Grizzlies top Thunder 110-97 to end OKC’s win streak
Darius Bazley crouched in his stance and tried to contain Brandon Clarke. It was rookie on rookie, and a matchup that symbolized the different stages of a similar rebuilding project the Thunder and Grizzlies find themselves in.
Eight days after blowing a 24-point lead at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Grizzlies didn't waste a 20-point fourth quarter advantage Thursday in the same building. Memphis topped Oklahoma City 11097, snapping the Thunder's four-game winning streak.
It was the Thunder's first home loss since Dec. 4.
The Thunder (15-15) relied on come-from-behind theatrics during its five- game home stand that concluded Thursday, but it couldn't dip into the same deja vu in its second meeting with Memphis.
The Grizzlies (12-20) outrebounded the Thunder 50-34. The Grizzlies outshot the Thunder 55% to 41% and 40% to 29% behind the arc. Memphis held a 22- point advantage in the paint and an 18-point bench scoring edge. The Grizzlies outscored the
Thunder 23-6 on fast breaks.
It was a sleepy start for the Thunder after the holiday break. Chris Paul cut the Grizzlies' lead to nine points with 2: 15 left, but the surge ended there. The Thunder missed its final four shots.
“Tonight was a night that we really struggled to shoot,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “It was a game that we probably needed to rely on our defense a little bit more.”
The Grizzlies' young big three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Clarke combined for 43 points on 56%
shooting. Clarke was most efficient with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He scored a career-high 27 points against the Thunder on Dec. 18. Clarke leads all rookies, shooting 65% from the field.
Clarke's Thunder tenure was forgettably brief. Oklahoma City selected him with the 21st pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He sported a Thunder cap on draft night before being dealt to the
Grizzlies for Bazley — whom Memphis drafted two slots later at No. 23 overall — and a 2024 second-round draft pick.
Clarke was a four- year college player who transferred from San Jose State to Gonzaga.
Bazley chose a New Balance internship instead of the traditional college route. Clarke is 23. Bazley, who made his third-career start Thursday in place of the injured Danilo Gallinari, is 19.
Memphis compiled its core after two middling seasons from 2015- 17 and back- toback seasons of bottoming out in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Unlike the Thunder, the current Grizzlies don't have veterans such as Paul, Gallinari and Steven Adams to complement their youngsters.
But Memphis' dark years are a preview of what OKC might face when its quality veterans are traded. The light is just now shining through for the Grizzlies, and they still rank 11th in the Western Conference.
“Those guys are really good players,” Donovan said. “They're obviously highly selected. They're young. I've always said this: The thing with young players is whether or not they get the opportunity to play when they're young. They have the chance to learn a lot as they go through this.”
As Donovan alluded to, Jackson was the fourth pick in 2018. Morant was picked second in 2019 and Clarke was 21st. The Thunder has stockpiled future picks with the hopes of hitting on a few lottery selections.
The Grizzlies and Thunder met three times in the playoffs between 2011-14. The teams have changed, but the franchises are setting the table for future battles.