Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 factors and the Oklahoma City Thunder superior to the Western Convention semifinals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 on Saturday to finish a four-game sweep.
Jalen Williams added 23 factors for the top-seeded Thunder, who led the NBA with a 68-14 report this season and have become the primary group to succeed in the second spherical. They may await the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets or No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers within the subsequent spherical.
“I did not really feel like my mindset was any completely different,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “Each evening I step on the ground to be the most effective model of myself. I hadn’t been previously (video games), however tonight I used to be fairly near it. I believe as a result of I stored the identical mindset, it allowed me to simply play free.”
The Grizzlies performed with out star guard Ja Morant, who bruised his left hip in a tough fall in Sport 3. The Thunder erased a 29-point deficit after he left, the second-biggest comeback in a postseason sport since detailed play-by-play started being stored in 1996-97.
“Their struggle tonight was spectacular, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “Down 3-0, down Morant and down 11 with 4 (minutes) to go. Lot of respect for them competitively.”
Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe had 11 factors apiece for the Thunder, with Hartenstein including 12 rebounds.
Scotty Pippen Jr. matched his profession excessive with 30 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds. Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama had 23 factors apiece.
“Scotty did an incredible job all through the tip of the season. He was very constant on each ends,” Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo stated.
The sport was shut by means of three quarters with neither group constructing a major benefit. Oklahoma Metropolis led 88-85 getting into the fourth. At that time, the Thunder had been 4-of-29 from 3-point vary.
Williams’ 3-pointer with 5:41 left within the sport gave the Thunder a 102-92 lead, the primary time both group reached a double-digit benefit. The lead would attain 11 earlier than Memphis rallied and a 3-pointer from Bane with 7.1 seconds left reduce it to 116-114.
Williams break up a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left and the Thunder fouled Bane deliberately. He made the primary however Memphis couldn’t rebound his intentional miss of the second.
“We might have been slightly bit tighter after we constructed the lead (to 11 within the fourth quarter),” Daigneault stated. “I assumed we acquired slightly bit unfastened on defensive possessions particularly. As soon as it tightened up, I assumed every little thing from execution to clock administration … was all very optimistic.”
After six lead modifications and 5 ties within the half, Oklahoma Metropolis led 60-59 on the break.
“We fought, everyone on this group. Like, there was zero give up on this group,” Iisalo stated, including the Grizzlies simply could not shut out the sport.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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