Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 factors and Jalen Williams had 26 to steer the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to an inconceivable and record-breaking 114-108 win over the Memphis Grizzlies to take a 3-0 lead of their Western Convention first-round collection.
Chet Holmgren scored 23 of his 24 factors within the second half on Thursday night because the Thunder overcame a 29-point first-half deficit. Oklahoma Metropolis didn’t lead within the sport till Williams dropped in a free throw with 1:20 remaining to go forward 109-108.
Holmgren added two free throws with 57.4 seconds left and Alex Caruso scored on a breakaway layup with 19.4 seconds to go. The Grizzlies didn’t rating within the remaining 4:51.
“We sort of reconnected to who we’re (within the second half),” Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault mentioned.
“We have been very out of character within the first half, and a few of that needed to do with how properly Memphis performed and the way in which they landed the primary punch and a number of punches after that. So credit score to them. However I assumed our response in a sport that doesn’t really feel attainable, our response was nice.”
Memphis performed with out Ja Morant within the second half after he sustained a hip harm late within the first half. Scotty Pippen Jr scored 28 factors to steer the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr added 22.
Morant had 15 factors and 5 assists in quarter-hour earlier than the harm. He was identified with a left hip contusion. With out Morant, the Grizzlies have been outscored 63-31 within the second half.
Morant left the sport with 3:14 to go within the second quarter after falling arduous on his left facet whereas hovering in for a layup on a fastbreak. Morant was undercut by Luguentz Dort on the play. He hobbled slowly to the sideline after spending a number of minutes on the ground being attended by the Grizzlies’ coaching employees.
Morant returned to the court docket to take two free throws, which he missed, earlier than being helped to the locker room.
Memphis interim coach Tuomas Iisalo mentioned after the sport that Morant could be evaluated on Friday, “after which we’ll know extra”.
Memphis was coming off lopsided losses within the opening two video games of the collection in Oklahoma Metropolis – by 51 factors in Sport 1 and 19 in Sport 2 – however performed with renewed vigour of their dwelling playoff opener.
Down 26 on the half, the Thunder doubled up the Grizzlies 36-18 within the third quarter. Halfway by way of the interval, Oklahoma Metropolis trimmed the result in 10 factors, largely behind Holmgren. The 7-foot-1 ahead had 16 factors throughout a 25-9 run to open the quarter. A 3-pointer by Williams because the quarter ended reduce the Thunder deficit to 95-87.
“I give a whole lot of credit score to Chet as a result of he had one level at halftime,” Daigneault mentioned. “He had a really, very quiet, subdued first half. After which the psychological toughness to remain in it … was actually spectacular. And he did job defensively as properly.”
The Grizzlies constructed a double-digit lead within the first quarter. The catalyst was Pippen, who had 4 of the group’s eight 3-pointers within the quarter. The Grizzlies led by 12 factors on three events late within the interval.
The Grizzlies prolonged their benefit to twenty-eight factors (65-37) halfway by way of the second quarter following a 25-5 run that included 16 consecutive factors. Morant scored 9 factors in the course of the run, and Pippen had seven. The lead stretched to 29 factors at 69-40 with 3:07 to go on a layup by Desmond Bane.
“We did an amazing job preventing for 48 minutes, however towards this group it’s not sufficient to struggle, you even have to have the ability to execute,” Iisalo mentioned.
Memphis led 77-51 at halftime by capturing 57.4 p.c and committing solely three turnovers. The Grizzlies scored solely 80 factors in Sport 1.
Clippers and Knicks declare the factors
Kawhi Leonard recorded 21 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists and Los Angeles took a 2-1 collection lead with a convincing victory over Denver at Inglewood, California.
James Harden had 20 factors – all within the first half – to go along with 9 assists and 6 rebounds, whereas Norman Powell additionally scored 20 for the fifth-seeded Clippers. Ivica Zubac registered 19 factors and 9 rebounds as Los Angeles received its second straight within the best-of-seven, first-round collection.
Denver star Nikola Jokic recorded 23 factors, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his twentieth profession postseason triple-double. Jamal Murray additionally scored 23 factors and Aaron Gordon added 15 factors and 7 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Nuggets.
Karl-Anthony Cities scored 31 factors and Jalen Brunson added 30, together with 12 within the fourth quarter, to offer visiting New York a victory over Detroit in Sport 3 of their Japanese Convention first-round playoff collection.
OG Anunoby put up 22 factors for the Knicks, who maintain a 2-1 lead within the best-of-seven collection on Sunday in Detroit. Brunson, who averaged 35.5 factors within the first two video games, additionally had 9 assists and 7 rebounds in Sport 3.
Cade Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr led Detroit with 24 factors apiece, and Cunningham dished out a game-high 11 assists. Dennis Schroder scored 18 factors for the Pistons, who haven’t received a house playoff sport since Might 2008.
