Oklahoma City had the best NBA record this season, and the Thunder showed why in match 1 in its first -round eliminatory series against Memphis on Sunday.
The Thunder opened the second quarter with a 19-2 sequence, transforming a solid lead into flight. At the end of half-time, the edge of OKC had increased to 68-36, and at the end of the third, it was 112-63-and it was only close because Marvin Bagley III pierced a half-terrain drummer. The last period was waste time, the Thunder passed on to a 131-80 victory.
It was the biggest margin of victory in a match 1 in the history of the NBA qualifiers, and the fifth largest margin of any match in the playoffs.
Playoff games with more than 50 point margins
|
Margin |
Winning team |
Losing team |
Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
58 (121-63) |
Denver Nuggets |
New Orleans Hornets |
April 27, 2009 |
|
58 (133-75) |
Minneapolis Lakers |
Hawks of St. Louis |
March 19, 1956 |
|
56 (126-70) |
Los Angeles Lakers |
Golden State Warriors |
April 21, 1973 |
|
54 (120-66) |
Chicago Bulls |
Milwaukee Bucks |
April 30, 2015 |
|
51 (131-80) |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
Memphis Grizzlies |
April 20, 2025 |
|
50 (136-86) |
Milwaukee Bucks |
San Francisco warriors |
April 4, 1971 |
Perhaps the most impressive of the domination of the Thunder was the relative lack of impact of the OKC star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 15 seasons of season 4 for 13. Gilgeous-Alexander collected an average of 32.7 points per game in regular season.
In other action measures, magic visits the Celtics (live now on ABC), the riders welcome heat (7 p.m. HE on TNT), and the Rockets face the Warriors (9:30 p.m. HE on TNT).
Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80
Thunder has shown how frightening they can be
If there were questions about the question of whether the dominant regular season of Oklahoma City would result in the playoffs, the Thunder offered an almost historic performance in match 1, putting the league in opinion at what extent they could be loaded and fatal in these qualifying series.
Oklahoma City led by 56 points, establishing almost an NBA record for the biggest margin of victory in a eliminatory match. The Denver Nuggets in 2009 and the Minneapolis Lakers in 1956, each won 58 -point qualifying matches. The Differential DOTURS OF +12.9 of Thunder in the regular season has set an NBA record.
The Thunder led 32 points at halftime, holding the grizzlies at 33% shooting at this stage, and only 34% for the match. Six Thunder players scored two figures, led by the 21 points of Aaron Wiggins on the bench. Oklahoma City pulled 50% and preceded the 27-5 grizzleas in fast break points. The Thunder forced the star of the Grizzlies, Ja more, as a passer and perimeter shooter, holding him at 17 points on a shot 6 for 17 and 1 for 6 on 3 points. The Grizzlies striker, Jaren Jackson Jr., was held at four points and three rebounds on shot 2 for 13. – Darnell Mayberry
After an inexcusable effort, the belief of the grizzlies in themselves will be tested
There are a variety of words that can be used to describe the performance of grizzly parts in the game 1. Word. Embarrassing. Without inspiration. Nauseous. Whatever you describe it, he will be sure that one of the most unbalanced losses in the history of the NBA.
There is no doubt that the Grizzlies were placed in a horrible position, having to play the best team in the League, only 36 hours after leaving the game tournament, while while the moving star player always recalls a serious sprained of the right ankle that he suffered at the beginning of the week.
Although this could be true, it was always an inexcusable lack of effort and concentration of a team from Memphis who, at one point earlier this season, looked like a potential threat to Oklahoma City in the West Conference. Leaving it, there are no positive dishes. There are no silver liners. The only comfort that Memphis can take because he leaves the Paycc Center is that it will only count as one loss and that he will have a chance to respond with a better effort in match 2 Tuesday evening.
The biggest test that moves away from a game like this is whether the grizzly guys can bring together enough belief in themselves to continue to fight the rest of this series or if it has only taken one match for the Thunder to stop their confidence. The next 48 hours will be one of the most difficult challenges than more, Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane experienced during their stay in a grizzly uniform. – Will Guillory
(Photo of Cason Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein (55): Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
