The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to punch their ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs after edging the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 on Saturday, completing a 4-0 series sweep.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 38 points, shaking off earlier struggles to reassert his dominance. He nailed 13 of 24 shots, setting the tone with 16 points in the first quarter. Jalen Williams added 23 points as the Thunder fended off a late Memphis rally, despite missing Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant, who sat out with a hip contusion.
Scotty Pippen Jr. (30 points), Santi Aldama, and Desmond Bane (23 points each) kept Memphis close, but without Morant, the Grizzlies couldn’t muster enough firepower to extend the series.
The Thunder, who topped the league with 68 regular-season wins, now await the winner of the Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers matchup.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the Nuggets dramatically tied their series 2-2 with a stunning 101-99 win thanks to Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beating put-back dunk.
Nikola Jokic delivered a monster performance with 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Nuggets blew a 22-point lead but rallied late as Gordon’s final shot, confirmed after a tense video review, sealed the win.
The Clippers had clawed ahead briefly behind Kawhi Leonard (24 points) and Norman Powell (22 points), but Denver’s resilience forced a critical Game 5.
Out east, the Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of advancing after destroying the Miami Heat 124-87, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Despite missing Darius Garland and getting just 13 points from Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland dominated, with Jarrett Allen (22 points) and De’Andre Hunter (21 off the bench) leading six Cavs in double figures.
Miami’s Bam Adebayo posted 22 points, but the 37-point defeat marked the worst playoff loss in Heat franchise history, surpassing their 36-point blowout loss in the 2013 NBA Finals.
Finally, in San Francisco, Stephen Curry overcame a slow start to post 36 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, lifting the Golden State Warriors to a 104-93 victory over the Houston Rockets and a 2-1 series lead.
After trailing briefly, the Warriors took over late, fueled by a surge from Gary Payton II, who hit four consecutive baskets and set up Curry for a dagger three-pointer.
The Warriors earned the hard-fought win despite missing star forward Jimmy Butler, sidelined with a pelvic contusion from Game 2.
