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 second round. And the Houston-Golden State winner is going to have control of their match.


Those are the headings 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 go for a 3-1 edge when they host Denver and the nightcap is a Rockets-Warriors matchup in San Francisco with those teams connected at a game each.


And there are some injury concerns, 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 add to the Thunder rallying from a 29-point deficit - while Warriors forward Jimmy Butler also is dealing with the consequences of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.


"I never want to see anybody get harmed. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Morant. "You want everyone to be at full strength. He's an excellent rival. He was playing excellent. Obviously, that had something to do with the game also. It 'd be wrong of me not to acknowledge that."


The Thunder, because moving to Oklahoma City, were 0-95 in games where they tracked by at least 27 points - up until Thursday.


"Never shocked. Always satisfied," Daigneault stated. "They simply feel an amazing duty 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 a minimum of 112 points, making 16 threes, shooting 50% or much better from the field and holding their challenger to under 50% shooting. The Heat did all that and lost Game 2 anyway, simply since of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s ability to make substantial plays down the stretch to ward 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 terrific on the road all year, to see how it manages a playoff roadway atmosphere.


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 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 roadway team in a championship game over the last years. (Excluding bubble 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 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 rest 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 rating only 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 increase 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 big concern 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 video games. The Rockets are just 2-8 in that structure, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference groups, ahead of only Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston has to enjoy what it has actually done defensively up until now in the series, holding the Warriors to 95 and 94 points in the very first two matches. That's a clear trend, with the being held under 100 points in 5 of their last six 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 three point basket in the very 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 second 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 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 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 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)