The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a commanding 118-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday (April 22), taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 27 points, despite struggling with his shooting, going 10-for-29 from the field. The Thunder's defense was pivotal, limiting the Grizzlies to just eight fast-break points over two games.
Oklahoma City set the tone early with a 9-0 run, holding Memphis scoreless for the first three and a half minutes. The Thunder maintained their lead throughout, finishing the first quarter up 32-17. Jalen Williams contributed 24 points, and Chet Holmgren added 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks. Alex Caruso came off the bench to score 13 points, helping the Thunder maintain their advantage.
The Grizzlies, led by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 26 points and Ja Morant with 23, managed to cut the deficit to single digits in the third quarter. However, Oklahoma City responded with a strong fourth quarter, launching another 9-0 run to secure the win.
The Thunder's victory marked their sixth consecutive double-digit win over the Grizzlies this season. With a 2-0 series lead, Oklahoma City is in a strong position, as NBA teams with such a lead have historically won 92.6% of the time. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday (April 24) in Memphis.