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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren turns in double-double in Game 2
Wed, May 7, 2025, 6:19 PM
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Analysis: After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams tallies 17/4/7 line in Game 2 win
Wed, May 7, 2025, 6:17 PM
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Analysis: Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder's Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC's blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he'll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SGA scores 34 points, Thunder win by 43
Wed, May 7, 2025, 6:16 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points (11-of-13 FGs, 11-of-11 FTs), four rebounds, eight assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 win over the Nuggets in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Analysis: Aside from Game 4 against Memphis, SGA hasn't been his typical uber-efficient self during the playoffs so far. Well, that changed in Game 2, which contributed to a dominant win for Oklahoma City. This was his fourth straight 30-point game, and that helped OKC bounce back from a two-point loss in Game 1. He only played 30 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter, but SGA did plenty of damage when he was on the floor. The series will now shift to Denver, and OKC will need to win a road game to retake homecourt advantage in this series. Game 3 will be on Friday. |
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Alex Caruso Alex Caruso drops 20 points, five steals in Game 1
Mon, May 5, 2025, 7:19 PM
Alex Caruso finished Monday's Game 1 loss to the Nuggets with 20 points (7-of-12 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), one rebound, six assists, five steals, two blocks and five three-pointers in 26 minutes.
Analysis: After scoring 13 points or less in all four games of Oklahoma City's first-round series, Caruso hit the ground running in Round 2. His improved production did not result in a victory for the home team, but Caruso shooting 5-of-9 from three was an encouraging development. Against the Grizzlies, he shot 5-of-13 from beyond the arc. Add in the overall stat line, and this may be a series in which Caruso can have an added impact on both ends of the floor. Game 2 is on Wednesday night, with the Thunder needing a win to even the series. |
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Isaiah Hartenstein Isaiah Hartenstein grabs nine rebounds in Game 1
Mon, May 5, 2025, 7:10 PM
Isaiah Hartenstein accumulated 12 points (6-of-12 FGs), nine rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in 29 minutes in a Game 1 loss to the Nuggets on Monday.
Analysis: Hartenstein was solid as a scorer and rebounder, but Monday's game was another instance in which the Thunder decided to go small in crunch time. Hartenstein was an observer from the bench, while Oklahoma City decided to use Chet Holmgren (12/6/2/1/4) as the center with Alex Caruso entering the lineup. Holmgren had a chance to extend Oklahoma City's lead to three with 9.5 seconds remaining, but his two misses were followed by Aaron Gordon's game-winning three. Hartenstein's playing time will be fine, but the way he's used in this series will be worth watching, especially when Nikola Jokic is as dominant as he was in Game 1. The Thunder host Game 2 on Wednesday. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams records 16/7/4/2/2 line in Game 1
Mon, May 5, 2025, 7:01 PM
Jalen Williams logged 38 minutes in Monday's Game 1 loss to the Nuggets, accounting for 16 points (5-of-20 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers.
Analysis: While Williams recorded a complete stat line and provided solid value as a rebounder and defender, he did not shoot the ball well. After making 54.2 percent of his attempts in the first round, JDub shot 25 percent from the field in Game 1. While Oklahoma City still had a chance to win the game, they will need more efficient scoring from Williams to win this series. He'll look to get untracked when the Thunder host Game 2 on Wednesday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC with 33 points
Mon, May 5, 2025, 6:58 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 12-of-26 from the field and 7-of-9 from the foul line in Monday's Game 1 loss to the Nuggets, scoring 33 points with 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in 40 minutes.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander had a big night at the office, recording a complete stat line and surpassing the 30-point mark for the third straight game. Unfortunately for him and the Thunder, the MVP favorite's performance was not good enough to get Oklahoma City the victory. While SGA has not been a prolific three-point shooter, he's struggled during the postseason. After shooting 7-of-28 from beyond the arc in four games against the Grizzlies, he was only 2-of-6 in Monday's series opener. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will attempt to even the series at one game all on Wednesday. |
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Ousmane Dieng Ousmane Dieng (calf) removed from injury report
Sun, May 4, 2025, 6:15 PM
NBA Injury Report
Ousmane Dieng (calf) is off the injury report for Game 1 against the Nuggets on Monday.
