Thunder Sweep Grizzlies Minus Ja Morant to Reach Western Conference Semifinals

In a series-clinching showdown, the Oklahoma City Thunder demonstrated pure grit, dispatching the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 and sealing their place in the Western Conference semifinals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at the helm with a spellbinding 38-point performance that led the top-seeded Thunder to a triumphant four-game sweep.

Jalen Williams chipped in 23 points to cap a landmark season for the Thunder, who finished with the league’s best record at 68-14. Now, they wait for their next challenge against either the battle-hardened Denver Nuggets or the surging Los Angeles Clippers.

"My mindset stays the same, whether it's regular season or playoffs," Gilgeous-Alexander shared postgame. "Tonight, everything just clicked. I just played my game."

Memphis, struggling without their dynamo, Ja Morant—who was sidelined with a bruised left hip from Game 3—fought valiantly but couldn't maintain the advantage. The Thunder clawed back from a daunting 29-point deficit, marking the second-largest comeback in modern playoff history.

"The resilience from both teams was remarkable," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault admired. "Down 3-0, losing Morant, then nearly pulling off the upset—it speaks volumes about their grit."

Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Isaiah Joe delivered crucial support, each contributing 11 points, while Hartenstein led on the boards with 12 rebounds. The Grizzlies' Scotty Pippen Jr. equaled his career-high with 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama netted 23 each.

“Scotty’s been a rock for us,” praised Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, acknowledging a season dotted with highs and lows.

The game mirrored the closely fought nature of the series, with neither team budging. Oklahoma City held a slim 88-85 edge going into the final period before a vital 3-pointer from Williams stretched the lead to 102-92. Memphis clawed back, but time slipped away with Bane's last seconds’ miss sealing their fate.

Reflecting on the contest, Daigneault remarked, "We could've managed our late-game lead better, but our execution, particularly in tight spots, was commendable."

Despite the loss, coach Iisalo cherished the relentless spirit shown: "We fought hard every step, refusing to yield. Today just wasn’t our day to close it."