Oklahoma City has a chance to protect its spot 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 match.
Those are the headings entering into a quadruple-header of NBA playoff video games on Saturday: 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 matchup in San Francisco with those groups tied at a game each.
And there are some injury worries, especially 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 helped add to the Thunder rallying from a 29-point deficit - while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler also is dealing with the side effects of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.
"I never wish to see anybody get injured. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated of Morant. "You want everyone to be at full strength. He's an excellent competitor. He was playing terrific. Obviously, that had something to do with the video game as well. It 'd be wrong of me not to acknowledge that."
The Thunder, because transferring to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in video games where they tracked by at least 27 points - until Thursday.
"Never shocked. Always amazed," Daigneault said. "They simply feel an incredible duty 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 lot of things right in Game 2 - groups 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 anyway, just due to the fact that of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s ability to make big plays down the stretch to ward off a Miami run. The Heat say Game 3 is a must-win, so anticipate a huge push to open the game. It ´ ll be a good test for Cleveland, which was fantastic on the roadway all year, to see how it deals with a playoff road 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 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 game time, would be the biggest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any roadway group in a playoff video game over the last years. (Excluding bubble video games, the most significant 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 routed 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 final 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 an ignored story all season. Another boost for the Clippers out of that video game was how Kawhi Leonard didn't need to log huge minutes; he played only 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 going 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 among Western Conference groups, ahead of just Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston has to love what it has done defensively so far in the series, holding the Warriors to 95 and 94 points in the very first 2 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 group going 3-3.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) deals with 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 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) 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, defend a loose ball with Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, and Rockets center Steven Adams throughout 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 reach for 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" 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)