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00:00Glass, and then quickly attacking once it comes out to the perimeter.
00:06Morant, one of five from three.
00:08Memphis, two of 14 as a team.
00:09It's a 31-point lead.
00:14Hardenstein and Williams, just beautiful basketball right now,
00:16playing catch in the backyard.
00:19Well, it's clear that what Mark Dagnall said about preferring this with the rest,
00:24this is a group right now with fresh legs, and the relentless pursuit of the basketball
00:30is really on full display for OKC.
00:34Rest over rust for sure.
00:35Morant fouled 20-0 run by Oklahoma City right now.
00:39Morant will go to the line.
00:41Jason Wallace commits the foul, his third.
00:43Yeah, 16 assists or 20 field goals for OKC.
00:46That's just elite-level ball movement.
00:48Everything they're doing, just one step ahead of the defense.
00:51They're overplayed, back cut, puts pressure on the defense.
00:55One more pass for a little six-footer for Hardenstein.
00:59You know the Thunder would be chomping at the bit to play,
01:02especially after last year losing in the conference semifinals as the number one seed.
01:08But with Memphis playing a couple of games this week, Tuesday and then on Friday,
01:12many thought that Memphis, having played recently, kind of in a groove and a rhythm,
01:18would play a lot better than they've shown here in the first half,
01:20while Oklahoma City might take a while to get going.
01:24But that has not been the case.
01:27Hardenstein, there's the teardrop again.
01:29He can't miss with that.
01:31And it's a difficult assignment for Eadie,
01:33who is trying to stay under the rim to protect against penetration.
01:37And then Hardenstein just finding those pockets.
01:39It's too far for Eadie to recover to contest.
01:42As a team, the Thunder, 11 of 13 shooting here in the quarter.
01:45They lead by 30-43.
01:47They get 57 points.
01:49Six minutes to go in the half.
01:51A foul called on the Thunder.
01:53Bain will shoot two.
01:55It's on Wiggins, his first.
02:00Team foul number three.
02:01First free throws for Bain.
02:06To have a look at the upcoming NBA playoff schedule,
02:09brought to you by ESPN Bet, the official sportsbook of ESPN.
02:12TNT tonight.
02:13NBA playoffs presented by Google.
02:14Game 1's Miami-Cleveland.
02:16Golden State-Houston.
02:18TNT tomorrow.
02:19Game 2.
02:20Knicks look to go up 2-0 on the Pistons.
02:22Clippers try to even their series with Denver.
02:24What did you think of that game yesterday?
02:27What a game.
02:27I thought that that Denver-Clippers game
02:29was decided either way about five different times
02:32before ultimately Denver was able to hold on to that game in overtime.
02:37And Golden State-Houston should be a very interesting series beginning tonight.
02:41That top-shelf defense against the Golden State Warriors offense.
02:44It's going to be fascinating to see how that plays out.
02:47Dort.
02:49Three spins out.
02:50Offensive rebound.
02:51And stick back by Wiggins.
02:53Maybe they were so worried about Hardenstein,
02:57who's been dominant so far.
02:587 of 7, 14 points, 5 rebounds.
03:01They let Wiggins sneak in there to get the rebound.
03:03One and done for Memphis.
03:04A Bain miss and an easy clear.
03:10Williams stops at the foul line.
03:11Pops and hits.
03:12And the lead is 35.
03:15It's just too easy.
03:16OKC is getting no resistance on the perimeter.
03:19Whether it's Shea or whether it's Jalen Williams,
03:21Caruso, whoever wants to,
03:23can get into the paint right now and force that collapse.
03:27And finally some offense with Moran getting that basket,
03:30but can they have defense?
03:31Corner three.
03:32Not there.
03:34A rare one and done for Oklahoma City.
03:37Shooting 61% from the floor.
03:39They're plus eight on the glass.
03:41Extra pass, Conchar.
03:42Aldama can't make it.
03:44Memphis, two for 16 from Dean.
03:53Hardenstein, guess what?
03:55Oh, he missed one.
