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

Oklahoma City has an opportunity 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 match.


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 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 guard 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 want to see anybody get harmed. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Morant. "You want everybody to be at full strength. He's a terrific competitor. 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 moving to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in video games where they routed by at least 27 points - until Thursday.


"Never surprised. Always impressed," Daigneault stated. "They just feel an unbelievable 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 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 lot of things right in Game 2 - groups in playoff video games were 76-0 all-time when scoring at least 112 points, making 16 threes, 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 capability to make huge plays down the stretch to fend off a Miami run. The Heat state Game 3 is a must-win, so anticipate a big push to open the video game. It ´ ll be a great test for Cleveland, which was fantastic 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: 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 complete 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 decade. (Excluding bubble games, the greatest road 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 routed 26-19 after 9 minutes of Game 1 - and outscored the Nuggets 98-57 the remainder of the way. 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 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 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 efficient? 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 games. The Rockets are just 2-8 because building, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference groups, ahead of just Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston has to love what it has actually done defensively so far in the series, holding the Warriors to 95 and 94 points in the first two matches. That's a clear pattern, with the Warriors being held under 100 points in 5 of their last six games against the Rockets. The combined numbers from those video 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 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 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 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 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 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 ridicule the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" during the 2nd 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)