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The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs and have done it twice with domination, once with resilience and consistently with elite defense.
Game 4 tips off today at 3:30 PM ET on TNT, and the Grizzlies are hanging by a thread, both physically and psychologically, following a devastating collapse in Game 3.
Game 1: Total Domination
The series opener felt more like a scrimmage. The top-seeded Thunder exploded for a 131-80 win, marking the fifth-largest playoff blowout in NBA history. Oklahoma City overwhelmed Memphis in every facet. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t need to break a sweat, scoring 15 points in just 23 minutes. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet, while Aaron Wiggins led all scorers with 21 off the bench. The Thunder out-assisted, out-rebounded and outclassed the Grizzlies.
Game 2: More of the Same
Game 2 was tighter, relative to Game 1, but the Thunder still controlled it comfortably throughout, winning 118-99. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. finally got going, combining for 49 points, but it didn’t matter. Oklahoma City’s second-chance scoring and transition play proved too much. Holmgren posted another double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks), and Jalen Williams again showed his do-it-all ability with 24 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. Even with SGA struggling from the field, the Thunder’s collective depth and defensive discipline continued to shine.
Game 3: Historic Comeback
Thursday night in Memphis gave Grizzlies fans hope…until it didn’t. The Grizz went up by 29 points in the first half and led 67-40 late in the second quarter when Ja Morant went down hard on his hip after a collision with Lu Dort. The call was a common foul, but the result was anything but. Morant left the game, and the Thunder smelled blood.
Oklahoma City stormed back with a 36-18 third quarter, chipping away relentlessly. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 31 points, Jalen Williams added 26, and Chet Holmgren dominated the second half with 23 of his 24 points. It was the second-largest playoff comeback since play-by-play data began in 1996-97, and Memphis looked utterly deflated by the final buzzer, losing 114-108. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaren Jackson Jr. did their part offensively (28 and 22 points), but Memphis unraveled without its leader.
Now comes Game 4. The Thunder have all the momentum and no pressure. They proved they could win ugly, win big and win from behind. Meanwhile, Memphis may be out of gas and options. Ja Morant was seen on crutches at the end of Game 3, adding to his ankle injury in the Play-In.
The numbers are revealing:
Even with SGA’s inefficiency (shooting just 35.7% in the series), the Thunder’s core trio of Williams, Holmgren and SGA has delivered when it counts. Jalen Williams is shooting a blistering 57% from the field in the series and has averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists through three games. Holmgren, meanwhile, is averaging 21.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, providing elite two-way play. And the unsung hero in Game 3? Alex Caruso shut down multiple Grizzlies and constantly disrupted with his versatility and defensive instincts.
Unless Memphis delivers a miracle, and with Morant hobbled, that seems unlikely. This looks like the end of the line for Memphis. The Thunder smell a sweep, and their ability to adjust mid-game, punish mistakes and defend at an elite level gives them a decisive edge heading into Saturday.
Expect Oklahoma City to start fast, lean on its young legs and finish strong.
He’s been great in all three games:
With the Grizzlies desperate and depleted, expect Williams’ balanced, efficient game to shine again.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.