MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – 157 teams in NBA playoff history have faced a 0-3 deficit. All 157 would be eliminated in their playoff series.
Unless the Grizzlies can make a huge turnaround in Game 3 in the Forum, they will be team No. 158 to join that list.
The Grizzlies have lost the first two games of the series by a combined 70 points.
It is the second-worst point differential in Games 1 and 2 in playoff history.
The issue in this series is that the Thunder are playing with insane intensity and outmatching Memphis with their effort, let alone the basketball play.
The Grizzlies, however, have looked apathetic and were completely unable to bring any competitiveness or drama to the games in OKC.
The one positive for Memphis was that they were able to outscore OKC in the third quarter 27-20, which was by far their best performance of the series.
The trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. has not been able to perform up to their regular-season standards.
The team that was once the 2 seed in the West is reeling from playing both games of the Play-In tournament and two road games against the best team in the conference.
In both games, it has only been Ja Morant who has performed consistently, leading the team in scoring.
The biggest difference in the series so far has most definitely been the turnovers leading to fastbreak points.
In two games, Memphis has committed 39 turnovers and has given up 48 fast-break points to OKC.
On and off stretches from Jackson Jr., Bane, and the entire bench have kept Memphis well out of reach of winning either game.
Game 3 tips off Thursday night at 8:30 p.m., where OKC is favored to win by 9 points according to FanDuel.
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