Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to another comfortable home win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, 118-99 on Tuesday in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series.
The Thunder, who won the opener by 51 points, lead the best-of-seven series 2-0. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Memphis.
“They took care of their business,” Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said, “so now it’s time for us to take care of business at home.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a season-low 15 points in the Game 1 victory, struggled again in Game 2, going just 10-for-29 overall and 3-for-10 on 3-point attempts.
“I feel like I’m getting looks that I usually make, just missing them,” he said. “Because my team is good, we’ve won two games by a decent margin. They had my back the last two nights.”
Jalen Williams added 24 points for Oklahoma City, which never trailed. Chet Holmgren contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Alex Caruso scored 13.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 26 points while Ja Morant added 23. Jackson scored 13 of his points in the third quarter, when the Grizzlies outscored the Thunder 27-20.
After going just 2-for-13 in Game 1, Jackson was 10-for-17 on Tuesday, hitting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
But Oklahoma City was too much — especially on defense.
The Thunder scored 25 points off the Grizzlies’ 15 turnovers while committing just seven turnovers themselves.
“They’re such a good defensive team,” said the Grizzlies’ Scotty Pippen Jr., who hit just 4 of 12 shots and scored 13 points. “When we try to pass and move it around too much, it leads to them recovering and us taking tougher shots.”
Through two games, Oklahoma City has outscored Memphis 48-8 on the fast break.
The Grizzlies cut a 23-point deficit to eight late in the third quarter. With Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench to start the fourth quarter, the Thunder scored the first nine points — five by Caruso — to take control for good.
Oklahoma City held the Grizzlies to just 7-of-19 shooting (36.8 percent) in the fourth quarter. Memphis finished 42.9 percent from the floor.
“Our defense stayed with it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We still stacked stops despite not a great shooting half and not a lot of easy stuff. … We just manufactured second-half offense.”
Early on, the game seemed to be heading toward another massive blowout.
Four minutes into the game, the Thunder led by double figures as the Grizzlies missed their first 10 shots.
After falling behind by 19 early in the second, the Grizzlies quickly reeled off an 11-2 run to get back within 10 — keyed by seven quick points by Morant.
That momentum didn’t last long though, as Oklahoma City stretched its lead to 23 late in the half and was up by 18 at the break.
“We just wanted to make an emphasis to come out and win that first quarter and set the tone for the night,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, “and just carried that throughout the game.”
–Field Level Media
