Keypoints Summary:
- Thunder sweep Grizzlies 4-0 to become first team in NBA semifinals.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 38 points in epic Game 4 finish.
- Thunder overcame a wild battle despite poor 3-point shooting early.
- Awaiting Clippers or Nuggets in the next round!
Thunder Make Huge Statement: Sweep Grizzlies 4-0 and March Into NBA Semifinals!
The Oklahoma City Thunder just put the entire NBA on notice โ
They are serious championship favorites now.
On Saturday night, the Thunder battled their way to a dramatic 117-115 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, sweeping their first-round series and becoming the first team to reach the Western Conference semifinals.
And they did it with style, grit, and star power.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Was Unstoppable
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had been solid all series, but in Game 4?
He was sensational:
- 38 points scored
- Dominated the final minutes
- Carried the Thunder through every run Memphis tried
โEvery night I step on the floor to be the best version of myself,โ Gilgeous-Alexander said. โTonight, I was pretty close to it.โ
And with that, Shai officially stamped his name among the playoff superstars this season.
Thunder Overcome Early Struggles
It wasnโt pretty at the start.
- Oklahoma City shot a miserable 4-of-29 from 3-point range for much of the game.
- They trailed early and the game stayed tight for three quarters.
But the Thunder never panicked.
A big 3-pointer from Jalen Williams with 5:41 left pushed the Thunder to a 102-92 lead โ their first double-digit cushion of the game.
From there, they held off every last Grizzlies surge.
โOnce it tightened up, I thought everything from execution to clock management โฆ was all very positive,โ Coach Mark Daigneault said.
Other Thunder Heroes Shine Too
While Shai led the way, the Thunder had plenty of help:
- Jalen Williams added 23 points and hit huge shots late.
- Chet Holmgren contributed 11 points and was a force defensively.
- Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
- Isaiah Joe chipped in 11 points off the bench.
It wasnโt about just one star โ it was a total team victory.
Grizzlies Gave It All โ But It Wasnโt Enough
Without injured superstar Ja Morant, the Grizzlies fought like warriors.
- Scotty Pippen Jr. matched his career high with 30 points and 11 rebounds.
- Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama each scored 23 points.
- Memphis clawed back within one point in the final seconds.
But the Grizzlies simply ran out of gas.
The Thunder made just enough plays down the stretch to seal the win.
โWe fought, everybody on this team. Like, there was zero quit,โ Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalosaid. โWe just couldnโt close it.โ
Thunder Make History
With the sweep, the Thunder:
- Become the first team to advance to Round 2 this season.
- Extend their dominance as the No. 1 seed with the best regular-season record (68-14).
- Continue the NBA tradition: No team has ever blown a 3-0 series lead โ and OKC had no plans of starting now.
Whatโs Next: Eyes on the Prize
Now, the Thunder get a short but critical rest as they await the winner of the Nuggets vs. Clippers series.
Both Denver and L.A. are battered and battling โ
and Oklahoma City will come into Round 2 rested, confident, and absolutely dangerous.
Thunderโs Time is NOW
The Thunder arenโt just a nice young team anymore.
They arenโt just a cute playoff story.
They are a serious NBA title threat.
- They have an MVP-caliber superstar in Shai.
- They have tough defenders, versatile bigs, and fearless shooters.
- They have the momentum โ and now, they have the belief.
Watch out, NBA.
Because Oklahoma City isnโt waiting for the future anymore โ the future is NOW.
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