It was over in a flash. The Oklahoma City Thunder completed the series sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies, surpassing them, who many deemed the premier young team in the NBA.
Here are five takeaways from the Thunder’s first-round series against the Grizzlies.
The Thunder Sweep the Grizzlies
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren Rise to the Moment
Heading into the playoffs, there were questions surrounding the two co-stars, whether they were ready to be legit options next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander struggled during the first three games of the series before scoring a playoff career-high 38 points in the closeout game.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren picked up the slack and rose to the occasion.
Here’s the production of Oklahoma City’s two co-stars during the first three games of the series:
Williams                 Holmgren
23.3 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â PPG Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 21.0
5.7 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â RPG Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 9.7
5.3 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â APG Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.7
2.0 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SPG Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0.3
0.7 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â BPG Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2.3
61.7 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TS% Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 65.6
Williams was the best and most consistent player in this series. Williams averaged 23.2 points, 5.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 54.1% from the floor.
Holmgren displayed two-way dominance throughout the series, including a signature second-half performance during their big comeback in a pivotal Game 3.
CHET HOLMGREN IGNITES A HISTORIC THUNDER COMEBACK 🔥
23 of his 24 points came in the 2nd half as OKC erased a 29-point deficit to take a 3-0 series lead! pic.twitter.com/oGMz4jNFG9
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025
Holmgren averaged 18.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks while shooting 42.3% from 3 and 86.4% from the free throw line.
Playoff Caruso
It was for this moment when the Thunder traded for Alex Caruso over the offseason.
The impact goes beyond the counting stats, as Caruso was an absolute game-changer.
Leading the charge and sparking multiple runs changed the trajectory of numerous games throughout the series.
It won't receive major headlines, but…Alex Caruso put together one of the most impactful defensive series in quite some timeHere are some game-changing defensive playmaking highlights that sparked Oklahoma City in key moments
Alex Caruso put together one of the most impactful defensive series in quite some time
Caruso was Oklahoma City’s unsung hero, with his hustle (he led the series in steals), playmaking on both ends and timely plays on both ends.
Caruso also did a great job on Memphis’s All-Star, Jaren Jackson Jr., frustrating him all series.
Alex Caruso had one of the greatest defensive series in quite some time.
Overcoming the Second-Largest Deficit in Playoff History
Oklahoma City overcame a 29-point deficit in a pivotal Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 lead en route to a series sweep.
That tied for the second-largest comeback victory in NBA playoff history. The record is held by the Los Angeles Clippers, who came back from a 31-point deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors on April 15, 2019.
Fun note: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was also a part of that comeback.
The poise this group showed during that time of adversity is how championship-caliber teams handle those types of situations. This was a positive step in the right direction, as the road from here on out will only become tougher.
Three-Point Struggles
The Thunder have been emphasizing how shooting translates from the regular season to the playoffs.
It played a big part in last year’s second-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Since Game 1, in which the Thunder shot 17/48 from 3, the lack of shooting has been a concern. In Games 2-4, the Thunder have shot 35/118 (29.6%) from 3.
Here’s this Thunder’s group offensive rating and three-point shooting in every playoff series:
109.6 ORTG vs New Orleans Pelicans —38.7% from 3
111.8 ORTG vs Dallas Mavericks — 33.5% from 3
117.4 ORTG vs Memphis Grizzlies — 31.3% from 3
Despite the three-point struggles, the Thunder have found ways to win without it. However, if the shooting woes continue, it will be a significant issue in the next round.
Change in Memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies were once deemed the premier young team in the NBA.
Then, a series of events happened: chemistry and cultural issues, injuries, off-the-court drama, and in-house turmoil, which led to Taylor Jenkins’s dismissal right before the playoffs.
Life in the NBA moves quickly. The Grizzlies have been on a downward spiral, winning only one playoff series since 2022.
After another unfortunate injury to Ja Morant and injuries to key rotation players, plus a disappointing series from Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane. While Scotty Pippen Jr. was a bright spot, Memphis is at a stalemate and has some tough questions to answer regarding the state of their roster.
Here’s the TNT Crew discussing the state of the Memphis Grizzlies:
Chuck and the TNT Crew react to Memphis’ blown lead in Game 3 and trade rumors around Ja Morant 🫣 pic.twitter.com/YK8hJMHVvx
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 26, 2025
The Memphis Grizzlies will be one of the most intriguing teams over the offseason.
Main Image: Â Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
