Grizzlies Suffer Historic 51-Point Playoff Loss to Thunder

The Memphis Grizzlies, after securing the eighth seed with a strong play-in performance by Ja Morant despite his recent ankle injury, suffered a historic 51-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their playoff series. Key Grizzlies players, including Morant and Desmond Bane, emphasized a resilient, one-game-at-a-time mentality, drawing on past experiences of overcoming difficult playoff starts. Interim coach Tuomas Iisalo and other team leaders reiterated that the series is far from over, urging improved defense and focus for Game 2. However, Morant faced criticism from fans for appearing to smile on the bench during the blowout, with many questioning his seriousness and leadership in the face of adversity. Despite being heavy underdogs against the top-seeded Thunder, the Grizzlies remain determined to bounce back and prove doubters wrong in the next matchup. The outcome of Game 2 will be closely watched to see how Memphis responds to the setback.