Saturday NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers Extend Series Lead, Playoffs Intensity Builds

Saturday NBA Playoffs: Cavaliers Extend Series Lead, Playoffs Intensity Builds
Grzegorz
Grzegorzabout 2 months ago

The NBA playoffs heated up on Saturday with a full slate of games featuring four first-round matchups, predominantly from the Western Conference. Over in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers seized the opportunity to go 3-0 up in their series against the Miami Heat.

Saturday presented two pivotal Game 4s. The Oklahoma City Thunder aimed to complete a clean sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Los Angeles Clippers sought to secure a commanding 3-1 advantage over the Denver Nuggets.

The day wrapped up with a showdown between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, both vying to gain the upper hand and lead their series 2-1.

  • Cavaliers 124, Heat 87, Game 3
  • Thunder (1) at Grizzlies (8), Game 4 - 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Nuggets (4) at Clippers (5), Game 4 - 6 p.m. ET
  • Rockets (2) at Warriors (7), Game 3 - 8:30 p.m. ET

Be sure to explore Yahoo Sports’ forecasts for each first-round battle alongside Kevin O’Connor’s assessment of the top 40 players currently shining in the NBA playoffs.

Here’s a recap of the outcomes and highlights from Saturday’s action:

Cavaliers 124, Heat 87

In desperate need of a victory to avoid a daunting 0-3 position, the Miami Heat faced off against the Cavaliers on Saturday. This seemed their best chance to clinch a win with Cleveland’s second-leading scorer, Darius Garland, out of the game.

Yet, Miami fell drastically short, suffering a heavy home-court defeat, 124-87. By the end of the third quarter, Cleveland had increased their lead to an overwhelming 22 points.

De’Andre Hunter Steps Up in Garland’s Absence Sam Merrill stepped into Garland’s spot in the starting lineup but struggled to make an impact. Fortunately for Cleveland, De’Andre Hunter rose to the occasion, delivering his most impressive scoring display of the playoffs. Hunter came off the bench to score 21 points, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Though much still lies ahead in the playoffs, Hunter provided the exact lift Cleveland anticipated when they acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks just before the trade deadline. With this added resilience, the Cavaliers seem well-prepared for extended post-season battles against formidable foes like the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.

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