MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Chet Holmgren had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Jalen Williams added 23 points and six assists and Oklahoma City held off the Memphis Grizzlies 118-112 on Saturday night to claim a share of first place in the Western Conference.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points and Josh Giddey finished with 13, despite going 1 for 6 from 3-point range. Oklahoma City’s fifth win in six games allowed the Thunder to tie Denver atop the West at 47-20.
“It didn’t go the way we planned for the whole game, or even down the stretch,” Holmgren said. “But we put together enough pieces.”
Desmond Baneplaying his first game since Jan. 12 due to injury, led the Grizzlies with 22 points and seven assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. and GG Jackson finished with 19 points each for Memphis, which lost its second straight and fourth in five games. Jaren Jackson Jr. matched Bane’s seven assists, while going 7 of 11 from the floor and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
“I felt good,” Bane said of his first time on the court, playing nearly 32 minutes. “I had my first wind. Then I kind of grabbed my legs. I will be better, that’s for sure.
After a closely fought game early, the Thunder were able to create a bit of a buffer in the third, pushing the lead to 14 points while shooting 53% at that point for the game. They went on a 19-5 run in the final minutes of the game.
Memphis battled back to a possession early in the fourth, but another Oklahoma City run, fueled by a couple of Holmgren baskets inside, pushed the Thunder’s lead to double digits, thwarting a comeback attempt by Memphis.
“We showed great intensity and played at the level the match required if we wanted to win it. It was an impressive display of resilience, in my opinion,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
The Grizzlies received an offensive punch as Bane, who averages 24.4 points and is one of the team’s best 3-point shooters, returned after missing 29 games with a sprain on the left ankle. Additionally, Jaren Jackson, the team’s third-leading scorer averaging 22.4 points, played after missing two games with right quadriceps tendinitis.
‘It was a breath of fresh air,’ Jaren Jackson Jr. said about Bane’s return. “Des did exactly what I know Des does and all the attention he gets. His presence makes it easier for all of us.
The Thunder easily won the first two meetings between the teams this season, including a 124-93 decision on March 10.
This time it was different as Bane opened the floor by hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers, including the first shot of the game. This helped keep Memphis close. But over the period, the Grizzlies could not keep up. And while Memphis is already looking ahead to next season, the Thunder now share first place in the conference.
“It’s extremely important at the end of the season,” Holmgren said of sharing the top spot, adding that the Thunder are headed in the right direction for a strong playoff seed. “It’s also good to see that all the work we’re doing is putting us in a good position.
“But we have a long way to go.”
FOLLOWING
Thunder: host Utah Jazz Wednesday.
Grizzlies: Travel to Kings of Sacramento Monday.
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