The Oklahoma City Thunder is halfway to a first-round sweep in the NBA Playoffs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points and the top-seeded Thunder rolled to a 118-99 win over the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of a best-of-seven series Tuesday night at Paycom Center.
Two days after a record 51-point blowout, the Grizzlies showed more resolve in Game 2, but it still wasn’t enough to threaten OKC.
After having a -69 point differential the first quarters of the series, the Grizzlies made things interesting in the second half. Memphis cut the deficit to single digits several times in the third quarter, outscoring OKC 27-20 in the frame.
But the Thunder made a statement to open the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, capped by a thunderous dunk from Cason Wallace to extend OKC’s lead to 97-79.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a team-high 26 points for Memphis, while Ja Morant added 23.
Game 3 is set for 8:30 p.m. Thursday at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Catch up on anything you missed during the game below:
Thunder vs. Grizzlies live score updates in Game 2 of NBA Playoffs
Memphis just outscored OKC in a quarter for the first time in the series, 27-20. Only got beat in the second by three points, meaning Grizzlies trail Thunder 90-79 entering the fourth — long way away from 50.
Ja Morant finally got going in the second quarter.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got going, too.
The Thunder superstar added six points to his first-quarter total, going into halftime with 12 points. While that isn’t a ton of points by SGA’s standards, he seemed to find a flow that had been absent in this series.
After hitting a three, he drove and flipped a no-look, over-his-head pass to Lu Dort who drained a 3.
Even though the Thunder extended its 15-point first-quarter lead, Morant’s heat up bears watching. After hitting no shots from the field and scoring just one point in the first quarter, the Memphis All-Star went 5 of 8 and scored 11 points in the second.
—Jenni Carlson, Columnist
Ja Morant vowed that the Grizzlies would “never play that bad again” following a 51-point loss in Game 1 on Sunday.
And while Memphis’ offense did take better care of the basketball in the first quarter of Game 2, committing three turnovers, it couldn’t buy a bucket.
The Grizzlies missed their first 10 shots. By the time they finally ended the drought at the 8:27 mark with a Desmond Bane layup, the Thunder held a 9-2 lead.
Memphis went 6 for 27 from the floor (22.2%) in the quarter. Chet Holmgren led OKC with nine points and four rebounds.
—Justin Martinez, Staff writer
Hard to overstate what Isaiah Hartenstein has done for this offense. It’s been impossible to keep OKC from advantages. The push shot is always there.
Chet Holmgren has been incredible. If it isn’t obvious, this Memphis frontcourt is in for a long (but probably short) series.
Memphis is 3 for 18 to start Game 2.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Since Ja Morant first stepped onto the court donning Memphis blue, silver and gold, the Grizzlies have built their offensive identity around one key element: speed.
Memphis boasted the league’s top transition offense during its 2021–22 Western Conference Semifinals run. Fast forward to today, and while they’ve slipped slightly to eighth in fast break scoring, that up-tempo DNA still runs through the team’s veins.
Despite the slight dip in pace, head coach Tuomas Iisalo remains firm in his belief that tempo is still a crucial weapon for the Grizzlies.
“We need to play faster than the other team before the defense gets set,” Iisalo said. “Even though the Thunder had the best transition defense in the whole league this season, it’s still about giving up more points in transition than in the half court. So continue to do that and offensively generate the best possible shot through those interactions.”
—Jordan Davis, Staff writer
Mark Daigneault isn’t underestimating the Memphis Grizzlies, no matter how dreadful they began the series.
Putting himself — and his team — in their shoes after a 51-point drubbing might prove difficult. But he remains up for the challenge.
“It’s a challenge every night, and that’s why we emphasize that so much during the year,” Daigneault said pregame Tuesday. “… Last year we won Game 1 by a point or something like that. But you’re still 1-0 in the series. This year, we won it in a blowout, and you’re still 1-0 in the series. The other team is gonna be just as motivated, whether they lose by one or lose by a lot of points.”
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
- Date: Tuesday, April 22
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Paycom Center in OKC
Where to watch Thunder vs Grizzlies NBA playoff game tonight?
- TV: TNT, FanDuel Sports Network
- How to watch online: Sling TV (free trial)
- Radio: WWLS 98.1FM
Thunder vs. Grizzlies betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Monday, April 21
Odds: Thunder by 14.5
Over/under: 228.5
Moneyline: OKC -1100 | Memphis +675
Thunder vs. Grizzlies prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: OKC 126, Memphis 108
After a historically-bad performance in Game 1, Memphis can only play better this time around. Still, the Grizzlies will continue to have matchup issues. OKC is elite at slowing its opponent down, and Memphis’ offense struggles in the half-court setting. The Thunder is also elite at forcing turnovers, and the Grizzlies struggle to take care of the basketball. This game will be closer because it has to be, but OKC will still get the win at home.
Thunder vs. Grizzlies injury updates
Thunder: Ousmane Dieng (left calf strain) is out. Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) is out.
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke (right knee PCL sprain) is out. Jaylen Wells (right wrist fracture, facial laceration and concussion protocol) is out.
Thunder vs. Grizzlies highlights in Game 2 of NBA Playoffs
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