Thunder’s Dominance Continues: A Closer Look at Game 2 Against the Grizzlies
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Memphis Grizzlies finally showed a glimmer of hope in their playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. For the first time, it seemed like they might make things interesting when they managed to cut the Thunder’s lead to single digits midway through the third quarter of Tuesday’s Game 2. But just as quickly as that hope appeared, it was snuffed out by the Thunder’s star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been the NBA’s leading scorer this season, responded with back-to-back buckets, first sinking a midrange jumper and then executing a beautiful turnaround shot over the towering 7-foot-4 Zach Edey. This sequence was a rare highlight for Gilgeous-Alexander in the series, as the Thunder have managed to secure two wins despite his uncharacteristic shooting struggles. The Thunder pulled away for a 118-99 victory, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting woes have been notable, as he is hitting just 32.6% from the floor in the series. This is a stark contrast to his regular-season performance, where he averaged 32.7 points per game on an impressive 51.7% shooting. After finishing with 27 points on 10-of-29 shooting on Tuesday night, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on his performance, saying, “I feel like I’m getting looks I usually make and just missing them. That’s part of basketball. It’s ups and downs, makes and misses. Because my team is really good, we’ve won two games by a decent margin. They’ve had my back these last two nights. Hopefully, I pick it up soon.”
Oklahoma City has been a force to be reckoned with this season, breaking the NBA record for the best point differential (plus-12.9 per game). They have dominated the first two games of this series with a combined margin of 70 points, which, according to ESPN Research, is the second-highest point differential ever in the first two games of a playoff series. The only team to surpass this was the 1986 Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the San Antonio Spurs by a combined 75 points.
The Thunder’s success can be attributed to their smothering defense, which has limited the Grizzlies to a mere eight fast-break points over two games, and their balanced offensive attack. On Tuesday night, forward Jalen Williams contributed 24 points, while power forward/center Chet Holmgren added 20 points. The Thunder’s bench also played a crucial role, outscoring the Grizzlies’ bench 33-14, with Alex Caruso leading the charge with 13 points.
In Game 1, Oklahoma City showcased their depth with six players scoring in double figures, led by 10th man Aaron Wiggins’ 21 points. Gilgeous-Alexander praised his team’s depth, stating, “It’s nothing new. We’ve seen it all year. It’s why we have the record we have.”
Despite his shooting struggles, Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to contribute in other ways, as he has all season. In Game 2, he recorded eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals. The Thunder have outscored the Grizzlies by 40 points with Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor in the series.
Alex Caruso highlighted Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-around impact, saying, “He does so much [more] through the complete course of the game than just scoring for our team, and I think that’s showing up. He might miss a couple shots that look routine that he might normally make. But if we’re winning games how we’re winning them and he’s having average days, I think that bodes well for us forward.”
- Oklahoma City Thunder lead the series 2-0.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 32.6% in the series.
- The Thunder have a combined 70-point margin in the first two games.
- Memphis Grizzlies have scored only eight fast-break points in two games.
Originally Written by: Tim MacMahon
