- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 431,093
- Reaction score
- 44
You must be registered for see images attach
OKLAHOMA CITY — Talk about a playoff debut. Last year's Game 1 came down to the wire against the New Orleans Pelicans. This year, it was the complete opposite against Memphis. The game was decided before halftime even started. OKC transferred over its historic regular-season dominance in its first playoff battle.
The Oklahoma City Thunder humiliated the Memphis Grizzlies in a 131-80 Game 1 win to kick off their Round 1 playoff series. The former led by double-digit points for most of the game and by as many as a jaw-dropping 56 points.
Playoff nerves were evident for both sides. That kept the Grizzlies somewhat in it to start. The Thunder only had a 32-20 lead after the first quarter. Not ideal, but also not insurmountable. Welp. That quickly changed in the second frame.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, OKC's second unit went on a game-changing 30-5 run. The Grizzlies couldn't create easy looks as they went deep into the shot clock for bad looks or turned it over on elementary entry passes. The Thunder's role players hit on their outside looks and avalanched the scoreboard.
After a 36-point second quarter, the Thunder entered halftime with a commanding 68-36 lead that nearly doubled the Grizzlies' points. To show how much everything was going OKC's way, Alex Caruso's last-second foul on Desmond Bane's halfcourt heave was overturned after a challenge. The call was incorrect, then Marvin Bagley III was called for an illegal screen.
The 32-point halftime advantage broke the franchise's playoff record. That's quite a way to leave a first impression in this postseason run. Even with Gilgeous-Alexander putting up a stinker, that didn't matter. The winning machine continued.
Any fears of a miraculous comeback were quickly put to bed. The Thunder scored the first 10 points of the second half. The arena was buzzing. Vibes were at an all-time high on Easter. The Thunder scored 44 points in the third quarter to create a 112-63 lead. The starters were pulled out for the final time with four minutes left in the frame.
Like pregame, the fourth quarter pivoted into a concert. The Thunder crowd cheered on the reserves as both teams cleared their benches. OKC's 13 available players logged serious minutes in their first playoff game.
The Thunder shot 51% from the field and went 17-of-48 (35.4%) from 3. They shot 14-of-15 on free throws. They had 36 assists on 50 baskets. Six Thunder players scored double-digit points.
Gilgeous-Alexander only had 15 points and five assists, but that didn't matter. Jalen Williams had 20 points and six assists. Chet Holmgren chipped in with a 19-point double-double. Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 points and eight rebounds. Lu Dort scored 12 points. Aaron Wiggins tallied 21 points off the bench.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies shot 34% from the field and went 6-of-34 (17.6%) from 3. They shot 10-of-12 on free throws. They had 18 assists on 32 baskets. Only two Grizzlies players scored double-digit points.
Ja Morant was limited to 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Bagley III scored 17 points off the bench. Bane had just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting. Jaren Jackson Jr. was a ghost with four points on 2-of-13 shooting.
While this was a fun first playoff game, the absurdity makes it difficult to take much from it. There was some Twilight Zone energy inside the building. The Thunder destroyed the Grizzlies in every facet of basketball. Surely this won't happen three more times. The Grizzlies can only look up from here as they suffered one of the worst playoff losses in the NBA's history.
That said, the Thunder only verified those who thought this should be an easy Round 1 matchup. They won't win by 50 points every game, but this should be an easy sweep or gentleman's sweep when stacking both rosters and pure talent. They're fresh off one of the greatest regular-season campaigns ever, and the playoffs are off to a similar fashion.
Let's look at Thunder player grades:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: C-minus
You must be registered for see images
Splitting between Jackson Jr. and Bagley III, Gilgeous-Alexander sliced his way to the basket for the easy layup. He let out a sigh of relief. Like regular people who go to the park, the MVP candidate needed to see one go through the basket before he was pulled off the court for the last time.
This could've gone better. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting, five assists and three rebounds. He shot 1-of-7 from 3 and went 6-of-7 on free throws. He also had three steals. He only played 23 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter.
It was the rare off-night for Gilgeous-Alexander. Perhaps being out for nearly two weeks caused some rustiness. The shot-taking process was solid as he got to his spots. But his shots rimmed out or barely missed each time. It's the first time he's scored under 20 points since October.
Usually, the probable MVP winner underperforming to this degree would steal all national headlines for all the wrong reasons. In this example, it became a footnote to one of the most historic wins in NBA playoffs history. That's how scarily deep the Thunder are. The Grizzlies can only shudder at the thought of what might happen once he gets back in a groove.
