How the Thunder pulled off historic NBA playoff comeback vs. Grizzlies to take 3-0 collection lead

The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder simply pulled off one of many greatest comeback wins in NBA playoff historical past. The West’s No. 1 seed fell behind by as many as 29 factors in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies in Recreation 3 of their first-round collection Thursday evening. However by halfway by way of the third quarter the Thunder lower the result in single digits, tied it up within the fourth after which took the lead with 80 seconds left and held on for a wild 114-108 win in Memphis.

The 29-point comeback is the second largest in NBA playoff historical past within the play-by-play period (since 1997) and the 26-point halftime comeback is the biggest ever in NBA playoff historical past.

There’s a caveat right here: the Grizzlies misplaced Ja Morant at halftime, after the star guard took an extremely exhausting fall within the closing seconds of the second quarter. He was dominated out of the sport initially of the third quarter, and it considerably impacted the sport for Memphis. However we have to provide credit score the place it is due. The Thunder placed on an absolute clinic on each ends of the ground within the second half to drag out this win to take a commanding 3-0 collection lead.

So let’s check out how the Thunder pulled this off, and confirmed us precisely why they’re the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention.

Chet Holmgren’s had a near-perfect third quarter

Via two quarters the Thunder — who gained Recreation 1 of this collection by 51 factors — seemed asleep. They weren’t pressuring the ball, allowed Memphis to get off simple seems to be from nearly all over the place and couldn’t get into any form of rhythm offensively. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have been doing their greatest to maintain it aggressive, however it wasn’t practically sufficient in opposition to a Memphis group that noticed Scotty Pippen Jr. rating 23 first-half factors. 

Then the third quarter began. OKC opened the third body of motion on a 20-7 run, with Chet Holmgren coming alive throughout that span. He hit three triples, the final of which compelled the Grizzlies to name a timeout to cease the bleeding. By that time although, the Thunder had lower what was a 26-point halftime deficit into only a 13-point gap.

“It wasn’t fairly, they hit us first,” Holmgren mentioned after the sport, and he and the Thunder made positive to come back out within the third quarter swinging again with full drive. Sixteen of Holmgren’s 23 factors got here within the third quarter.

What’s wild is that almost all of Holmgren’s pictures got here off wide-open seems to be. He both took benefit of rookie large man Zach Edey guarding him, and used off-ball screens to get open on the 3-point line:

… or was simply left open as a result of Grizzlies attempting to double Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams:

… after which there have been the occasions the place Holmgren was simply flat out left open:

He is a matchup nightmare for the Grizzlies actually, as a result of Edey is just too gradual to protect Holmgren on the perimeter, and Jaren Jackson Jr. received burned a pair occasions on Holmgren drives to the rim. He is the actual distinction maker for OKC within the playoffs, and Thursday evening confirmed that.

Alex Caruso was a defensive menace

Let’s rewind the clock a bit, again to when the Thunder made the offseason commerce to amass Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey. OKC was coming off a disappointing second-round playoff exit after ending the common season because the No. 1 seed within the West, and wasted no time in getting one of the vital sought-after position gamers within the league in Caruso. And all it price was Giddey, who received hunted mercilessly in that second-round loss in opposition to the Mavericks in 2024.

The Thunder turned their solely weak point in changing Giddey with the most effective defensive gamers within the league. On Thursday, when OKC wanted it most, Caruso got here up clutch on the defensive facet of the ball. 

On one possession Caruso received matched up with Jaren Jackson Jr. within the low submit. Jackson was calling for the ball in what he thought was a mismatch, and rightfully so (he is received about 5 inches on Caruso). However what Caruso lacks in measurement he makes up for with excessive IQ. Jackson received the ball on the wing, tried to dribble into Caruso’s chest, and as he turned to try to get a shot off — and flail for a foul name — Caruso timed it up completely to slap the ball out of Jackson’s palms.

With just below a minute left, Caruso once more got here up with a large steal, this time on Scotty Pippen Jr. who was attempting to get a shot off from 3-point vary. Caruso was late on the closeout, however due to a foul cross from Desmond Bane to Pippen, it gave Caruso simply sufficient time to stress Pippen. Caruso wasted no time in attempting to go for the steal, which he succeeded at, and it led to a bounce ball. 

For this reason you commerce for Caruso. He wouldn’t let the Thunder lose this recreation late within the fourth quarter, and it wasn’t simply on protection, both. He had the help to Holmgren on the 3-pointer that tied the sport late within the fourth quarter. And his transition layup with 20 seconds left put the sport out of attain for OKC. He completed with 10 factors, six rebounds, 4 steals, three assists and one block, so principally the standard Alex Caruso expertise. He will perform a little little bit of all the pieces for you, and in Recreation 3, he was the X-factor down the stretch for the Thunder.

Morant’s harm definitely performed a job

As nice because the Thunder have been, it is truthful to surprise how this recreation would’ve performed out had Morant not gotten injured. The Grizzlies are only a vastly totally different group with Morant on the ground, and that was clear as day between the primary and second half. The Grizzlies have been enjoying quick and free within the first quarter, flying across the court docket with Morant producing tons of open seems to be off drive-and-kickouts. Pippen Jr.’s efficiency within the first half definitely helped issues, however Morant’s 15 factors and 5 assists performed a major position in Memphis working up a 26-point halftime lead.

However when the second half began, the Grizzlies simply could not generate simple seems to be for anybody. That was partly due to the Thunder’s elevated ball stress, however not having Morant on the market as the first creator considerably damage Memphis. Pippen and Desmond Bane tried their greatest, however when the Thunder have so many versatile defensive wings to throw at these guys, it leads to stagnant offensive possessions.

We’ll must see Morant’s standing going ahead, and also you hope he’ll be OK sufficient to go on Saturday, however shedding him Thursday evening was a significant intestine punch for Memphis.