03:57He was 7 of 7 before that one wouldn't fall.
04:00Bain's pass, knocked away and stolen by Jalen Williams.
04:157th in the league and steals.
04:17Wiggins the lock.
04:18Oh, my goodness.
04:19Jalen Williams with the one-hand throw down off the alley-oop.
04:22As if this crowd needed something more
04:31to get energized by OKC in the open floor.
04:36Electric.
04:3880 with the put-back slam.
04:41The Thunder, though, outscoring the Grizz 31-10 in the quarter.
04:45And they're getting numbers, and there is everybody out in the open floor perfectly delivered.
04:53Alley-oop for Jalen Williams emphatically sends a message early in this series.
05:01Oklahoma City Thunder, the best record in the NBA during the regular season,
05:05and a hot start tonight on a chilly day.
05:08Mostly rain here the last couple of days in Thunder,
05:10and OKC making it rain with 60% shooting.
05:167 of 15 from 3.
05:17This is their largest lead in a playoff game
05:19since the last time they made it to the conference finals
05:22in Kevin Durant's final season with the Thunder back in 2016.
05:26Last time, NBA Finals 2012.
05:29They lost to the Heat.
05:30Last NBA championship, Dennis Johnson was the finals MVP,
05:33along with guys like Gus Williams and Jack Sikma,
05:36as the then-Seattle Supersonics won the NBA title in 1979.
05:43Incredibly for OKC,
05:44Shea Gilgis-Alexander is one for six,
05:47and they still have 63 points with a 30,
05:50now 31-point lead here in the second quarter.
05:54So they've done a reasonable job on OKC's best player,
05:58but this entire offense now is just in great rhythm.
06:02That goes back to what we were saying earlier.
06:04While Shea may be the MVP,
06:05there obviously is great chemistry on this roster.
06:08They have a lot of weapons.
06:09Hardenstein missed a ton of games.
06:12Holmgren missed half the season.
06:14Jalen Williams, the other Jalen, missed half the season.
06:16Shea Gilgis-Alexander played in 76 games,
06:19only missed six,
06:19but they didn't really have a full roster for a good part of the year,
06:24yet they still won 68 games,
06:26had the most double-digit wins in NBA history,
06:29greatest point differential in the history of the league.
06:31That speaks volumes about their focus and also their depth.
06:35They regularly play 11 guys in the regular season.
06:39Shea is always going to be, you know,
06:41the top of the food chain offensively for them,
06:43but they get great contributions across the roster.
06:47What a job Sam Presti has done here
06:49when the trade happened back in 2019.
06:52After Shea Gilgis-Alexander rookie season,
06:55Sam acquired Shea along with, obviously,
06:58a ton of first-round picks.
06:59They just got one more, by the way,
07:00with Miami making the playoffs the other day.
07:03In the Paul George trade,
07:04people thought it would take a number of years to rebuild,
07:08and the rebuild would come with the picks.
07:10It started with Shea Gilgis-Alexander.
07:13Well, you've got an offensive player
07:15that has developed into a guy there's no answer for.
07:19There's not a certain type of physical profile
07:21works against him, a scheme.
07:23He's got everything in his package offensively.
07:29Joe, the three won't fall.
07:32Offensive rebound Holmgren,
07:33and they're going to say a foul on the floor on Memphis.
07:37It's on Pippen.
07:38That's his third.
07:41And just the first team foul on the Grizzlies.
07:45Well, there's certain things OKC does really well,
07:47and if you're the opponent,
07:48you've got to limit them in some area.
07:50You look at it, so far,
07:5130 points in the paint for OKC.
07:53That's their strength.
07:54They're already over their halfway point of the season average.
07:58They've also got on the glass 11 points there.
08:01They've created double-digit offense off of turnovers,
08:04and they've got 17 fast break points,
08:06so there really has been nothing Memphis has limited for them.
08:09Great ball movement.
08:12Shea, and he is 1-4-8.
08:16Oh, four from three,
08:17and his team's up 31 with two minutes to go in the first half.
