Ja Morant and the Grizzlies go crazy at OKC

It was the very big odds of the evening between the Grizzlies who remained on 7 wins in a row, and a Thunder who had just chained five defeats in a row. Especially since OKC showed up without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Josh Giddey. But the Western Conference leaders looked down on the young Thunder, and they were punished!

The Thunder’s strategy is simple: force the Grizzlies to shoot from afar. The racquet is locked, and the Grizzlies have never managed to hit the mark from afar. It was Lu Dort who launched hostilities with eight points in a row (12-9), but Ja Morant immediately answered him in stride (20-15). Mark Daigneault opens his bench, and it is the unknown Lindy Waters III who signs two winning shots in a row to give the advantage to the Thunder after twelve minutes (25-21).

Ja Morant expelled

With the Williams at the finish, the Thunder continues with an 11-0 to take a 14-point lead (38-24). Opposite, the Grizzlies thwart completely, and the Thunder unfolds its basketball to the point of reaching a 20-point gap (60-40). Frustration spreads to Memphis, and Ja Morant is expelled for two very severe techniques. At the break, Memphis is 21 points behind (64-43).

When you return from the locker room, things don’t really get better with missed shots and an obvious lack of enthusiasm. The Thunder is content to manage its lead, and with each attempt to close the Grizzlies, an element stands out like Aaron Wiggins or Tre Mann (91-76). In the final quarter, it’s Dillon Brooks against the rest of the world. The Grizzlies winger is unleashed, and he receives support from Tyus Jones. With 30 seconds remaining, the Grizzlies were only six points behind, but like in the first quarter, Lu Dort took care of everything, and the Thunder won 115-109.

WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER

– Ja Morant unfairly expelled? At the start, there is a rant from Ja Morant for a fault not whistled. It logically takes a technique. Behind, he talks with a Grizzlies fan, and he takes a second technique, synonymous with expulsion. For the referee, Ja Morant made fun of him, while the player assures that he was only chatting with this spectator who wore a sweatshirt dedicated to the leader of the Grizzlies.

– Cascade walks. During the first quarter of an hour, the referees whistled five steps! They calmed down afterwards, but we can’t blame them for going back to the real rules of basketball. It’s up to the players to adapt.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅Lu sleeps. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander absent, the Canadian took responsibility by signing 10 of his team’s first 12 points. Like a grown-up, he signs an 8-0 to put the Thunder on the right track. At the end of the match, he puts his throws to avoid any fright.

✅isaiah joe. With his 23 points at 5 of 8 from 3-pointers, he is the symbol of the Thunder’s fine exterior address: 19 of 45 from 3-pointers. OKC had never scored so many award-winning shots this season.

✅ Dillon Brooks. He is still aggressive, and he has also taken his technique. But Dillon Brooks is the only one to have shaken his teammates, and almost alone, he gave hope to his people in the 4th quarter.

⛔ Ja Morant. Even if his expulsion is severe, Ja Morant was not in a great evening with a 3 out of 10 on shots, and already two stray bullets at the time of the facts. The Grizzlies had not attacked the match in the best possible mood, and their playmaker illustrated this lack of desire.

THE FOLLOWING

OKC (12-18) : reception of the Blazers on Monday evening.

Memphis (19-10) : Monday trip to Denver.