Saturday's NBA Games: Cavaliers-Heat, Thunder-Grizzlies,

Oklahoma City has an opportunity 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 matchup.


Those are the headlines 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 match in San Francisco with those groups connected at a video 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 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 consequences of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.


"I never ever want to see anyone get harmed. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Morant. "You want everybody to be at complete strength. He's an excellent competitor. He was playing excellent. Obviously, that had something to do with the video game as well. It 'd be incorrect of me not to acknowledge that."


The Thunder, because moving to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in video games where they trailed by a minimum of 27 points - until Thursday.


"Never shocked. Always amazed," Daigneault said. "They simply feel an astounding obligation 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 playoff games 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 opponent to under 50% shooting. The Heat did all that and lost Game 2 anyhow, merely 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 big push to open the video game. It ´ ll be a great test for Cleveland, which was terrific on the roadway all year, to see how it handles 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 a chance to be the first group 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 game time, would be the biggest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any roadway team in a championship game over the last years. (Excluding bubble video games, the biggest 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 remainder of the method. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had 37 of those last 57 points for Denver while their colleagues combined to shoot 7-for-37 and score just 20 points in those 39 minutes. That is all an obvious 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 big minutes; he played only 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 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 in that structure, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference teams, ahead of just 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 first 2 matches. That's a clear trend, with the Warriors being held under 100 points in 5 of their last six video games versus the Rockets. The combined numbers from those video games: Rockets 582, 579, and each group going 3-3.


AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba


Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) handles 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 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, battles 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 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 taunt the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" throughout 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)