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

Oklahoma City has a chance 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 matchup.


Those are the headings 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 teams tied at a game apiece.


And there are some injury concerns, especially for Memphis and Golden State. Grizzlies safeguard 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 likewise is handling the aftereffects of a fall that knocked him out of Game 2 in Houston.


"I never wish to see anybody get hurt. I hope he's OK," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Morant. "You desire everybody to be at complete strength. He's a fantastic competitor. He was playing great. Obviously, that had something to do with the game as well. It 'd be incorrect of me not to acknowledge that."


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


"Never stunned. Always pleased," Daigneault stated. "They simply feel an incredible obligation 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 threes, shooting 50% or much better from the field and holding their opponent to under 50% shooting. The Heat did all that and lost Game 2 anyway, merely because of Cleveland ´ s barrage of 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell ´ s ability to make substantial plays down the stretch to fend 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 a good test for Cleveland, which was on the road 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 very first team to reach Round 2 of the playoffs, plus can round 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 doesn't move before game time, would be the biggest according to BetMGM Sportsbook for any road team in a playoff video 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 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 way. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had 37 of those final 57 points for Denver while their colleagues combined to shoot 7-for-37 and score only 20 points in those 39 minutes. That is all an obvious 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 has 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 question entering into Game 3. And if he plays, can he work? 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 building, the third-worst record amongst Western Conference groups, ahead of just Utah (2-9) and Portland (1-9). Houston needs 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 five of their last six games versus 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) 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 3 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 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 throughout 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 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 tease the Denver Nuggets from "The Wall" throughout 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)