Jalen Williams: A-plus
You must be registered for see images
Reading Bane's pass like a picture book, Williams grabbed the textbook steal. He then ran the fastbreak and played hot potato with Wiggins. After throwing a bounce pass, the All-Star leaped off the floor and threw down the one-handed alley-oop that had the OKC playoff crowd rocking.
Williams finished with 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting, six assists and five rebounds. He shot 0-of-4 from 3. He also had three steals and a steal. He only played 26 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies had no answer to contain Williams. It was a paint-heavy game for the 24-year-old. He loves his mid-range jumpers but abandoned them to get to the basket. The plan worked as Memphis couldn't stop OKC from getting whatever it wanted.
A lot of pressure has been put on Williams for the Thunder's hopeful deep playoff run. If they go deep, they can't run into the same problems they did last year, where the offense dried up without Gilgeous-Alexander. Through one game, he shushed his critics.
Chet Holmgren: A-plus
You must be registered for see images
Staying patient underneath the basket, Holmgren didn't bite for any of Santi Aldama's pump-fakes. Instead, he waited him out until a desperate layup attempt turned into another rejection good enough to make the seven-footer's highlight reel.
Holmgren finished with 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and two assists. He shot 3-of-4 from 3 and went 6-of-6 on free throws. He also had two blocks and a steal. He only played 21 minutes and sat out the fourth quarter.
This was about as perfect a first playoff game for Holmgren as anybody could've hoped for. He's looked sluggish at times since he returned from his hip fracture two months ago. Let's face it, he looked a step slow and his finishing around the rim wasn't as sharp.
But this playoff game should excite the Thunder. Holmgren showed out on both ends of the floor. He frequently got to the free-throw line as the Grizzlies couldn't contain him. That was the key element to his scoring jump at the start of the season.
A lot of questions surrounded Gilgeous-Alexander's supporting cast in these playoffs. Doubts on whether they could help him secure wins were in everybody's mind. Through one game, Williams and Holmgren led OKC to a 1-0 series lead.
Isaiah Hartenstein: A-plus
You must be registered for see images
With every option on the table, the Thunder returned to old reliable for their starters. Holmgren and Hartenstein received the starting nod as the double-big lineup was the perfect counter to Memphis' frontcourt. Holmgren could stay on Jackson Jr. and Hartenstein could cancel Edey out on the glass.
The plan worked perfectly through one game. Hartenstein finished with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, eight rebounds and five assists. He also had a steal and only played 21 minutes before he sat out the fourth quarter.
Instead of death by a thousand papercuts, the Grizzlies suffered death by a thousand floaters. Memphis dared Hartenstein to beat them from the short mid-range spot and he did. His patented floater was prominently featured in OKC's dominance.
Expect the Thunder to stick with these starters until the Grizzlies force them to adjust. Hartenstein has been a monster against them all season. He's the perfect counter to Memphis' hopes to win the possession battle, which might be its best bet to steal a game this series.
Lu Dort: A
You must be registered for see images
The playoffs mean synchronized "Luuu!" chants. It already happens in the regular season, so imagine what it sounds like when the atmosphere receives a steroid ejection of passionate fans. In a game where every Thunder starter showed out, Dort did it on both ends.
Dort finished with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting, three rebounds and two assists. He also had three steals and a block. He only played 22 minutes before he sat out the fourth quarter.
Everything went right for the Thunder. Dort is an example. His outside shot fell for him as they doubled up the scoreboard. On the defensive side, Morant and Bane had forgettable games and often faded into the background as they couldn't create decent looks.
Dort has grown a mythos about stepping up when the lights are the brightest. This was the latest example of that. He'll be a key player in the Thunder's playoff run and will take on the toughest assignments. In this playoff series, that's either Morant or Bane.
Aaron Wiggins: A-plus
You must be registered for see images
Parked on the bench for the first quarter, Wiggins didn't need much time to contribute. The 26-year-old came in and immediately filled a classic Sixth Man scorer role. At this point, he's turned into a Grizzlies killer.
Wiggins finished with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, four rebounds and two assists. He shot 4-of-7 from 3 and went 1-of-1 on free throws. He played 26 minutes off the bench and was OKC's top scorer, funny enough.
It was pure buckets by Wiggins in his first playoff game. Since the All-Star break, he's broken off from the rest of the role players as one of the best shot-creators on the roster. He showed that off with three quick outside makes in the second quarter. The microwave scorer put 11 points in the frame to help put this one away.
The Grizzlies have no counter for Wiggins. He'll continue to dissect their bench lineups. This could be a playoff series where he averages double-digit points as a player who could help the Thunder survive Gilgeous-Alexander's absences.
Highlights:
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Thunder humiliate Grizzlies in 131-80 Game 1 win
Continue reading...