08:23Morant, 4 of 10, 11 points,
08:25the only Grizzly player in double figures.
08:28Oklahoma City only has two.
08:30That would be Wiggins and Hardenstein.
08:32Morant drives, can't finish.
08:38Boy, at some point you wonder,
08:39Will, as a foul is called here,
08:41Jackson gets tangled up with Holmgren.
08:43You wonder at some point,
08:44does Memphis go to Luke Kennard?
08:45We didn't see him Friday night.
08:47They can't put it in the ocean.
08:48They're 2 of 18 from 3.
08:49He's one of the best three-point shooters in the league.
08:51Yeah, and one of the best three-point shooters in the league history.
08:54Third all-time in percentage,
08:5643% for his career.
08:58And one of the things that,
08:59you look at a guy like Kennard,
09:00going into the game,
09:02you'd think you don't have a lot of time
09:03when he's catching shoots on the perimeter
09:05because of the way OKC recovers.
09:08Luke Kennard is the quickest catch and release on the team
09:10and does it at a high rate.
09:13Shea still can't find it.
09:14He's 0 for 5 from 3,
09:161 of 9 from the floor.
09:18This is the kind of day,
09:19if you're in Memphis,
09:20you were dreaming about
09:21as Bagley gets the slam.
09:23A rough night for Shea.
09:24They just don't happen.
09:26He's the most consistent player,
09:28arguably, in the NBA,
09:29yet he has an off day,
09:31but everybody else is killing you.
09:33He's missed his last eight shots from the floor.
09:36And, you know,
09:37the point along with that,
09:39they know that ultimately their defense
09:42is what differentiates them.
09:44as you see,
09:45Jared Jackson Jr.
09:46finally gets a 3 to go.
09:48OKC knows they don't have to rely
09:51on Shea Gil just alleged in.
09:52They get it just about every night,
09:54but their defense is what sets the tone
09:56and is what gives them great comfort
09:59in knowing how difficult
10:01they're going to make it for teams to score.
10:02Jackley out on the perimeter.
10:08Shot clock at 4.
10:10Here's Joe with 2.
10:11Has to put it up with 1.
10:13Williams got it away.
10:14And, oh, a shot clock violation.
10:17Memphis thought it had possession.
10:18It was already starting the fast break.
10:20And, hey, Mark Deggdall thought
10:22there should have been a foul call
10:23on Jalen Williams.
10:27One of the few possessions
10:28Memphis actually got OKC
10:30to play deep up to the clock.
10:32It looked like John Moran
10:34got a lot of ball there on that strip.
10:37One of the better defensive possessions
10:39Memphis has had.
10:40They need a good offensive one.
10:42If they can get it down at 23,
10:4422 at halftime.
10:46Listen, when you were down 33 at one point,
10:51absolutely, it's a small win.
10:53You know, if you get a bucket here,
10:54you're still down 24.
10:56Listen, it gets the best team in the league
10:58in their building.
11:00But you're feeling a lot better
11:02than you did when it was mid-30s.
11:03It just, they've got to go back in
11:05and completely recalibrate their effort level
11:07and also what they're doing offensively
11:10to execute to get better looks.
11:13Hey, one of the play-by-play guys' jobs
11:14is to keep the viewers.
11:16Can you get it to 23 at halftime?
11:20Here's Moran on the move.
11:22Caught in the air.
11:23Out to Aldama.
11:26Behind the back to Bagley underneath.
11:29And Bagley able to get that one home.
11:36So 63-36 is the score.
11:42Final seconds here of the half.
11:43They took a point away of that three
11:44from Jalen Williams.
11:46Gilgis Alexander finally ends the run
11:49of eight straight misses,
11:50hitting that triple with two seconds left.
11:54And a foul called here.
11:56Is it going to be a two or a three?
12:01Are they going to say in the act of shooting?
12:02They were over the limit,
12:03so free throws either way.
12:06They call Caruso for the foul.
12:10That's one that Shea loves right there.
12:12That little rocker dribble
12:13looks like he's about to cross over
12:16and explode by you,
12:17get you back on your heels.