Analysis: Dieng has not appeared in a game since March 15, when he strained his left calf against the Pistons. His availability will not impact the Thunder rotation, as he was not logging consistent minutes before the calf injury. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren records six âstocks' in clincher
Sat, Apr 26, 2025, 12:33 PM
Chet Holmgren logged 29 minutes in Saturday's Game 4 win over the Grizzlies, accumulating 11 points (3-of-9 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), two rebounds, one assist, two steals and four blocks.
Analysis: After failing to record a steal or blocked shot in Oklahoma City's Game 3 victory, Holmgren was highly impactful as a defender in Game 4. The blocks tally was one shy of his series-high, while the six âstocksâ were the most he recorded in a game this series. Whether it's Denver or the LA Clippers in the second round, Holmgren and the Thunder will be challenged more than they were in the first round. Finishing off the sweep gets Oklahoma City additional rest time, which is another benefit for Holmgren and company. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams scores 23 points in Game 4 victory
Sat, Apr 26, 2025, 12:28 PM
Jalen Williams amassed 23 points (10-of-21 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, five assists and two three-pointers in 38 minutes in Saturday's Game 4 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: Oklahoma City finished off its sweep of the Grizzlies on Saturday, with J-Dub having another solid offensive performance. He scored 20 points or more in all four games, and in Game 4, Williams only committed one turnover. The sweep gets J-Dub and Oklahoma City some time off, as the Thunder have to wait for the winner of the Denver/LA Clippers series. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SGA drops 38 in Game 4, Thunder sweep Grizzlies
Sat, Apr 26, 2025, 12:25 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 13-of-24 from the field and 11-of-13 from the foul line in Saturday's Game 4 win over the Grizzlies, scoring 38 points with five rebounds, six assists, two steals, one block and one three-pointer in 38 minutes.
Analysis: After being held in check during Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander steadily found his groove as the Thunder swept the Grizzlies. Three-point shooting remains an issue, as he was 1-of-4 on Saturday, but the MVP candidate was at his best in the mid-range. Add in 13 free throw attempts, and the Grizzlies were unable to slow down Gilgeous-Alexander. Next up for Oklahoma City is the winner of the Denver/LA Clippers series. |
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Alex Caruso Alex Caruso records four steals, one blocked shot
Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 6:43 PM
Alex Caruso accumulated 10 points (4-of-7 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), six rebounds, three assists, four steals, one block and one three-pointer in 23 minutes in Thursday's Game 3 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: Caruso's stat line may not jump off the page, but his play was critical in Thursday's Game 3 victory. Acquired from the Bulls last summer for games like this, the veteran guard was highly impactful defensively as Oklahoma City rallied from a 29-point deficit. Additionally, the Thunder employed a closing lineup that included Caruso and Luguentz Dort (two points, six rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot), which made life difficult for a Grizzlies squad that played the second half without Ja Morant due to a hip injury. Oklahoma City will look to close out the series on Saturday. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams drops 26 points, complete stat line
Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 6:40 PM
Jalen Williams amassed 26 points (9-of-16 FGs, 6-of-10 FTs), five rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in 37 minutes during Thursday's Game 3 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: Williams has scored 20 points or more in all three games thus far, with his consistent production factoring into Oklahoma City holding a 3-0 lead. The status of Ja Morant (hip) for Saturday's Game 4 will be a key storyline, but the Thunder's depth has been a primary reason for the top seed's success. Williams and company have helped pick up the slack for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose efficiency has taken a slight hit in this series. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posts 31/4/8/1/1 stat line
Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 6:35 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished Thursday's Game 3 win over the Grizzlies with 31 points (10-of-26 FGs, 9-of-9 FTs), four rebounds, eight assists, one steal, one block and two three-pointers in 40 minutes.
Analysis: Give the Grizzlies credit for making Gilgeous-Alexander work for his points, but he had his best game of the series on Thursday. Three-point shooting has been an issue through the first three games, with SGA being 6-of-24, but he was 9-of-9 from the foul line in Game 3 to boost the point total. Add in the other stats, and this was a good night to have Gilgeous-Alexander in your playoff DFS lineups. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with the Thunder aiming to complete the sweep. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren heats up after cold start, scores 24
Thu, Apr 24, 2025, 6:32 PM
Chet Holmgren shot 8-of-16 from the field and 3-of-4 from the foul line in Thursday's Game 3 win over the Grizzlies, scoring 24 points with eight rebounds and five three-pointers in 32 minutes.
