In night of routs, Thunder roar loudest
OKLAHOMA CITY—The Oklahoma City Thunder announced their postseason ambitions with thunderous authority Sunday night, steamrolling the Memphis Grizzlies 131-80 in a record-setting Game 1 win—the largest margin of victory in an NBA playoff opener and the fifth-biggest blowout in league postseason history.
“We played to our identity,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league in scoring this season but contributed a modest 15 points in the win. “Nothing more, nothing less than that. We were who we were all year … and it’s going to be the key to our success, just staying true to who we are.”
With Gilgeous-Alexander taking a facilitating role, Aaron Wiggins poured in 21 points, Jalen Williams added 20 and Chet Holmgren tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds. Oklahoma City shot 50.5% from the field and overwhelmed Memphis with a 20-0 second-quarter run that ballooned the lead to 55-22.
“I have a great group of guys around me, and I know that,” Gilgeous-Alexander added. “They obviously played amazing.”
Memphis, meanwhile, struggled on all fronts. Ja Morant had 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting, and Jaren Jackson Jr. managed only four points. The Grizzlies shot just 34.4% from the floor, outclassed in every facet by a Thunder team that finished the regular season 68-14.
The tone of dominance carried over in other playoff openers.
Warriors, Celtics score
Steph Curry delivered another playoff clinic with 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets on the road, 95-85.
“In order for us to win basketball games it requires Steph Curry to be great,” said Warriors forward Draymond Green. “And he was just that.”
Curry dazzled with circus shots, prompting roars from the bench. Jimmy Butler, acquired midseason from Miami, supported with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals in his playoff debut for Golden State.
“[Curry] just made some amazing plays and obviously carried us offensively along with Jimmy,” said coach Steve Kerr, who notched his 100th playoff win. “I’m lucky to coach the guys that I do.”
Despite being outrebounded 22-6 on the offensive glass, the Warriors held firm after Houston trimmed a 23-point lead down to nine entering the fourth quarter. Game 2 is still at Houston on Wednesday.
In Boston, Derrick White scored 30 points to lead the Celtics to a 103-86 win over the Orlando Magic. Jayson Tatum added 17 points but gave the team a scare with a hard fall late in the game. He finished the contest, easing concerns for Game 2.
“We’ve got many different ways we can win,” said White. “A lot of different things we can throw at teams.”
