The Oklahoma City Thunder didn`t just defeat the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday; they completely overwhelmed them.
Following an impressive regular season with 68 wins and a significant net rating, the Thunder carried their momentum into the playoffs, setting a new NBA record. Their 131-80 victory in the opening game marked the largest winning margin in an NBA playoff series opener. This win also stands as Oklahoma City`s most dominant playoff victory and Memphis`s most crushing playoff defeat.
Oklahoma City displayed superior performance on both offense and defense. During a pivotal nine-minute stretch in the first quarter, they outscored Memphis 40-9, making the Grizzlies appear outmatched. OKC effectively pressured Memphis`s perimeter game, contained players near the basket, and swiftly converted defensive stops into scoring opportunities.
Their play was forceful and unyielding.
Interestingly, this game wasn`t primarily driven by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP contender, who scored 15 points with 4-for-13 shooting, including 1-for-7 from three-point range, along with three rebounds and five assists in just 23 minutes. While Gilgeous-Alexander wasn`t ineffective—he notably blocked Zach Edey, who is 7-foot-4—his shooting performance was uncharacteristically off for such a consistent player. However, this is actually encouraging for the Thunder, highlighting their capability even when their star player isn`t at his peak.
Despite their regular-season success, questions lingered about the Thunder`s offensive consistency, especially after facing challenges in the previous playoffs. This game indicated that Gilgeous-Alexander has the necessary support.
Thunder`s Depth and Intense Defense Lead to Blowout Win
Game 1 served as a strong declaration: Oklahoma City`s defense is stifling, and their offense is multifaceted. Jalen Williams contributed 20 points on 10-for-16 shooting, along with five rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block in 21 minutes. Aaron Wiggins led the team with 21 points coming off the bench. Chet Holmgren added 19 points, shooting 5-for-11, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, with 10 rebounds and two blocks. Isaiah Hartenstein scored 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting, primarily in the first half, mostly through floaters, also adding five assists and a steal. Gilgeous-Alexander spent a significant portion of the first half`s scoring surge on the bench.
`That`s the essence of a team,` Thunder coach Mark Daigneault commented. `You shouldn`t rely too heavily on any single player. Lu Dort is an excellent defender, but our defense shouldn`t solely depend on his performance. Teamwork means supporting each other and compensating for individual shortcomings. The collective effort surpasses individual contributions, allowing everyone to stay engaged.`
`I observed that Shai wasn`t initially in rhythm with his shooting but remained committed to our game plan, playing exceptionally well overall, especially in the third quarter. He started the second half with clear purpose, making smart plays and setting up his teammates for shots. When they began to double-team him, he managed those situations effectively.`
In one play during the first quarter, Dort stumbled while defending Ja Morant but quickly recovered to block Morant`s shot, which directly led to a basket for Williams on the opposite end.
In the second quarter, even with Dort on the bench, the Thunder maintained a lineup featuring four defenders of All-Defense caliber: Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Williams, and Hartenstein. Their intense ball pressure, effective communication, and strong defensive rotations forced a shot clock violation.
`It’s challenging to go on a scoring run without consistently stopping the opposition,` Daigneault explained. `We need to emphasize this defensive aspect in all our games. It`s a major challenge for opponents when we are physically assertive, execute our strategies, and are fully engaged defensively.`
OKC Anticipates Stronger Grizzlies Performance in Game 2
Memphis struggled with 3-point shooting, making only 6 of 34 attempts (17.6%). However, coach Tuomas Iisalo pointed out that the more significant issue was their 24 turnovers. Consequently, Oklahoma City scored 27 fast break points, while the Grizzlies managed only five. Moving forward, OKC’s strong perimeter defense will continue to pressure Memphis, and the Grizzlies will face a crowded paint area.
For Game 2 on Tuesday, Memphis needs to improve their decision-making and find better scoring opportunities.
`Every situation has multiple perspectives; pressure and strong defensive shifts also create opportunities,` Iisalo stated. `These opportunities might be brief, but we must capitalize on them and leverage the game’s dynamics to our advantage.`
Morant acknowledged that the Grizzlies also need to enhance their defensive intensity. `They got many easy looks and essentially did whatever they wanted on the court,` he commented.
Despite the game feeling decisively in OKC’s favor before halftime of Game 1, they still need three more wins to secure the series.
`If we win on Tuesday, the series will be tied 1-1, and this game will be less significant,` Morant remarked.
Daigneault is cautious about overconfidence, noting that Memphis had an emotionally charged game on Friday and an early game on Sunday.
`They will perform much better in Game 2,` he predicted. `They will be more rested.`
The Grizzlies might be fresher on Tuesday and are now fully aware of what to expect from their opponents. However, if it were straightforward to exploit the Thunder’s aggressive play style, OKC wouldn`t have had such a successful regular season.
Jasper Hawthorne