In a highly anticipated matchup between the two top teams in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged victorious over the Memphis Grizzlies with a final score of 125-112. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Thunder with an impressive 32 points, while Aaron Wiggins contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds to secure the win.
The Thunder’s dominance on the boards played a crucial role in their victory, outrebounding the Grizzlies 55-40. Particularly noteworthy was their performance on the offensive glass, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds that translated into 32 second-chance points. Isaiah Hartenstein was a force in the rebounding department, hauling in 14 boards. Jalen Williams also made a significant impact with 25 points, helping the Thunder extend their winning streak to five games and widen their lead in the conference to 7 1/2 games over second-place Memphis.
Desmond Bane led the scoring for the Grizzlies with 20 points, followed by Jaren Jackson Jr. with 19 points and Santi Aldama with 18 points. Despite their efforts, Memphis saw their four-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Thunder.
The Thunder faced the challenge of playing without key rotation players, including Chet Holmgren, who had recently returned from a hip injury. Holmgren, who had missed 39 games, sat out the game as part of load management on the second night of a back-to-back.
Throughout the game, the Thunder asserted their control, building substantial leads in the first half through strong offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers from the Grizzlies.
In terms of historical matchups, the Thunder extended their winning streak against the Grizzlies to six games, with an average margin of victory of 16.8 points. The 13-point win in this game continued their dominance over Memphis.
Despite the defeat, the Grizzlies struggled to find their rhythm early on, failing to showcase the form of a team vying to be considered among the elite in the Western Conference.
A pivotal moment in the game came in the fourth quarter when Memphis attempted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 12 points. However, a powerful dunk by Williams followed by a decisive play by Hartenstein off a missed shot from Williams extended the Thunder’s lead to 117-100, ultimately sealing the victory.
An essential statistic highlighting the Thunder’s recent success is their average margin of victory during the winning streak, which stands at nearly 24 points, underscoring their dominance.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will face the New Orleans Pelicans at home on Monday, while Memphis is set to embark on a challenging five-game road trip starting with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
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