Positive to say the Thunder he spent his First take a look at of the playoffs.
Oklahoma Metropolis Mauled Memphis 131-80 Sunday afternoon on the Paycc Heart to take an advance of 1-0 within the first spherical collection of the Western Convention.
Here is how the Thunder ranked in match 1:
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Extra: How Okc Thunder closed Ja Morant, Zach Edey and Memphis Grizzlies within the NBA qualifiers?
Pesting Grizzlies Heart Zach Edey: A +
Zach Edey seemed… uncomfortable. It might be the sweetest approach to say it.
What labored towards Indiana and the state of Michigan is much less efficient towards Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Thunder. Admittedly, Edey had an excellent recruit season – a primary scholar of all younger individuals most likely – however basketball of the playoffs is a distinct beast as a result of Edey and the Grizz have been recalled on Sunday.
Edey has 7 toes 4 inches, however he cancels his dimension benefit when he reduces the ball. The Thunder has stripped it a number of instances. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren took turns in flip Edey within the first quarter.
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Edey solely performed 20 minutes – the least of any grizzlewood starter.
Memphis coach, Tuomas Iisalo, can not say Edey squarely, however the outcomes of the recruit weren’t a superb Sunday. In Edey’s protection, his teammates weren’t higher.
Generally Mark Daigneault likes Zag together with his queues, however he deployed the double-Large unit of Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein to begin towards Edey and Jaren Jackson Jr.
– JOE MUSSATTO
Easter amosphere to the Paycc Heart: A-
A midday level on an Easter imbued with rain didn’t attenuate the environment with the Paycc Heart.
The sector was not simply full – we knew it could be – it was very nicely earlier than the tip. Followers have put their free t-shirts, even when they needed to be ashamed to take action.
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Was it probably the most noisy eliminatory match? No. Once more, I didn’t have my decibels counter at hand. It was noisy given the circumstances, nevertheless. It’s tough to stay engaged within the midst of an eruption of fifty factors.
– JOE MUSSATTO
Chet Holmgren: a
The match efficiency on the Chet Holmgren match has fluctuated since his February’s return from harm. Some nights, it seems like a basic Chet. Different nights, he seems like a man who recovers a fracture in his hip.
Sunday afternoon, he seemed like the primary.
Holmgren collected 19 factors, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. These figures don’t clarify the whole lot he has dissuaded on the sting.
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– JOE MUSSATTO
Extra: The OKC star Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named finalist for 2024-25 NBA MVP
Alex Caruso: B +
He took no blow in 12 minutes and will deserve an “A.”
It’s how Caruso has an affect. He was a plus-30, by the best way, however who was not?
Caruso collected 4 assists and three rebounds. It was a menace as traditional on the defensive. Its versatility at this finish of the bottom is what makes it particular. When the Thunder grew to become small, Caruso frolicked defending Jaren Jackson Jr. Caruso can preserve one to 4.
– JOE MUSSATTO
JA MORANT DE MEMPHIS (12 years outdated) is seeking to acquire by Isaiah Joe of Oklahoma Metropolis (11) throughout match 1 of the NBA eliminatory collection between Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies on the Pyycom Heart at Oklahoma Metropolis, Sunday April 20, 2025.
Defend Ja MORANT: B +
The famous person of Memphis, Ja Morant, had her moments, marking 17 factors and distributing 4 assists. However OKC has made its moments tough; He wanted 17 photographs to get his factors, making solely six baskets and going 1 from 6 from behind the arc.
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Morant, nevertheless, had just one turnover. He could be topic to turnover – he has a mean of three.6 reversals within the first seven video games he performed this month, for instance – and bearing in mind the standard of thunder to rework opponents, it could be much more disturbing for grizzly groles if it forces the extra again along with reversals.
– Jenni Carlson
Aaron Wiggins: a
All that’s doing is getting out of the bench and making large video games.
After spending the entire first quarter on the bench – about half-hour of actual time, because the Thunder coach Mark Daignault identified. He helped seize a 23-2 Thunder race initially of the quarter which primarily put the match.
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Wiggins completed with a summit of 21 factors.
– Jenni Carlson
Isaiah Hartenstein of Oklahoma Metropolis and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) Power a tie ball with Zach Edey from Memphis (14) in match 1 of the NBA Playoff collection between Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies on the Paycc Heart at Oklahoma Metropolis, Sunday April 2025.
Inside protection of the Thunder: a
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey are giant low masses for the grizzly ones, however none of them made many bumps in thunder on Sunday.
They went mixed 4 out of 14 in portray, Edey managing solely 5 photographs. Additionally they pulled a single frank launch between them, which signifies that Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Co. did a masterful job of duties with out forward.
Whereas MORANT is the most important concern for the Thunder protection, OKC will make a fast job of Memphis if he holds Jackson and Edey at 4 factors every.
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– Jenni Carlson
Extra: Okc Thunder demolie jomant, Grizzlies in Document NBA Playoff Rout | 5 take -out dishes
The nationwide anthem of Large Rob Clay: A +
An opportunity that we will begin a petition for Large Rob to sing the nationwide anthem for every eliminatory match?
The speaker and Pastor Motivator is an everyday tune “The Star-Spangled Banner” earlier than Thunder Video games, however Sunday recalled how nice he’s. He’s not going too slowly or doesn’t attempt to do an excessive amount of, letting his wealthy baritone do his job. And what a job it does.
Effectively accomplished, Large Rob.
– Jenni Carlson
This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Okc Thunder Grades VS Memphis Grizzlies in match 1 of the NBA qualifiers