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The Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs by completing a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday (April 26). The Thunder secured a narrow 117-115 victory in Game Four, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 38 points. Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental, scoring 16 points in the first quarter alone and sealing the win with a crucial shot in the final seconds.
Jalen Williams contributed significantly with 23 points, helping the Thunder maintain their lead throughout the game. The Thunder's performance was marked by their strong inside play, shooting 57.6% on two-point attempts, despite struggling from beyond the arc with only 20% success on three-pointers, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The Grizzlies, playing without star guard Ja Morant due to a hip injury, were led by Scotty Pippen Jr., who matched his career high with 30 points and added 11 rebounds. Santi Aldama also impressed with 23 points and nine rebounds. Despite their efforts, Memphis fell short in the final moments, with Desmond Bane's intentional missed free throw failing to result in a putback, as detailed by NBC Sports.
The Thunder will face either the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals. The Clippers held a 2-1 lead over the Nuggets heading into their Game Four.