Analysis: While Memphis losing Ja Morant to a hip injury during the second quarter certainly factored into the home team blowing a 29-point lead, so did Holmgren waking up from his first-half slumber. Having scored one point on 0-of-4 shooting, things could not get much worse for the Thunder forward/center. He was outstanding during the second half, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and scoring 23 points. The comeback is the largest in a playoff game since 1997, and Oklahoma City takes a commanding 3-0 lead into Saturday's Game 4. |
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Alex Caruso Alex Caruso contributes 13 points, complete line
Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 4:18 PM
Alex Caruso recorded 13 points (5-of-10 FGs), four rebounds, three assists, three steals, one blocked shot and three three-pointers in 22 minutes in Tuesday's Game 2 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: After offering minimal value in 12 minutes off the bench in Game 1, Caruso was far more impactful on Tuesday. He led all reserves in scoring, with Oklahoma City's bench outscoring their Grizzlies counterparts by a 33-14 margin. Caruso also tallied four defensive contributions after failing to produce any steals or blocks in the series opener. Caruso's play may not be a significant storyline in this series, but his ability to provide value on both ends of the floor gives Oklahoma City's bench a decided advantage. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday in Memphis, with the Thunder aiming to take a 3-0 series lead. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren posts double-double, five blocks
Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 4:11 PM
Chet Holmgren accumulated 20 points (6-of-14 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), 11 rebounds, five blocks and three three-pointers in 33 minutes in Tuesday's Game 2 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: After only needing to play 21 minutes to record a double-double in Sunday's 51-point victory, Holmgren was forced to work a little harder in Game 2. That said, his rim protection has been elite, with the second-year forward/center up to seven blocked shots through two games. Add in the rebounding, and Holmgren has been one of the riddles that Memphis has been unable to solve thus far. The series shifts to Memphis for Game 3, which will be played on Thursday night. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams records 24/6/5/1 line vs. Memphis
Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 4:06 PM
Jalen Williams accounted for 24 points (10-of-19 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, five assists, one steal and two three-pointers in 35 minutes in Tuesday's Game 2 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: While the Grizzlies were more competitive in Game 2 than in Sunday's 51-point defeat, they still did not have an answer for Williams. In Oklahoma City's two victories, he dropped 44 points on 20-of-35 shooting. By comparison, he averaged 19.8 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting in four meetings with the Grizzlies during the regular season. Regardless of what Memphis has been able to do defensively to slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, their lack of an answer for J-Dub and the rest of the âsupporting castâ is why Oklahoma City takes a 2-0 lead into Thursday's Game 3. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 27 points in rout
Tue, Apr 22, 2025, 3:58 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished Tuesday's Game 2 win over the Grizzlies with 27 points (10-of-29 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and three three-pointers in 38 minutes.
Analysis: As was the case in Sunday's series opener, the Grizzlies managed to make Gilgeous-Alexander work for his looks in Game 2. The MVP candidate shot below 40 percent from the field in both games, something he did not do at all during the regular season. The good news for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder was that he was more productive on Tuesday, and Oklahoma City's depth once again carried the day. The Thunder have won the first two games by a combined 70 points, the second-largest margin in the first two games of a series in NBA playoff history. Oklahoma City will look to take a 3-0 lead when the series shifts to Memphis on Thursday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggles in Game 1 win
Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 10:09 AM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 15 points (4-of-13 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), three rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one three-pointer in 23 minutes in Sunday's Game 1 win over the Grizzlies.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander was the only Thunder player to show any signs of rust in Sunday's playoff opener, as the team with the NBA's best record rolled to a 51-point victory. SGA shot 1-of-7 from three and only scored 15 points, but it didn't matter with five other Thunder players scoring in double figures. Among the others was Aaron Wiggins, who hit four three-pointers and tallied 21 points, four rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes off the bench. Oklahoma City's depth was a difference-maker throughout the regular season, and that was also the case in Game 1. The Thunder host Game 2 on Tuesday. |
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