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Thunder vs Grizzlies Game 3 Preview: OKC’s Defense Travels as Memphis Searches for Life
The Oklahoma City Thunder are making playoff basketball look easy — and that’s saying something for one of the NBA’s youngest teams.
After two dominant victories at home, the top-seeded Thunder now lead their first-round Western Conference playoff series 2-0 over the Memphis Grizzlies, and they’ll try to bring that same intensity to Game 3 Thursday night in Memphis.
Thunder Dominance Built on Defense
Oklahoma City hasn’t just won — they’ve smothered Memphis.
Game 1 was a historic 51-point blowout (131-80), and Game 2 saw the Thunder lead wire-to-wire in a 19-point win (112-93).
The key? Relentless defense:
- Held Memphis to 34% shooting in Game 1
- Forced 24 turnovers
- Limited Grizzlies to 17 points in the first quarter of Game 2
- Grabbed 16 offensive rebounds for crucial second-chance points
Coach Mark Daigneault praised his team’s grind-it-out mentality.
“We still stacked stops despite not a great shooting half… Our perseverance in the third quarter (with offensive rebounds) manufactured second-half offense to win.”
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Shai Struggles, But OKC Depth Shines
While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s MVP candidate, has yet to explode offensively, his teammates have stepped up.
- Game 1: Gilgeous-Alexander had just 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting
- Game 2: Scored 27 points but went just 10-of-29 overall, 3-of-10 from three
Still, OKC’s depth is carrying the load:
- Jalen Williams: 20+ points in both games
- Chet Holmgren: Averaging a double-double with 5 blocks in Game 2
- Aaron Wiggins: Key spark in Game 1 with 21 points
With such balanced production, the Thunder are proving they can dominate even when their best player isn’t at his best.
Memphis Shows Fight, But Needs More
The Grizzlies improved from Game 1 to Game 2 — but not enough.
Jaren Jackson Jr. rebounded from a poor opener (2-of-13) with 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting in Game 2. Ja Morant added 23 points, leading a third-quarter rally that briefly trimmed an 18-point halftime deficit to single digits.
Despite the progress, Memphis still trailed the entire game.
Coach Tuomas Iisalo noted the biggest issue remains live-ball turnovers and OKC’s ability to punish them in transition.
The Grizzlies need to:
- Limit turnovers
- Crash the glass harder
- Get more scoring help beyond Ja and Jackson
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Matchup Watch: Thunder vs Grizzlies Game 3
Thunder X-Factors:
- Can Shai get into rhythm early?
- Will Holmgren continue dominating the paint?
- Can they keep winning the rebounding battle?
Grizzlies X-Factors:
- Will the improved offense from Jackson and Morant be enough?
- Can Memphis find a third scorer?
- How will the bench respond at home?
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FAQs
When is Thunder vs Grizzlies Game 3?
Thursday night in Memphis.
What’s the series score?
Oklahoma City leads 2-0.
How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander perform so far?
He’s scored 15 and 27 points but struggled with shooting efficiency.
Who stepped up for OKC?
Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Aaron Wiggins have been outstanding.
What’s the key for Memphis to bounce back?
Limit turnovers, hit more shots early, and get help beyond their stars.
Final Take: Thunder vs Grizzlies Game 3 Preview
The Thunder have shown why they earned the West’s No. 1 seed. Their defensive effort is elite, and their depth is overwhelming. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finds his shooting rhythm in Game 3, OKC might slam the door on the series.
Memphis needs a breakout game — and the FedExForum crowd might just be the spark they need. But another flat start could mean a quick 3-0 hole.
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