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Starting for the injured Nikola Jokic, Jordan was outstanding against his former team. The veteran center posted an efficient double-double with five assists, scoring 20 points in a game for the first time since March 24, 2019 as a member of the Knicks. And you have to go even further back for his last game with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists: March 13, 2018 as a member of the Clippers (29/18/5/1/2 vs. Chicago). Nights like this aren’t going to be commonplace for Jordan, as he backs up the best player in the NBA today. But Monday’s effort was a welcome reminder of what he’s capable of doing on nights when the two-time MVP isn’t available.

After scoring 27 and 23 points in the first two games of the series, James was limited to 19 on 19 shots in Game 3. He’s managed to keep the turnovers in check, committing eight through three games, but the Lakers’ overall struggles in that category have been costly. Oklahoma City scored 30 points off 16 Lakers turnovers in Game 3, turning a competitive game into a second-half blowout. James and the Lakers will look to avoid a sweep when they host Game 4 on Monday.

Reaves got off to an excellent start regarding his playmaking, as he recorded eight first-half assists. Unfortunately for him and the Lakers, the well dried up in the second half. Oklahoma City ramped things up defensively, and the Lakers turned the ball over at a higher rate than they did in the first half. As for Reaves, he accounted for just five points and one assist after halftime. Simply put, that won’t get the job done, especially with Luka Dončić (hamstring) unavailable. The Lakers will need a win on Monday to avoid getting swept.

As has been the case for the Lakers throughout this series, Game 3 was a tale of two halves. Taking a lead into the intermission for the second consecutive game, the Lakers were outscored 74-49 in the second half. And after scoring 16 points in the first half, Hachimura was limited to five in the second half. With Luka Dončić (hamstring) not close to a return, the Lakers need more consistent production from Hachimura if they’re to extend the series. The Lakers will look to avoid getting swept with a Game 4 victory on Monday night.

Despite being without Jalen Williams (hamstring) since Game 2 of their first-round series against Phoenix, the Thunder have not skipped a beat. And they’ve got Mitchell to thank for that. The second-year guard, who was out injured for the team’s run to the title last spring, has scored at least 15 points in each of the five games he’s started this postseason. Mitchell finished Game 3 with playoff career-highs in points and assists, and he’s scored at least 20 points in three of his five starts. Oklahoma City holding a 3-0 series lead removes any urgency to get J-Dub back on the court, especially with Mitchell playing as well as he has.

Holmgren was one of seven Thunder players, five being starters, to finish the 131-108 victory in double figures. While he could not extend his streak of games with at least 20 points to four, the Thunder forward/center was once again impactful on both ends of the floor. Isaiah Hartenstein also played well, contributing 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal. With Saturday’s victory, the Thunder became the first defending champion since Cleveland in 2017 to start the following postseason with seven consecutive victories.

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have a great game shooting the basketball, as he finished Game 3 shooting 4-of-13 from inside the arc. However, the reigning league MVP’s struggles were not an issue for Oklahoma City, which outscored the Lakers 74-49 after halftime. Game 3 played out similarly to Game 2, as the Thunder’s ability to capitalize on the Lakers’ turnovers proved decisive. Oklahoma City scored 30 points off 16 Lakers turnovers and was a plus-19 in that category. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will look to close out the series on Monday night.

Kerr’s future with the Warriors was one of the major storylines for the franchise this season, and that has reportedly been addressed. The head coach has led the Warriors to four NBA championships, the most recent being won in 2022. Getting a healthy Jimmy Butler back in the mix will help matters, but he’s likely to miss the start of the 2026-27 season after suffering a torn ACL in mid-January. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are under contract for next season, while Kristaps Porziņǵis will be an unrestricted free agent and De’Anthony Melton has a player option.

Initially questionable, Vanderbilt is back after sitting out Thursday’s Game 2 defeat. He’ll provide added frontcourt depth off the bench but is unlikely to get the run needed to be an impact player for manager in playoff fantasy leagues.

Robinson has provided the Pistons with consistent perimeter shooting in their second-round series, having knocked down 14 of his 24 three-point attempts through three games. In Game 3, he provided welcome bonuses in the form of four assists and five steals, with the latter number being a playoff career-high. While Robinson may not be a priority for the Cavaliers defensively, they certainly understand the need to account for his presence in the Pistons’ lineup. Detroit will look to extend its series lead with a win in Game 4 on Monday.

Harris continues to provide reliable scoring, having now scored 20 points or more in each of his last eight games. The Pistons’ forward shot the ball well in Game 3, making 50 percent of his attempts from the field overall. However, Harris recorded no assists or defensive stats after being responsible for two steals and two blocks in Detroit’s Game 2 victory. With Jalen Duren (11/4/1/2) and Ausar Thompson (nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks) continuing to underwhelm, this places more pressure on Harris to perform.