Facing their largest deficit of the playoff so far, the Oklahoma City Thunder remained unfazed.
The Memphis Grizzlies built a 29-point lead at 69-40 over the Thunder with 3:07 left to play in the second quarter, appearing for what is likely a Game 3 runaway.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had other plans.
“I just know that if they can build it, we can erase it,” Gilegous-Alexander said.
"If they could build it, we can erase it.'@shaiglalex 🫡 https://t.co/HtI8SfITl4
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025
OKC did just that and completed the second largest playoff comeback since the play-by-play era (1997-98) after a stunning 114-108 win in Game 3 on Friday (PH time), April 25.
OKC COMPLETES 29-POINT COMEBACK, THE 2ND LARGEST PLAYOFF COMEBACK IN PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA (1997-98).
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025
The Thunder now gain a commanding 3-0 series lead and have a chance to close it out on Sunday, April 27 in Game 4.
Only the LA Clippers’ 31-point comeback against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the 2019 Western Conference opening round topped OKC’s gutsy feat.
SGA fired a team-high 31 points, Chet Holmgren scored 23 of his 24 marks in the second half in perhaps the most impressive victory of the franchise.
CHET HOLMGREN IGNITES A HISTORIC THUNDER COMEBACK 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025
23 of his 24 points came in the 2nd half as OKC erased a 29-point deficit to take a 3-0 series lead!
It was a tale of two halves for OKC as the West no. 1 seed fell behind 6-15 within the first five minutes of play and trailed 51-77 at halftime.
But the Thunder responded with a 36-18 third quarter and cut the Grizzlies’ cushion to single digit, 87-95, entering the final frame.
“In the third, I just thought we reconnected on who we are. We showed great communication even though we were down by 20, we didn’t break through the lead very quickly,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters in the post-game press conference.
They didn’t lead until Jalen Williams — who ended up with 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists — hit a clutch free throw with 1:20 ticks remaining in regulation as part of a 8-0 OKC closing run that sealed the epic comeback.
OKC COMPLETES 29-POINT COMEBACK, THE 2ND LARGEST PLAYOFF COMEBACK IN PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA (1997-98).
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025
“[I was] never surprised, just always impressed. They’re the epitome of a team. We could’ve lost the game, but coming together in the second half and standing up together in the face of adversity… and we just stood up with our backs against the wall,“ Daigneault added.
Meanwhile, Scotty Pippen Jr. topscored the Grizzlies with 28 points while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 marks in a game where Memphis lost superstar Ja Morant due to a left hip contusion.
Morant landed hard after he got fouled by Thunder guard LuD ort in a 2-on-1 fastbreak play late in the second frame. Although in pain, he still went on to shoot his free throws and missed both before exiting the game for good.
Ja Morant goes down after a hard fall.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2025
He has left to the locker room. Hope he is okay 🙏
He finished with 15 points and five assists in 16 minutes.
“I would say quite drastically in result but [it] also [affected our] energy and execution,” Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo spoke to what degree Morant’s injury impacted the team’s performance in a deflating loss.
