The Oklahoma City Thunder are on the verge of making history as they face off against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA playoffs. After a dominant regular season, the Thunder are now just one win away from sweeping the series, following an incredible comeback that saw them erase a staggering 29-point deficit on Thursday night, April 24, 2025, to win Game 3 in Memphis 114-108. This victory puts the Thunder ahead 3-0 in the best-of-seven series, with a chance to close it out on Saturday afternoon.
During the regular season, the Thunder showcased their dominance by winning an NBA-best 68 games and boasting the league's highest net rating. They outscored their opponents by a remarkable 1,055 points throughout the 82-game season. Led by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City entered the playoffs as the clear championship favorites.
The Grizzlies, however, have faced a tumultuous few weeks. In late March, they parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins, promoting interim coach Tuomas Iisalo. Despite the change, Memphis struggled to find their rhythm, finishing the regular season with a 4-5 record in their last nine games. They secured their playoff spot through the Play-In Tournament, defeating the Dallas Mavericks on April 18 after a loss to the Golden State Warriors just days before.
As the series unfolded, Game 1 saw the Thunder dominate with a 131-80 victory, marking the fifth-largest margin of victory in NBA playoff history. Game 2 followed suit, with Oklahoma City winning 118-99. The stakes were high for the Grizzlies in Game 3, and they started strong, outscoring the Thunder 40-29 in the first quarter and leading by as much as 29 points.
However, the turning point came when Grizzlies star Ja Morant suffered a hip injury with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. At that moment, Memphis led 67-40, and the loss of their key player proved to be detrimental. Morant was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the second half after recording 15 points and five assists in just 16 minutes of action.
With Morant sidelined, the Thunder seized the opportunity to mount an epic comeback. Chet Holmgren emerged as a catalyst for Oklahoma City, scoring 23 of his 24 points in the second half, including a remarkable 16 points in the pivotal third quarter. The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies 36-18 during that period, narrowing the gap significantly.
Coach Mark Daigneault reflected on the team's resilience, stating, "I just thought out of halftime, we kind of reconnected to who we are. We were very out of character in the first half." Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 points and eight assists, while Jalen Williams contributed 26 points, including crucial free throws that gave the Thunder their first lead of the game.
Despite the Grizzlies' strong start, they struggled to maintain their momentum without Morant. Scotty Pippen Jr. led Memphis with 28 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 points. However, the absence of Morant shifted the dynamics of the game, allowing Oklahoma City to capitalize on their mistakes and take control.
"Understanding leads, you're never too far ahead, and you're never too far behind," Williams noted, highlighting the Thunder's mindset as they battled back from the brink.
The comeback became historic, marking the second-largest in NBA playoff history since play-by-play data began in the 1996-97 season. The only larger comeback occurred on April 15, 2019, when the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 31-point deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
As the Thunder prepare for Game 4 on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. ET, they are looking to complete the sweep and advance to the next round. The odds for Game 4 currently favor the Thunder by 14 points, with an over/under set at 225.5.
With the series hanging in the balance, the Grizzlies will need to regroup and find a way to overcome the Thunder's momentum and the absence of Morant. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City is riding high on confidence, eager to continue their playoff run and solidify their status as championship contenders.
As the action unfolds, fans are left wondering: can the Grizzlies rally without their star player, or will the Thunder complete their mission and move one step closer to the NBA title?
