Key Points Summary – Thunder Destroy Memphis Again
- The Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Memphis Grizzlies 118-99 in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, taking a dominant 2-0 lead.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back in style, leading the Thunder with 27 points.
- Jalen Williams added 24 points, while rookie Chet Holmgren dominated the paint with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks.
- OKC followed up their historic 131-80 Game 1 win with another double-digit blowout.
- The Thunder have now beaten the Grizzlies six times this season—every time by double digits.
- Memphis stars Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant combined for 49 points but couldn’t keep up with OKC’s relentless offense and tight defense.
- Game 3 shifts to Memphis on Thursday, with the Grizzlies in full desperation mode.
Thunder Destroy Memphis Again – Grizzlies Get Blown Off the Court as OKC Dominates Game 2
Whatever hope the Memphis Grizzlies had of bouncing back after their Game 1 embarrassment was completely shattered on Tuesday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder came out swinging and never looked back, blasting the Grizzlies 118-99 in a game that felt over by halftime.
With this win, the Thunder now lead the series 2-0, and if the last two games are any indication, this series might be over a lot sooner than Memphis hoped.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Comes Alive – And Memphis Pays the Price
After a quiet start in Game 1 and the first half of Tuesday’s matchup, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander decided it was time to remind everyone why he’s an MVP candidate.
He finished the game with 27 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter that sent the crowd into a frenzy and put OKC up 55-38. It was the dagger Memphis never recovered from.
“Shai was due. We knew it was coming,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “And tonight, he exploded.”
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren Add Fuel to the Fire
This wasn’t just a one-man show.
- Jalen Williams was unstoppable on the wing, putting up 24 points and slicing through Memphis defenders like they were standing still.
- Chet Holmgren, the lanky rookie with the game of a veteran, racked up 20 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks. He owned the paint.
Holmgren’s performance included a monster stretch in the second half that left Memphis fans gasping—and Memphis players shaking their heads.
“Chet’s timing is unbelievable,” said teammate Josh Giddey. “He’s everywhere at once.”
A Nightmare Start for Memphis – And It Only Got Worse
The Grizzlies looked completely lost from the jump.
OKC opened the game with a 9-0 run, and Memphis didn’t even score until 3½ minutes in. By then, they had missed 10 straight shots, and the tone was set.
Even though Jaren Jackson Jr. (26 points) and Ja Morant (23 points) tried to claw them back in the third quarter, the Thunder were just too fast, too focused, and too dangerous.
12 First-Half Threes? Thunder Making It Look Easy
By halftime, the Thunder led 70-52, having drained a team playoff-record 12 three-pointers in the first half.
They were hitting from everywhere. Step-backs, corner triples, heat checks—you name it.
It felt like every player in a blue jersey was dialed in, while Memphis was left scrambling.
Fourth Quarter: Memphis Fades, Thunder Celebrates
The Grizzlies opened the third quarter with energy and even cut the lead to just 9 points at one stage.
But any hopes of a comeback were buried early in the fourth.
- OKC opened the quarter on a scorching run, holding Memphis scoreless for nearly four minutes.
- Then came Cason Wallace, faking out Zach Edey before throwing down a filthy one-handed slam that put the Thunder up 97-79 and brought the house down.
The bench exploded. The crowd lost its mind. And Memphis? They looked defeated.
Oklahoma City’s Sixth Straight Win Over Memphis – All Blowouts
Let’s be blunt: The Thunder have owned the Grizzlies this year.
- 6 games
- 6 wins
- All by double digits
Memphis just hasn’t found an answer. Whether it’s defending the perimeter, stopping fast breaks, or scoring in the paint—OKC has outclassed them at every turn.
Game 3 in Memphis – Do the Grizzlies Have Any Fight Left?
The series heads to Memphis for Game 3 on Thursday, but the mood isn’t exactly hopeful.
Ja Morant is doing his best. Jackson is battling. But without help, without better shooting, and without a plan to slow down OKC’s offense, this thing could be over by Saturday night.
“We’ve got to play like our season’s on the line,” Morant said postgame. “Because it is.”
Thunder Destroy Memphis Again – Is This Series Already Over?
The Thunder destroy Memphis again, and this time, it felt even worse than the record-breaking Game 1 blowout.
Oklahoma City is young, hungry, and terrifyingly good.
They’re not just winning. They’re embarrassing the Grizzlies. And they’re making playoff basketball look easy. And they’re sending a loud message to the rest of the NBA:
We’re not just here to play—we’re here to win it all.
Game 3 is Thursday. Memphis has one last chance to turn the tide. But if the Thunder show up like they did in Games 1 and 2?
It might already be too late.
