Photo credit: www.foxnews.com
Thunder Dominate Grizzlies in Playoff Opener
The Oklahoma City Thunder nearly made NBA history with their overwhelming victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their playoff series on Sunday afternoon.
With a final score of 131-80, the Thunder came only seven points shy of recording the worst playoff loss in league history. This record remains with the New Orleans Hornets, who endured a 121-63 defeat against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2009 playoffs.
Oklahoma City’s commanding performance marked the fifth-largest margin of victory in NBA playoff history. The team showcased exceptional ball movement and shot efficiency, shooting 50.5% from the field and converting 14 of 15 free throw attempts.
On the other hand, the Grizzlies faced significant challenges, posting a shooting percentage of just 34.4% for the game, which included a dismal 6-of-34 performance from beyond the arc. The team’s stars struggled throughout, with Jaren Jackson Jr. managing only 2-for-13 shooting, Ja Morant at 6-for-17, and Desmond Bane scoring 3-for-12. Notably, Morant was the only starter to score in double digits.
Oklahoma City’s depth proved crucial as well, with Aaron Wiggins leading all scorers off the bench with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including four three-pointers. Every Thunder starter finished the game with double-digit points, highlighted by Jalen Williams with 20 points, Chet Holmgren with 19, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributing 15 despite a shooting percentage of just 30.8% from the field.
Defensively, the Thunder excelled by forcing 22 turnovers, in stark contrast to their own 15, which significantly contributed to their dominance in the game. As the match concluded, both teams rested their starters, with the fourth quarter reflecting a pedestrian scoring pace—in which Oklahoma City scored just 19 points against Memphis’ 17.
Oklahoma City, which secured the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs with an impressive 68-14 record during the regular season, demonstrated their potential as a formidable contender in this postseason showdown.
Source
www.foxnews.com