Thunder Stun Grizzlies with Historic 29-Point Comeback

Oklahoma City Thunder stage remarkable 29-point rally to defeat Memphis Grizzlies 114-108, taking 3-0 lead in playoff series. Find out what coaches and players said about the game-changing moment.

The Oklahoma City Thunder staged a remarkable 29-point comeback to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108, putting them on the brink of a playoff sweep. The Grizzlies' task was made harder when star guard Ja Morant left the game with a hip injury.

“It wasn't pretty. They hit us first. But we did what we had to do and came away with a win,” said Chet Holmgren, who scored 23 of his 24 points in the second half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points and Jalen Williams scored 26. “It was a team mentality. Everybody was saying something when we went into that locker room. Then we came out and we cleaned it up,” Holmgren said.

The Oklahoma City Thunder seized a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. They have a chance to complete the sweep in Game 4 on Saturday.

Ja Morant suffered a bruised left hip late in the second quarter and left the game for good. The Grizzlies took their largest lead at 69-40 after Morant's departure, and Memphis led 77-51 at halftime. However, Oklahoma City staged a remarkable comeback, outscoring the hosts 63-31 in the second half.

Fought back, came back 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/W5heQ5e5KY

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 25, 2025

Memphis interim coach Tuomas Iisalo attributed his team's loss to Ja Morant's injury, saying it drastically affected their energy and execution. “I would say quite drastically from the result, not only the energy but the execution,” Iisalo said. “We did a great job fighting for 48 minutes but against this team, it's not enough to fight. You also have to be able to execute.”

Morant's status remains uncertain, with further evaluations scheduled. “He's going through further evaluations tomorrow and then we'll know more,” Iisalo added.

Historic Comeback

The Oklahoma City Thunder's 29-point comeback was historic, with the only greater NBA playoff collapse in the past 25 years being the Los Angeles Clippers' 31-point rally against Golden State in 2019. “Our response, in a game that doesn't feel attainable in certain parts of it, was great,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

Ja Morant's injury drew comparisons to Jimmy Butler's fall in Golden State's game, though Morant's situation is distinct, with further evaluations pending to determine the extent of his bruised hip injury.