Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled in Sport 1 at dwelling in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
The MVP candidate scored 15 factors however shot 4-of-13 from the sphere and dedicated two turnovers in 23 minutes. Nonetheless, that did not have an effect on the sport’s final result.
The Thunder demolished the Grizzlies 131-80. Citing OptaAnalyst, The Athletic shared that Oklahoma Metropolis’s victory was the fifth largest in NBA playoff historical past.
The win could show that the Thunder have one thing that many championship-winning groups have: depth.
In opposition to Memphis, the Thunder had 5 gamers in addition to Gilgeous-Alexander end with double-digit factors, together with guard Aaron Wiggins, who scored a game-high 21 factors. Oklahoma Metropolis additionally shot 50.5 p.c from the sphere.
Memphis, in the meantime, did not look as deep as Oklahoma Metropolis. Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant scored 17 factors however shot 6-of-17 from the sphere. With Morant sputtering, Memphis’s offense stalled, and it shot 34.4 p.c from the sphere.
Morant insisted the Grizzlies will rebound in Sport 2 in Oklahoma Metropolis at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
“We’ll by no means play that unhealthy once more,” he stated in a postgame information convention, per Bleacher Report.
Nonetheless, it would not be a shock if the Grizzlies’ collection in opposition to the Thunder is a brief one. Together with a greater roster, Oklahoma Metropolis probably has a training edge.
On Sunday, Memphis was enjoying its first playoff sport underneath interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo. He coached simply 9 regular-season video games earlier than the play-in match.
Oklahoma Metropolis had a 68-14 regular-season file, the most effective within the NBA. Whereas it is just one sport, the Thunder regarded each little bit of a championship favourite in Sunday’s blowout in opposition to Memphis.