12:19As he steps into the three.
12:20This is one situation
12:22where maybe all of that ball pressure
12:23didn't pay off for OKC
12:25as Caruso gets contact at half court.
12:27Mark Dagnall challenging the foul call.
12:29And a three-point attempt.
12:31The play has been challenged by Oklahoma City.
12:32Here we go.
12:56Oh, you better really check it out.
13:26Oh, you better.
13:57Okay, we're back.
13:58A couple things to clean up.
13:59So you've got an offensive foul, which means Oklahoma City's going to get the ball with 1.2 seconds left.
14:05Successful challenge.
14:07Degnault gets to keep the challenge.
14:08This was a three-pointer live, but Mark Degnault alerted the officials.
14:12He thought Jaron Jackson, Jr. stepped out of bounds.
14:14They reviewed it and changed it.
14:16He was out of bounds, so no basket.
14:18That's why it's 66-36.
14:21Lobb Holmgren.
14:22He got pushed by Morant with a second left.
14:25That's going to put Holmgren at the line.
14:34Two free throws coming up.
14:36Well, I'm not sure exactly how you end up with John Morant alone with a seven-footer under the rim coming from the sideline out of bounds.
14:46So that can't happen.
14:48And then John Morant, he's just out of frustration.
14:50And also the fact that he's against a much bigger guy, just takes that foul and gives Chet Holmgren two free ones to end the half.
14:57Kia halftime.
14:59Incredible first-half performance defensively.
15:03Malika, Stephen A., Perk, and Udonis Haslam will break it down.
15:06Also a look at game two of our ABC doubleheader.
15:10Boston begins defense of its championship, taking on Orlando.
15:16Shea will take a seat.
15:18Nine points, two of ten, one of six from three.
15:20Yet his team's up 31.
15:21You can hear a pin drop when any Thunder player comes to the free-throw line as the half, mercifully for the Memphis Grizzlies, comes to a close.
15:45The largest halftime lead in franchise history in a playoff game.
15:50If this were a boxing match, the ref would call it.
15:53The Thunder lead at 68-36 at halftime.
15:59In a half where Shea Gilgis-Alexander wasn't even at his best, it was Hartenstein and Jalen Williams with 14 points apiece.
16:07Thunder dominant in game one.
16:09NBA First Round, presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
16:17It's brought to you by Google.
16:18Proud sponsor of the NBA.
16:22Right there.
16:23The Gilgisaurus.
16:27Oh, my God.
16:31Woo!
16:35I don't see that every day.
16:37Forever.
16:39Duncan!
16:42Run!
16:50Welcome back to the NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
16:54Here in Oklahoma City, it's first-round action presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
17:00One of the greatest playoff halves for the Oklahoma City Thunder since they moved to Central Oklahoma almost two decades ago.
17:07They hold Memphis to 36 points.
17:10They put up 68.
17:11They outscore Memphis in fast-break points 17 to nothing.
17:16Look at our first-half stats brought to you by PayPal.
17:1953% shooting.
17:20We talked about the fast-break points.
17:22They hold Memphis to 2 of 18 for 3.
17:25And they were plus 23 in terms of scoring with Shea on the bench.
17:30He finally had an off half.
17:31The Grizzlies could not make up for it.
17:34Dave Pasch, Tim Legler, and Katie George.
17:36Oklahoma City was the best team during the regular season.
17:39They look like the best team right now.
17:40Well, this is the best team playing their best.
17:43And when you add that all up, it looks a lot like the first half did.
17:46Memphis contributed to it, surely.
17:49But this was about Oklahoma City giving you a representation of what they have been all season.
17:55And the layoff, I believe, played into that.
17:58They were so anxious to play a game.
18:02It didn't matter who you were going to put in front of them.
18:04They were going to come out with this level of intensity.
18:07Katie has more.
18:08Well, guys, Chet Holmgren says you don't necessarily feel comfortable in the playoffs.
18:12But having been through it for the first time a year ago playing in 10 playoff games,
18:17Holmgren says there's a sense of knowing what to expect that settles you down right on cue.
