Thunder Vs Grizzlies

The Oklahoma City Thunder, holding the top seed in the Western Conference, are set to face the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday evening. The Thunder aim to capitalize on their home-court advantage at the Paycom Center and secure a 2-0 lead in the series. In Game 1, Oklahoma City delivered a commanding performance, defeating Memphis 131-80, marking the fifth-largest victory margin in NBA playoff history and the most significant in a series opener. 

The Thunder's success in Game 1 was attributed to a balanced offensive effort and a stifling defense. Aaron Wiggins led the team with 21 points off the bench, while Jalen Williams contributed 20 points. Notably, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the team's leading scorer during the regular season, added 15 points, showcasing the depth of the Thunder's roster. Defensively, Oklahoma City forced 24 turnovers and outscored Memphis significantly on fast breaks, underscoring their top-ranked defense. ​

Memphis, on the other hand, struggled offensively in Game 1. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. combined for just 8-of-30 shooting, and the team as a whole shot only 34.4% from the field and 17.6% from three-point range. The Grizzlies' recent history in the playoffs has seen them lose Game 1 in their first-round matchups over the past three appearances, a trend they hoped to break this year. 

Looking ahead to Game 2, the Thunder are favored by 14.5 points, with the over/under for total points set at 229, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, has a strong track record, returning well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the first full week of the 2025 NBA playoffs on a 156-116 run on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. ​

Tipoff for Game 2 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will look to maintain their momentum and extend their series lead, while the Grizzlies aim to regroup and even the series before returning home.