By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 on Saturday to complete a four-game sweep.
Jalen Williams added 23 points for the top-seeded Thunder, who led the NBA with a 68-14 record this season and became the first team to reach the second round. They will await the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets or the No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers in the next round. That series is tied 2-2.
One aspect of the Oklahoma City play that improved, particularly in Saturday’s Game 4, was the play of guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After leading the league in scoring during the regular season at 32.7 points a game, he struggled — by his standards — in the first two games. He averaged 21 points in the first two and was a combined 14 of 42 from the field.
“I didn’t feel like my mindset was any different,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Every night I step on the floor to be the best version of myself. I hadn’t been in the past (games), but tonight I was pretty close to it. I think because I kept the same mindset, it allowed me to just play free.”
In Saturday’s series-clinching win, Gilgeous-Alexander made his first seven shots, was 13 of 24 from the field, and his 38 points were joined by six assists.
“He was pretty consistent with his floor game in all these games,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I thought the way he played didn’t change, and that’s what we’re focused on. I thought he had some makeable stuff in the early games that he missed, but I didn’t think he played any different. I just think he got into a groove (on Saturday).”
Gilgeous-Alexander said in the past, he might have turned down his aggressiveness if he was struggling. However, he said mentally he made a jump this year.
“I try not to focus on the results and just focus on my mental development,” the Thunder guard said. “I think I’ve taken a step forward in that, and I had a night like (Saturday) because of it.
“In the past, I would definitely, I guess, shied away from the moment because of where my shooting was headed.”
Oklahoma City dominated the first two games of the series at home and then faced a tougher challenge on the road. After winning Game 1 by 51 points and capturing Game 2 by 19, the Thunder had to overcome a 29-point deficit in Game 3 before holding off a late Memphis rally in Game 4.
The Grizzlies played without star guard Ja Morant, who bruised his left hip in a hard fall in Game 3. The Thunder’s comeback from 29 points down came after he left, the second-biggest comeback in a postseason game since detailed play-by-play began being kept in 1996-97.
“Their fight tonight was impressive,” Daigneault said. “Down 3-0, down Morant, and down 11 with four (minutes) to go. Lot of respect for them competitively.”
Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Isaiah Joe had 11 points apiece for the Thunder, with Hartenstein adding 12 rebounds.
Scotty Pippen Jr. matched his career high with 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama had 23 points apiece.
“Scotty did a tremendous job throughout the end of the season. He was very consistent on both ends,” Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said.
The game was close through three quarters with neither team building a significant advantage. Oklahoma City led 88-85 entering the fourth. At that point, the Thunder were 4 of 29 from 3-point range.
Williams’ 3-pointer with 5:41 left in the game gave the Thunder a 102-92 lead, the first time either team reached a double-digit advantage. The lead would reach 11 before Memphis rallied and a 3-pointer from Bane with 7.1 seconds left cut it to 116-114.
Williams split a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left and the Thunder fouled Bane intentionally. He made the first, but Memphis could not rebound his intentional miss of the second.
“We could have been a little bit tighter when we built the lead (to 11 in the fourth quarter),” Daigneault said. “I thought we got a little bit loose on defensive possessions specifically. Once it tightened up, I thought everything from execution to clock management … was all very positive.”
After six lead changes and five ties in the half, Oklahoma City led 60-59 at the break.
“We fought, everybody on this team. Like, there was zero quit in this team,” Iisalo said, adding the Grizzlies just couldn’t close out the game.
As the first team to move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder get some time off.
Rest for the best.
OKC has now won eight straight, dating back to the regular season.
The Thunder weren’t sure if the break will serve as a benefit.
“Honestly, it could work both ways against us,” forward Jalen Williams said. “It could add a little rust, or it can add a little freshness. I think trying to find a balance between those two is going to be important, however long it is that we have to wait until this next series.”
“These last two have been good for us,” coach Daigneault said. “On a playoff stage with playoff pressure.”
Now the Thunder are looking ahead.
“We always say the times between the games is the days that you have to win in the playoffs,” Williams said, “And that’s (what) we’re going to try and tackle in this little break we get. Just try to be a better team.”
While some were not sure if the time off was a benefit, Daigneault said the Thunder will “always take it.”
“It’s good physically to rejuvenate,” he said. “Guys, I’m sure, are dealing with little things here and there that they get to get healthy and it allows ample prep time.
“I thought we handled it really well coming out of the regular season, getting ourselves ready to play at the start of this series. We’re going to have to replicate that.”
