1 week Ago By Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 on Saturday (Sunday, April 27, 2025, PH time) to complete a four-game sweep. Jalen Williams added 23 points for the top-seeded Thunder, who led the NBA with a 68-14 record this season and became the first team to reach the second round.
They will await the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets or No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers in the next round. Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Isaiah Joe had 11 points apiece for the Thunder, with Hartenstein adding 12 rebounds.
Scotty Pippen Jr. matched his career high with 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama had 23 points apiece.
The game was close through three quarters with neither team building a significant advantage. Oklahoma City led 88-85 entering the fourth. At that point, the Thunder were 4 of 29 from 3-point range.
Williams’ 3-pointer with 5:41 left in the game gave the Thunder a 102-92 lead, the first time either team reached a double-digit advantage. Memphis rallied and a 3-pointer from Bane with 7.1 seconds left cut it to 116-114.
Williams split a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left and the Thunder fouled Bane intentionally. He made the first but Memphis could not rebound his intentional miss of the second. Gordon’s dunk INGLEWOOD, Calif.
— Aaron Gordon slammed down Nikola Jokic’s miss as time expired to lift the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 and tie their playoff series 2-2. Video review confirmed the ball left Gordon’s hands above the rim just before the buzzer sounded after the Nuggets had blown a 22-point lead. Jokic had 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists to lead the Nuggets.
Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun had 17 points apiece. Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points for the Clippers.
Norman Powell added 22 and Ivica Zubac had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Warriors 104, Rockets 93 SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry eventually found his shooting groove while Houston tried everything to stop him, finishing with 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Rockets 104-93 without Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Playoff Steph delivered, while Playoff Jimmy became his biggest cheerleader on the bench — in a full-length fur coat.
Buddy Hield had 17 points off the bench with five 3-pointers as the Warriors won their sixth straight Game 3 in the opening round. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Cavs 124, Heat 87 MIAMI — Jarrett Allen scored 22 points, De’Andre Hunter added 21, and the Cleveland Cavaliers handed Miami its worst-ever playoff loss by topping the Heat 124-87 for a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Evan Mobley scored 19 and Max Strus added 18 for Cleveland, which got 13 points apiece from Ty Jerome and Donovan Mitchell. Bam Adebayo scored 22 and Davion Mitchell added 16 for Miami. The worst Heat playoff loss, before Saturday, was a 36-point defeat in Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals at San Antonio.
/ AP.