18:21I got to tell you, this looks like a very settled down and relaxed team so far today, Dave.
18:26And there were times last year in that series with Dallas in the conference semifinals,
18:31you could tell that this was their first time going through that.
18:34Now, they were playing against two all-time great offensive talents in Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
18:40You don't have that necessarily in this series.
18:42But so far, so good for the Thunder.
18:44Speaking of the stars for Memphis, Jaron Jackson, one rebound and two points.
18:49John Morant had 11 points, but he was 4 of 11 from the floor.
18:53And now the Thunder pushed their lead to a game-high 37.
18:57Yeah, well, I've said it at the open.
18:59Your best players are going to have to show up against this defense.
19:01Because those three guys, Bane, Morant, and Jackson,
19:04can do things offensively that the rest of their roster can't against this level defense.
19:09So it's important that those guys have big days.
19:12First half, none of them did, but Jaron Jackson Jr., more than the other two.
19:16You've got to eject yourself into this series in the second half of this game.
19:20Dort.
19:22Not there on the three, but an offensive rebound for Hartenstein.
19:25It was 14 points, one of three Thunder players at 14.
19:28Dort, rainbow three, switches through.
19:31In his second basket, both from deep.
19:36And if you think some sort of pride was going to kick in at halftime,
19:40that's already five points off second shots in the first two minutes of the third quarter.
19:44It's a 40-point game.
19:46We just started the second half.
19:47E.D. blocked.
19:55Excellent team defense again by the Thunder.
19:59Here's Shea putting it on the floor.
20:01The floater from SGA drops through.
20:03In double figures now with 11.
20:07And Memphis calls a timeout.
20:09It's a 42-point lead.
20:18NBA first round, presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook, is brought to you by Meta.
20:24Talk it out with Meta AI.
20:25By ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
20:29The NBA playoffs, presented by Google, continue next on ABC with another first round game.
20:35The Boston Celtics, the reigning champs, looking to hang another banner.
20:39It all tips off against Orlando.
20:41Last time we had a repeat champ in the NBA was Golden State in 2018.
20:51The last time the Celtics repeated, despite all those titles, 18 of them, was back in the 60s.
20:57You got Miami, Cleveland, Golden State, and Houston also kicking off their series tonight.
21:04This series has begun.
21:06Somebody should notify the Grizzlies.
21:08They've been outscored 10-0 here in the third quarter and trailed by 42.
21:11I'm just going to ask if you're sure about that.
21:14And a turnover out of the timeout.
21:16Shea Gilchrist-Alexander mauled by Pippen.
21:21His fourth.
21:26And Shea will shoot two.
21:30Yeah, you come out of the timeout immediately, turn it over.
21:35Scottie Pippen Jr., I don't think there's anything dirty involved there.
21:37He's just trying to make sure that Shea doesn't play through that contact for a three-point play.
21:44Let's go back to the game we have coming up next, Boston and Orlando.
21:49Oklahoma City, best record in the West, best record in the league.
21:52Cleveland, best record in the East.
21:54Boston still won 60 games.
21:56How do you like the Celtics' chances to potentially repeat?
21:59Yeah, they really dialed it in the last month of the season.
22:02They got very laser-focused.
22:03It looked a lot like the team that won a title a year ago.
22:07And they begin against an elite defensive team in Orlando with an incredible contrast in styles.
22:13Boston's going to get up 40 to 50 threes a game.
22:16No one shoots fewer threes against a team in Orlando.
22:20They only give up 31 attempts a game.
22:22So that's going to be the key in that series as we start out today.
22:26That one falls off the rim for Morant.
22:28Jaron Jackson missed the putback, just his second rebound.
22:31Finally, Bagley cleans it up for the basket.
22:36Game two of this series will be Tuesday.
22:38Then the series shifts to Memphis on Thursday.
22:41This is the 1-8 matchup in the West.
22:44Boston, Orlando is the 2-7.
22:47Dort left alone in front of the Thunder bench.
