Oklahoma City Thunder Dominate Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Playoffs, Making History
The Oklahoma City Thunder made an emphatic statement in their NBA playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, taking Game 1 by a historic margin. The Thunder routed the Grizzlies, 131-80, on Sunday afternoon, chalking up the seventh-worst defeat in NBA playoffs history and the largest in the first round of any postseason.
NBA.com:
“We came out and played like we were supposed to play and got a great win,” said OKC coach Mark Daigneault.
Thunder’s Impressive Performance
- The Thunder shot 50.5% (50-99) from the field and 86.7% (13-15) from the free-throw line.
- They forced 22 turnovers by the Grizzlies compared to their 15 giveaways.
- All five Thunder starters scored in double figures, led by Jalen Williams with 20 points.
Grizzlies Struggle on Both Ends
The Grizzlies shot a dismal 34.4% (31-90) from the field and 25.9% (6-23) from the three-point line. None of their stars played particularly well, with Ja Morant leading the way with 18 points on 6-17 shooting.
History in the Making
The Thunder’s victory ties for the fifth-largest margin of victory in NBA playoff history. The worst playoff defeat in NBA history remains the 58-point destruction of the Cleveland Cavaliers by the Golden State Warriors in 2018.
Looking Ahead
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Memphis. The Grizzlies will be eager to respond and tie the series, while the Thunder will look to maintain their dominance and take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Did you know?
The Thunder’s last playoff victory by more than 50 points was an 82-point demolition of the Houston Rockets in the 2017 Western Conference Finals (115-33).
Pro tip for Grizzlies fans:
Don’t fret just yet. The Grizzlies can still turn things around. In 2019, the Warriors lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors by 16 points and went on to win the series 4-2.
FAQs
- Who are the Thunder’s leading scorer(s) in Game 1?
- Jalen Williams (20 points), Chet Holmgren (19), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (15) were the Thunder’s leading scorers.
- What was the game’s turning point?
- The Thunder opened the game with a 35-14 run and never looked back.
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