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 matchup.
Those are the headlines entering 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 intend for a 3-1 edge when they host Denver and the nightcap is a Rockets-Warriors matchup in San Francisco with those groups tied at a game apiece.
And there are some injury concerns, especially for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies protect 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 side effects of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.
"I never wish 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 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 - until Thursday.
"Never surprised. Always amazed," Daigneault stated. "They just 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 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 - teams in playoff games were 76-0 all-time when scoring at least 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, just because of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s ability to make big 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 game. It ´ ll be a great test for Cleveland, which was excellent on the road all year, to see how it deals with 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 possibility to be the very first group to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can complete off a first-round sweep for the second successive 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 playoff video game over the last years. (Excluding bubble 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 difficulty 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 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 apparent credit to the Clippers' defense, which has been an ignored story all season. Another increase for the Clippers out of that game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't need to log big minutes; he played only 34. Denver needs 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 going 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 only 2-8 because structure, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference teams, ahead of only Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston needs to love what it has done defensively up until now 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 6 games versus 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) manages 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 versus 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 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 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 grab a loose ball during 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 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)