After fighting to get into the playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies were torn apart.
Draymond Green had warned the Oklahoma City Thunder were at a disadvantage after only finding out their NBA Playoffs opponents with days to spare, due to the Play-In Tournament.
If anybody looked under-prepared, it was the Memphis Grizzlies, who qualified via the Play-In after a loss to Golden State, and a win over the Dallas Mavericks.
OKC Thunder demolished the Grizzlies 131-80, having surged into a 68-36 lead at half-time, and never looking back.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the dominant force in the Western Conference in the 2024-25 season.
And if the first game of their playoff series is anything to go by, we are looking at a potential 4-0 series sweep.
Grizzlies star player Ja Morant does not want that to happen, and made an immediate vow in his post-game press conference.
Morant declared: “We will never play that bad again.”
He led the Grizzlies with 17 points, matched by Marvin Bagley from the bench. None of Morant’s other Memphis starters reached double digits.
Morant shook off concern about an injury he sustained against the Warriors, adding: “I felt good. I was available.”
The Grizzlies were so dominant they could have done without their MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He played only 23 minutes in the victory, scoring only 15 of OKC’s 131 points, which were spread around.
Aaron Wiggins led with 21 and Jalen Williams on 20, and Chet Holmgren on 19.
SGA will have big games ahead in the 2025 playoffs, but OKC were on cruise control against the Grizzlies in Game 1, and it would be a major shock if they do not progress.
