Participant grades: Thunder shock Grizzlies with 29-point comeback in 114-108 Recreation 3 win

MEMPHIS — After John Konchar’s nook outdoors try hit the aspect of the rim, Alex Caruso broke away from visitors and obtained the straightforward transition when he acquired the ball from Jalen Williams. With the FedExForum already emptied, the straightforward bucket was the proper sendoff for one of the vital surprising leads to NBA playoffs historical past.

One way or the other, someway, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder stole a 114-108 Recreation 3 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. A 29-point comeback marked the second-biggest comeback ever. This staff continues to search out methods to impress of us who’ve adopted all of them season.

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All people knew this is able to be the Grizzlies’ finest punch. No one has ever returned from a 0-3 sequence deficit. A loss would’ve been the kiss of loss of life. The Thunder understood that. But getting ready for one thing and experiencing it are two various things.

The Grizzlies blitzed the Thunder early on. Memphis’ position gamers have been scorching. Scotty Pippen Jr. led the way in which as they carried their crowd’s momentum into their finest begin of the sequence. They held a 40-29 lead after the primary quarter. The Thunder’s sharp protection was dulled down.

Complacency settled in. The Thunder performed like a staff with home cash whereas the Grizzlies performed prefer it was in a do-or-die scenario. A 29-8 Memphis run blew the scoreboard open because the Thunder entered halftime with a demoralizing 77-51 deficit.

99 out of 100 occasions, that is the sport. A 29-point deficit is a deep sufficient gap to not escape from. If I am being trustworthy, 500 phrases have been already typed into this by the break because the consequence felt inevitable. However anomalies occur. If any staff may make that sort of historical past, it might be the Thunder.

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Throw in Ja Morant’s second-half absence with a hip damage, and the Thunder may slowly consider they may get proper again into it. After a one-point first half, Chet Holmgren performed the second half with rejuvenated vitality. His outdoors shot fell and he slowly gained his confidence again.

It solely took halfway by the third quarter for the Thunder to get it below a 20-point gap. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s pull-up 3-pointer made it an 84-65 rating with just a little below seven minutes left within the body. Chip, chip, chip away. That is the one mentality they may’ve had with two quarters left.

In the meantime, the Grizzlies’ offense abruptly sank. The new outdoors capturing that exceeded the heat of their pregame pyros obtained ice chilly. Morant’s absence left a franchise-star-sized gap of their offense. They could not generate high quality appears.

The Thunder had a 36-18 run within the third quarter to make issues fascinating. The Grizzlies’ lead was all the way down to a manageable 95-87 coming into the fourth body. Like a pitcher throwing an ideal sport, no Thunder fan dared to say what they noticed occur.

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It solely took 4 minutes for the Thunder to lastly sq. issues off on the scoreboard. Gilgeous-Alexander swished in three free-throw makes an attempt to make it a 99-99 contest with eight minutes left. From that time ahead, it was a high-intensity change.

Holmgren tied it up with a 3-pointer at 108 factors apiece with just a little below three minutes left. Williams then gave the Thunder their first lead at 109-108 when he break up a pair of free throws. From that time ahead, their lead solely grew. The Grizzlies’ offense was utterly absent as they have been scoreless within the last 4:51 of the sport.

Just like the final playoff sport, Caruso was the catalyst. Virtually just like the ball personally disrespected him, he’d rake his arms with full pressure every time he was close to it. He did it hoping for a turnover or disrupting the Grizzlies’ consolation zone. It labored as Memphis was clueless with out Morant. It solely scored 31 factors within the second half and simply 13 factors within the fourth quarter.

Only a stunner of a consequence. The Grizzlies crowd went quiet within the second half, minus some moments. The vitality was zapped out of the constructing. Morant’s damage hung over the staff for the remainder of the night time like a storm cloud and Memphis was helpless to see it soften away a near-bulletproof 29-point lead.

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The Thunder shot 45% from the sphere and went 13-of-38 (34.2%) from 3. They shot 23-of-33 on free throws. That they had 24 assists on 39 baskets. 5 Thunder gamers scored double-digit factors.

Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 factors and eight assists. Williams scored an environment friendly 26 factors. Holmgren bounced again with a loud 24 factors. Caruso and Isaiah Joe every had 10 factors off the bench.

In the meantime, the Grizzlies shot 43% from the sphere and went 14-of-42 (33.3%) from 3. They shot 22-of-26 on free throws. That they had 23 assists on 36 baskets. 5 Grizzlies gamers scored double-digit factors.

Pippen Jr. led the way in which with a stunning 28 factors on 8-of-16 capturing, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 22 factors and 7 rebounds. Morant tallied 15 factors and 5 assists within the first half earlier than he was damage. Desmond Bane solely had 10 factors and Santi Aldama scored 14 factors off the bench.

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The sport ended hours in the past and I stay speechless. So have been the Thunder gamers of their postgame stress. In all probability a mix of adrenaline and sleepiness as they sat in entrance of a room stuffed with reporters and vibrant lights previous midnight.

Generally, there are inexperienced flags sprinkled all through a season that counsel the basketball gods are smiling down upon them. This was the newest instance of that for the Thunder. To come back again down by 29 factors after such a lackadaisical first half is what a championship winner does on their method to a title.

