The Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed a sweep over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Once they were back in Memphis, the final two games of the series were competitive, following consecutive blowouts in the first two.
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It’s possible that fans of both teams knew the series was over after the Thunder dismantled the Grizzlies on Easter Sunday by an astounding 51 points.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) spins toward the basket against the Grizzlies.Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Perhaps most importantly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got going late in the series.
After the Thunder essentially didn’t need him in Game 1, scoring a season-low 15 points.
But in the closeout game, Gilgeous-Alexander put on a performance most are used to seeing by now, scoring 38 points in a 117-115 win.
The Thunder advance to take on the Denver Nuggets, a team that looked quite strong and energetic in the seven-game series.
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Ahead of Game 1 against the Nuggets, TNT’s Charles Barkley offered his prediction on the series and was far from shy about it.
“I’m not leaning, I’m going OKC,” Barkley said. “I have not seen anything in the Western Conference to make me think anybody can beat OKC.
“You’re going to see this for the first time. Denver has not done anything with their bench. Oklahoma City probably has the best bench in the NBA. I think that’s going to be a huge [difference] in this series.”
While the Thunder dominated this season, they split the regular-season series with the Nuggets 2-2.
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The Nuggets defeated the Thunder the last time the two teams met on March 10, allowing Jokic to score 35 points and grab 18 rebounds.
However, it’s unlikely the Nuggets would be able to replicate that game for an entire series, especially considering that they shot 56% from three in that game.
Gilgeous-Alexander has a 40-point game against the Nuggets this season, so it will be interesting to see how Denver guards him out of the gate.
