NBA | Thunder 131-Grizzlies 80
The Thunder start their journey to NBA glory with an annihilation of the Grizzlies
OKC Thunder proved just why they are so many people’s favourites for the title as they crushed Memphis Grizzlies in game one.
The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a historic 131-80 thrashing of the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, a masterful display to take the lead in this first-round West series and send a clear message to the rest of the contenders for the ring.
With a difference of +51 at the end of the game, Oklahoma (first in the West) beat Memphis (eighth) and set a new record for the largest lead in a first-round opener, which was +47.
The Thunder led by as many as 56 points in the final quarter despite pulling all their stars, including Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, midway through the third period because the game was all but decided (97-48 at the time).
Mark Daigneault’s team came very close to surpassing an even more impressive record: that of the biggest thrashing in playoff history, a 58-plus margin set by the Los Angeles Lakers against the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 and the Denver Nuggets against the New Orleans Hornets in 2009.
The home side scored 50.5% of their shots, dominated the rebounding (54 to 43), doubled their opponents in assists (37 to 18), caused 24 Memphis turnovers, shined on the counter-attack with 27 points and scored 60 of their points in the paint.
The Thunder finished the season with the best record in the league (68-14), guaranteeing them home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, including a hypothetical Finals.
Among other amazing accomplishments, Oklahoma matched the fourth-best regular-season record in NBA history, broke the single-season points differential record with a +12.87 average and swept the East with an impressive 29-1 record.
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