Another above-average squad simply shrugs their shoulder and strikes on to Recreation 4. Nope. Not OKC. They fought again and took benefit of the sport in entrance of them. Now, they sit fairly with a 3-0 sequence lead over the Grizzlies that ends any intrigue on this sequence.

Let us take a look at Thunder participant grades:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A

Any silly considerations about Gilgeous-Alexander have been shushed in Memphis. The rumors of his demise have been tremendously exaggerated after he had two stinkers to start out this playoff sequence. After returning to his classic MVP kind, this sport simply confirms the speculation that he performed a sport supervisor position to get his teammates going.

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Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 31 factors on 10-of-26 capturing, eight assists and 4 rebounds. He shot 2-of-7 from 3 and went 9-of-9 on free throws. He additionally had a steal and a block.

This efficiency seemed nearer to the Gilgeous-Alexander we noticed within the common season. The mid-range maestro backed down defenders for turnaround fadeaway jumpers. He obtained right into a groove. Drives to the basket resulted in free-throw journeys that irked the Grizzlies’ house crowd to the purpose they chanted “free-throw service provider” at him.

With the Thunder’s offense struggling, Gilgeous-Alexander was one of many uncommon vibrant spots within the first half. He put up 18 factors and ensured Memphis’ lead did not attain 30. He purchased them simply sufficient time for Holmgren and the remaining to get up.

That is precisely what the Thunder wanted from Gilgeous-Alexander. In a hostile street surroundings, he went into it realizing he’d want to hold the offensive load initially till they shook off nerves. Pair that along with his clutch moments within the fourth quarter, this was the very best he is seemed in these playoffs.

Chet Holmgren: A-plus

The sports activities cliche of a story of two halves completely matches Holmgren’s efficiency. An unpleasant first half that resulted in only a single level was rapidly forgiven with probably the greatest two-quarter stretches of his profession to place the Thunder in a 3-0 sequence lead.

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Holmgren completed with 24 factors on 8-of-16 capturing and eight rebounds. He shot 5-of-10 from 3 and went 3-of-4 on free throws.

Getting open from outdoors because of Isaiah Hartenstein’s display, Holmgren knocked down a catch-and-shoot look from deep to open up the second half. That foreshadowed the remainder of the night time. The seven-footer mimicked Stephen Curry with 5 outdoors makes to ignite the Thunder’s comeback.

After Caruso kicked the ball out to Holmgren, he splashed in a right-wing 3-pointer to erase the Thunder’s last deficit and tie it up at 108 factors apiece. It is solely becoming that the 22-year-old hit that big-time bucket as he was the face of OKC’s monstrous comeback.

A lot might be mentioned about Holmgren’s night time. To shake off a nasty first half is an indication of development. Most gamers would succumb to the gradual begin and name it one other day. As a substitute, he spearheaded one of many craziest finishes to a playoff sport in NBA historical past.

Jalen Williams: A-plus

Hitting on a stepback 3-pointer on the buzzer, Williams shaved the Grizzlies’ result in single-digit factors to enter the fourth quarter. Whereas the distinction is minuscule, the skin bucket gave the Thunder all the momentum in a series-changing body.

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In contrast to Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren, Williams was a gradual drumbeat. Make it three for 3 in his second playoff run. The 24-year-old has aced each take a look at by the infancy levels of the postseason. This was the newest instance.

Williams completed with 26 factors on 9-of-16 capturing, six rebounds and 5 assists. He shot 2-of-6 from 3 and went 6-of-10 on free throws. He additionally had two steals and a block.

Apart from Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams was the one different viable supply of offense within the first half. He had 18 factors on the break. He was deadly at his mid-range spots and obtained to the free-throw line at will along with his drives to the basket. The one criticisms in opposition to him have been his misses on the charity stripe. It did not value them the comeback however added additional stress.

His teammates will get all the love, however Williams was an underrated hero on this comeback. The Grizzlies cannot restrict him when he will get right into a rhythm. He is been one of many three finest gamers on this quick sequence.

Alex Caruso: A-plus

Operating over to Pippen Jr. to shut out on the potential outdoors shooter, Caruso mentioned screw it and went for the ball as a substitute. He smacked the ball out of his palms and created one other turnover. The vital steal sealed the consequence because the Grizzlies have been down by three factors within the last seconds.

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It was the defensive spotlight of the night time. For the second straight sport, Caruso lived as much as his moniker as a playoff riser. He completed with 10 factors on 4-of-7 capturing, six rebounds and three assists. He additionally had 4 steals and one block.

Scrolling by social media, you will discover some model of “That is why the Thunder traded for Caruso” pop up in your feed a number of occasions. He took over within the fourth quarter because the Grizzlies slowly melted away their lead with simply 13 factors scored. Cease after cease, Memphis was overwhelmed in probably the most vital moments.

Buying Caruso has been one in all Sam Presti’s finest strikes in his lengthy GM tenure. All people with a lick of basketball data knew what’s occurred these final two video games was inevitable and price any regular-season complications.

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This text initially appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Participant grades: Thunder shock Grizzlies in historic 114-108 Recreation 3 win