Thunder Dominate Grizzlies 140-80 in Historic Game 1 Blowout
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder made a thunderous statement Sunday night, demolishing the Memphis Grizzlies 140-80 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. The 60-point victory stands as the fifth-largest margin in NBA postseason history, a mark that underscored the Thunder’s dominance on both ends of the floor.
From the opening tip at Paycom Center, the Thunder imposed their will. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 27 points, six assists, and five rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. By halftime, Oklahoma City had already built a 37-point lead, 76-39, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
“We wanted to set the tone early,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “Every possession mattered. We treated this like a must-win, even though it’s just Game 1.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his team’s defensive intensity and unselfish offense. Oklahoma City forced 21 turnovers, turning many into easy transition points, while shooting 59% from the field and an eye-popping 48% from beyond the arc. All five starters scored in double figures, and the bench added 63 points.
Chet Holmgren was a force in the paint, blocking five shots and altering several more. Jalen Williams contributed 18 points and eight assists, while veteran guard Isaiah Joe knocked down six three-pointers, finishing with 20 points.
Memphis, on the other hand, looked completely overwhelmed from the outset. Missing key players including Ja Morant due to injury, the Grizzlies struggled to generate offense and couldn’t keep up with the Thunder’s pace. Desmond Bane was the lone bright spot for Memphis, scoring 19 points, but he had little help as the team shot just 35% from the floor and 22% from deep.
“This wasn’t us,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said. “We’re better than this, and we’ll bounce back. It’s one game.”
Still, the 60-point defeat will be hard to ignore. It was the largest playoff loss in Grizzlies franchise history and tied the fifth-largest in NBA postseason annals, trailing only blowouts such as the 58-point win by the Denver Nuggets over the New Orleans Hornets in 2009.
Thunder fans erupted throughout the night as their young team displayed poise, athleticism, and cohesion beyond their years. After missing the playoffs last season, Oklahoma City appears poised for a deep run, fueled by their energetic core and suffocating defense.
Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, and while the Thunder will look to build on their explosive start, the Grizzlies must regroup quickly if they hope to make this a competitive series.
“We can’t dwell on this,” Bane said. “We have to learn from it, fast.”
For now, the Thunder hold all the momentum—riding high on a historic victory that won’t soon be forgotten.
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