MEMPHIS, Tenn. — the sport was long set and also the Memphis starters were relegated to cheerleaders on the bench once John Konchar got a steal and headed to the basket.
His right-handed dunk gave the Grizzlies a 145-67 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder with 3:02 left and a replacement franchise record for points in an exceedingly game. That 78-point advantage was Memphis’ biggest lead on Thursday night, however by the time it absolutely was over the Grizzlies were still seventy three points ahead.
Their 152-79 convert the Thunder shattered the NBA record for the biggest margin of success.
“At that moment, I did not are aware of it was a franchise record,” Konchar aforementioned. “I simply quite saw the lane, and that i wet it. however it’s awe-inspiring.”
The 73-point margin simply screw-topped the previous mark, that was Cleveland’s 68-point convert Miami. The Cavaliers screw-topped the warmth 148-80 on Dec. 17, 1991.
“Tonight isn’t essentially United Nations agency we have a tendency to area unit,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault aforementioned. “I assume we’ve positively shown that from a competitive stance. this is not indicative of United Nations agency our team is.”
Memphis used twelve players and 9 of them reached double figures in evaluation, with Jaren Jackson Junior.’s twenty seven points leading the method. Memphis was while not its best player, battle-scarred guard Ja Morant.
It was 72-36 at pause, and also the Grizzlies simply unbroken adding to the lead, eventually actuation ahead by as several as seventy eight — the biggest lead in any game since a minimum of 1996-97.
“I assume there was some slippage defensively and that i assume before you recognize it, groups area unit in an exceedingly rhythm and also the game is out of hand,” Sooner State City’s electro-acoustic transducer Muscala aforementioned. “We did not fight, obviously. You’d rather withdraw fighting. you’d rather withdraw golf shot your best foot forward and enjoying along.”
The Thunder flirted with being on the incorrect finish of the record last season, trailing Indiana by sixty seven points on May 1 before rallying — like it absolutely was — to lose by just fifty seven points, 152-95.
This was worse. traditionally worse.
The Grizzlies set a franchise record for shooting, making 62.5% of their shots. De’Anthony Melton scored nineteen points, Santi Aldama scored eighteen and John Konchar scored seventeen for the Grizzlies, and none of these 3 players even started.
“Man, it feels nice. It feels nice to be within the history books, particularly ahead of our home crowd,” Melton aforementioned. “And we have a tendency to did it one through fifteen. everyone contributed, everyone compete arduous and that we all need to get within the game. So, it is often a blessing.
“We knew with [Morant] taking place what we have a tendency to had to try and do. we have a tendency to had to boost up.”
No Memphis starter compete quite twenty one minutes. The Grizzlies’ bench contributed ninety three points, outscoring Sooner State City’s entire team by fourteen points.
Lu Dort crystal rectifier the Thunder with fifteen points, and Oklahoma City shot solely thirty third.
It was 12-8 once 5 minutes. From there, there was no stopping Memphis. The Grizzlies outscored the Thunder by fifteen points in every of the four quarters.
“Franchise records area unit clearly nice. clearly pleased with our guys that they do not deem that,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins aforementioned. “We’re simply impelled by what area unit our standards each single night. Tonight was on pretty full show each objectionably and defensively.”
It was the third straight game the Grizzlies have crystal rectifier from begin to end.
“Obviously, it absolutely was a mix of things,” Daigneault aforementioned. “They compete with nice force and pace. They created some shots. we have a tendency to did not shoot it well early and simply extremely could not get an edge on the sport. Any a part of the sport.”
The Thunder lost their eighth straight as they continuing to play undermanned with variety of players unprocurable, together with leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, United Nations agency entered concussion protocol earlier Thursday.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored thirty-nine points against the Rockets on weekday night however suffered a blow to the top late within the game. purpose guard razz Giddey, United Nations agency averages ten.4 points and five.5 assists, weekday out with a non-COVID-19 unwellness, and also the remaining players could not fill the void in Sooner State City’s offense.
The Thunder had been competitive in their seven straight losses before Thursday night. Their largest margin of defeat was thirteen points.
“When you vie, you’ve got exposure to the highs and lows of competition,” Daigneault aforementioned. “And competition comes with nice joy, and it additionally comes with grief and frustration and anger. And after you step therein ring, that is what you expose yourself to is all of these things.
“It’s why the thrill feels therefore smart, as a result of after you get punched and you style your own blood, it does not feel right.”
