The Oklahoma City Thunder thundered in the playoff opener and dismantled the Memphis Grizzlies 131-80.
That score marked the biggest Game 1 victory in NBA playoff history. The 51-point dismantling marked the sixth time the team won a playoff game with over 50 points.
And Starguard Shy Gilgauss Alexander revealed the simple formula behind their domination.
“We stack multiple possessions of big defensive possessions to allow us to become people who are offensive. That’s no secret,” SGA explained after the match.
“It’s not just that you have one good possession, two bad, one good. It’s like stacking them up.”
The numbers are the tales of Oklahoma City’s two-way excellence. Offensively, they dominated paint (60-48) and transition points (27-5) while recording an impressive 37 assists.
Defensively, they pushed Memphis into 22 turns, keeping their shooting rate at 34.4%, and the Grizzlies players didn’t reach the 20-point mark.
Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized that this performance fully reflects the team’s identity throughout the regular season. This is huge on both ends of the floor.
“We played for our identity. There was nothing more. We were all year round, and that would be key to our success,” SGA said after the game.
“We can stop and play fast. We play with our strengths and play open space. That’s the key.”
Thunder showed incredible depth, with six players scoring in double digits. Aaron Wiggins led the charge with 21 points, followed by Jalen Williams with 20.
However, for the SGA, personally, the game was not his best as he contributed 15 points and only shot 30.8% off the field.
What makes this victory particularly impressive is how the Thunder maintained its strength throughout all four quarters.
Their choking defenses were never tolerant, forcing Memphis into difficult shots and rushing over possessions that often end in turnovers.
This performance informs the rest of the Western Conference. Oklahoma City is not a young team happy to take part in the playoffs.
They are legal candidates with championship aspirations, combining elite defense with an explosive, balanced offensive attack.