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston needs to like what it has actually 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 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 group 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 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 3 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 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, center, battles 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 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 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 tease the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" throughout 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)