The NBA playoffs continued on Saturday with four first-round matchups, three in the Western Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Miami Heat in the East.
In the two Game 4s on Saturday, the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Los Angeles Clippers aimed to secure a 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets.
Today’s playoff action concludes with the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets vying for a 2-1 series lead.
For comprehensive predictions on each first-round series and Kevin O’Connor’s rankings of the top 40 players in the NBA postseason, head over to Yahoo Sports.
Here are the highlights and main takeaways from Saturday’s games:
Thunder 117, Grizzlies 115
The Thunder sealed the deal against the Grizzlies with a victory in Game 4 on Saturday, securing the win without the need for a 29-point comeback.
Despite missing star point guard Ja Morant, who was sidelined with a hip injury, Memphis put up a fight throughout the game. Shai Gilgeous Alexander led the charge for Oklahoma City with 38 points, maintaining control of the game even as the Grizzlies stayed within reach until the final moments.
Memphis can take solace in the fact that this loss was the least embarrassing of the series for them.
OKC now advances to face the winner of the Nuggets-Clippers series in the Western Conference semifinals, having posted a 4-0 record against the Clippers in the regular season and a 2-2 record against the Nuggets.
Cavaliers 124, Heat 87
In a must-win situation for the Heat to avoid falling behind 3-0, Miami failed to capitalize on the absence of Cavaliers’ second-leading scorer Darius Garland.
The Cavaliers dominated the game, securing a 20-point lead that extended to 22 points by the end of the third quarter. Miami’s coach Erik Spoelstra decided to rest key players in the final minutes, looking ahead to Game 4 in hopes of avoiding a series sweep.
De’Andre Hunter Steps Up in Garland’s Absence
De’Andre Hunter delivered a standout performance off the bench, compensating for Garland’s absence with 21 points, including three 3-pointers. His contribution highlighted the depth of talent that the Cavaliers possess, a valuable asset in a prolonged playoff series against teams like the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.
Tyler Herro’s Struggles
Tyler Herro, who refuted claims of being a weak defender, struggled in Saturday’s game, scoring only 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting. His underwhelming performance was compounded by a strong defensive effort from the Cavaliers’ backcourt, possibly aided by Garland’s absence.
Cavaliers’ Frontcourt Shines
Despite missing Garland’s scoring prowess, the Cavaliers’ frontcourt stepped up, with Jarrett Allen leading the charge with 22 points and nine rebounds. Allen’s strong performance, coupled with solid defense against Heat’s key players, secured a pivotal win for Cleveland.
— Ian Casselberry