The NBA Playoffs delivered a wild Saturday slate, packed with drama, big performances, and some unforgettable finishes. Let’s break down each game with easy-to-follow highlights and fresh insights!
Cavaliers 124, Heat 87 (Cleveland leads 3-0)
Needing a win to stay alive, Miami instead suffered the worst playoff loss in franchise history. Despite Cleveland missing Darius Garland, the Cavaliers steamrolled the Heat from start to finish, leading by 20 after three quarters and cruising to a 37-point victory.
Hunter Steps Up Big
De’Andre Hunter came off the bench and exploded for 21 points, hitting 3-of-5 from deep. It was exactly the spark Cleveland needed in Garland’s absence, showcasing the depth they added at the trade deadline.
Tyler Herro, after being called out as a defensive target, flopped under the spotlight — scoring just 13 points on 5-for-13 shooting. After a 33-point outing in Game 2, this was a massive letdown when the Heat needed him most.
Cavs Frontcourt Takes Over
While Donovan Mitchell had a quiet night (13 points), Jarrett Allen and Max Strus picked up the slack. Allen dominated inside, tallying 22 points and cleaning up the glass, making Garland’s absence a non-issue for the night.
Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115 (Thunder win series 4-0)
Thunder Complete the Sweep
No miracle comeback was needed this time. The Thunder finished off the Grizzlies in a tight Game 4, advancing to Round 2 for the first time with this core. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with a monster night.
Shai Shows Why He’s an MVP Candidate
Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 38 points on 54% shooting, including a cold-blooded stepback jumper to seal the win. With Ja Morant sidelined, Shai’s brilliance was simply too much for Memphis to match.
Credit to the Grizzlies — even without their star, they fought. Rookie Scotty Pippen Jr. was heroic, putting up 30 points and 11 rebounds. But fouling out late doomed Memphis’ chances of forcing overtime.
Ugly Shooting Night, but Gritty Win
OKC was ice-cold from three (7-for-35), but they scrapped for extra possessions and leaned on their No. 1-ranked defense, forcing 21 Memphis turnovers. The Thunder showed they can win ugly when it counts.
Nuggets 101, Clippers 99 (Series tied 2-2)
Gordon’s Miracle Dunk at the Buzzer
In one of the wildest finishes imaginable, Aaron Gordon dunked Nikola Jokić’s missed three-pointer with milliseconds left to steal Game 4 for the Nuggets. After a long review, officials confirmed the dunk beat the buzzer — tying the series 2-2.
Down 22 points early in the fourth, the Clippers rallied with a stunning 32-9 run, briefly taking the lead. Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Norman Powell led the comeback, but it fell just short.
Jokić Joins Legends
Nikola Jokić posted an absurd stat line: 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists — his fourth career 30-20-5 playoff game. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have done that more. After the game, Shaq even argued Jokić deserves a spot among the top 5 centers ever.
Toughness on Display
Despite injuries to Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) and Gordon (calf), both gutted it out. Porter hit four crucial threes, while Gordon, heavily taped up, delivered the final exclamation point dunk.
This series is getting nasty. A near-fight at halftime led to six technical fouls being handed out, setting the stage for an even more physical Game 5.
Warriors 104, Rockets 93 (Golden State leads 2-1)
Curry Puts on a Clinic
No Jimmy Butler? No problem. Stephen Curry torched the Rockets for 36 points, carrying the Warriors after falling behind by double digits early. Curry hit big shot after big shot, eventually putting the game away in the fourth.
Houston Had No Answers
The Rockets tried everything to contain Curry — double teams, help defense, physicality — but nothing worked. Chasing Curry for 48 minutes is still one of the toughest jobs in sports.
Gary Payton II added 16 points on a hyper-efficient night, while Jonathan Kuminga provided key defensive plays. Head coach Steve Kerr even shuffled the lineup, starting rookie Quinten Post to shake things up.
Draymond vs. Jalen Green
After the final buzzer, Draymond Green and Jalen Green had words at midcourt. Draymond’s savage parting shot? Telling Jalen to “go paint your nails.” Vintage Draymond.
Looking Ahead
The Warriors will enjoy a day’s rest before Game 4 on Monday night. Meanwhile, Butler is racing the clock to try and return — but even if he does, Houston now faces a steep uphill battle.
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