The Reporters' Notebook: OKC at MEM

By Nick Gallo and Paris Lawson | okcthunder.com

The Thunder’s four-game road trip came to a close inside of FedEx forum as the team took on the Memphis Grizzlies. In a matchup of two teams with similar strengths, the Thunder was tested in limiting Memphis who also generates a majority of its offense from inside the paint. 

With a 14-2 run by Memphis to start and a 14-5 response run by the Thunder to punch right back, this game felt like a metronome throughout the entire 48 minutes. The Thunder would make a push and cut it to a two-possession game only to see the Grizzlies punch right back with a quick flurry to push the lead out. 

In the fourth quarter, the Thunder cut the deficit to 97-93 with eight minutes to go, then again at 106-102 with less than three minutes remaining, but Memphis made a 9-2 run. That burst included a wild behind-the-back save of a ball going out of bounds that led to a driving layup for Dillon Brooks, who then hit a curling, fading two-point jumper to seal this a 121-110 Grizzlies win. 

Nick: Aleksej Pokuševski hustles back in transition not once, but twice to save would-be layups, racking up two of his three first-quarter blocks. The first swat came on John Konchar when Pokuševski slapped it off the glass, then a few possessions later he recovered on a clever move by the explosive Ja Morant. Despite Morant’s late change of direction, Pokuševski had the dexterity to still be in position to block the shot. It was an impressive performance for the 20-year-old, especially considering tonight marks two years to the day since he was drafted by the Thunder. Unfortunately, Pokuševski left the game with a sprained ankle in the second quarter. 

Mark Daigneault was sending two Thunder players all the way down to the corners on offense during the second Grizzlies free throw attempts. Clearly trying to get his team out and spaced correctly as early in the possession as possible, Daigneault was able to inject a bit of extra tempo into the team. The Thunder came into this one third in the NBA in pace, as getting into possessions quickly is critical when going up against a long, physical defense like the one Memphis has. 

Paris: The Thunder fell behind 14-2 in the opening minutes against the Grizzlies. After the first timeout of action, the Thunder’s defense rallied and dug in its heels to slow Memphis’ offense down with a 14-5 run of its own. The Grizzlies started the game 6-10 from the field and 2-2 from 3, but were held to 6-of-16 and 2-for-9 from the 3-point line for the remainder of the first quarter. 

Nick: Impressive next-play mentality from the Thunder throughout the first half. Kenrich Williams shook off a pair of tough plays and stayed completely in the game mentally. Immediately after getting blocked on a hook shot down low and then getting dunked on by Jaren Jackson Jr., Williams knocked down a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer on the next possession, with the same stoic expression on his face. 

Paris: The Thunder deployed Jaylin Williams into the ball game at the outset of the second quarter. In his six minutes of action in that rotation, the rookie big man registered six points – four of which came from the free throw line. Williams leaned into the physicality of the game and when the Thunder needed offense, he found his way to the free throw line for singles. 

Nick: Slippery probing drive by Jalen Williams, going left through the lane then just as he curled under the hoop he dropped off a bounce pass to a cutting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While Gilgeous-Alexander gets extensive attention from opposing defenses when he has the ball, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer made field goals off the catch as well to keep Memphis’ defense reeling. That was one of 34 assists for the Thunder in the game, with four different players recording at least five assists. Williams followed up a six-assist game in Washington with a seven assist night in Memphis. 

Paris: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his dribble behind the 3-point line. His defender swallowed up the shot attempt, but the shot clock was winding down. He zipped the ball over to Josh Giddey who was occupying the opposite wing. Giddey took a couple of quick dribbles and whipped the ball back to SGA who executed a patient shot fake on Santi Aldama and stepped into an in-rhythm 3-pointer that splashed through the net as the shot clock expired. The Thunder’s leading scorer continues to play at his own pace – unrattled by the expiring clock or the pressure from Aldama. 

Paris: Following his nine-point performance against the Wizards on Wednesday where he aided OKC’s comeback efforts to a one-point victory, Thunder two-way player Lindy Waters III contributed more valuable minutes against the Grizzlies on Friday. The wing finished the night with eight points and four rebounds while also snatching away one steal in 19 minutes of action. 

Nick: After a pair of missed free throws by Memphis, Gilgeous-Alexander got the Thunder into an offensive set that began with a hand off to Josh Giddey. Gilgeous-Alexander sprinted through the set, got the ball back in an advantageous situation and sliced through the lane to get to his left hand. The lefty layup missed, but Jeremiah Robinson-Earl finished up the play seamlessly with a putback slam. Even when the shot doesn’t go down, the Thunder’s focus on spacing, tempo and execution on offense can create easier scoring and second chance opportunities.  

“We left something to be desired offensively. I thought there were a lot of possessions where we just didn't get the best shot or we didn't work together for the best shot. When we did obviously we assisted well, but weren't good enough on either end tonight to go get that game.” – Mark Daigneault 

“I think it's a good thing that we're able to keep finding the runs and we're not laying down. I think a lot of it tonight just kind of attributed to we had a slow start. I think that's what carried over, but I think we've been doing a good job all year fighting back and trying to make runs.” – Jalen Williams 

“We've got a lot of guys all through the roster that can contribute and it's a luxury to have. So the more weapons we can have on the floor on the bench at the same time, it's going to put us in good stead going forward.” – Josh Giddey

The Thunder will have the weekend off from games after the long four-game road trip, but will be back in action on Monday at home as it hosts the New York Knicks inside Paycom Center to start a three-game homestand.