22:50And he drills another three.
22:56It's 83-38.
23:00Jackson.
23:01Not sure if that was a pass or a shot.
23:03Bagley puts it in.
23:05Well, Bagley, the one guy that's actually playing well for Memphis.
23:09And he played well the other night on Friday against Dallas.
23:12And he hasn't really been with the team very long.
23:14He hasn't played much.
23:15He's 4-4 from the field.
23:16As again, Memphis gives up an easy basket on a back cut.
23:20Boy, Hardenstein.
23:21He averages about four assists per game.
23:23He's got five in this one.
23:25As Morant misses again, rebound number eight for Hardenstein.
23:28He's a self-made player.
23:30Remember how much he bounced around early on just trying to find minutes?
23:34And now he is a key player on a potential championship team.
23:38He became one of the most highly sought-after free agents in the league
23:41with the way he played in New York.
23:43And everything that Mark Dagnolk says about him reflects how important he has been to this team.
23:51Turnover.
23:52Dort waits.
23:53Got some rebounders, so he fires away.
23:56And there's Jalen Williams with the offensive board.
23:58Dort again.
23:59Missed again.
24:00Missed again.
24:04Let's check in with Katie George.
24:06Well, it's just been a seamless transition for Isaiah Hardenstein with the Thunder.
24:09Mark Dagnolk said, if Hardenstein's not acclimating to your locker room,
24:12there's something wrong with your locker room.
24:14Because he gets along with everyone.
24:16He's competitive as hell.
24:17He cares about the invisible stuff on both ends.
24:20And, you know, he'll start.
24:21He'll come off the bench.
24:22He'll do whatever it takes for this team to win.
24:24And Dagnolk says Alex Caruso is the same way.
24:26You think those two have been with this club for three years.
24:29And that's a compliment to both of those guys.
24:31And, Kay, we see it every postgame interview.
24:33You'll probably have it after the game when whoever the star is,
24:37the whole team is surrounding him.
24:39And that speaks to great chemistry.
24:40It's just not something you see every day in the NBA.
24:43Yeah, it's part of their calling card as a team.
24:45And I think it empowers everybody to feel very much a part of what they are doing
24:50because it's Shea and Jalen Williams most nights, pretty much every night.
24:55But then everybody else has opportunities the way they move the basketball to have an impact.
25:01And a foul here in Oklahoma City.
25:05Isaiah Joe checking in.
25:07And Hartstein will go to the bench.
25:1114 points.
25:12Hartstein missed just one shot.
25:14He got eight rebounds and five assists.
25:15We're praising the chemistry.
25:23It starts at the top of the organization.
25:26Sam Presti deserves a ton of credit.
25:28And Mark Dagnall, a name that when he got the job, not a lot of people knew.
25:32He was with Jim Calhoun as a manager at Connecticut from 2003 to 2007.
25:40Sam Presti gave him an opportunity after he had worked some with Billy Donovan
25:43as a young coach in Florida.
25:45And Donovan, former head coach here with the Thunder,
25:48to coach the Oklahoma City Blue, the G League team, be the head coach,
25:51which he was there for five years.
25:53And then gave him the job at age 35.
25:56And he was coach of the year last year, runner-up two years ago.
25:59Dort, another three.
26:02It is a, if my math is correct, 47-point lead.
26:08And we still have a quarter and a half to go in Oklahoma City.
26:25Welcome back to the NBA playoffs presented by Google here in Oklahoma City
26:28for the first round presented by ESPN Bet Sportsbook.
26:31Jaron Jackson Jr. is miked up today for Memphis.
26:40All you got to do, learn something from every play.
26:43All right, playing the one, playing the one seed in your first time in the playoffs, straight.
26:49Just learn something from every play.
26:50You're going to get better as the series go on.
26:53That's how the series go.
26:55And he's not wrong.
26:56Look, it's a seven-game series.
26:58We have seen plenty of series where one team looks horrendous the first game,
27:01and then all of a sudden they win the next one.
27:03Well, look, and he is right to a certain extent.
27:06You do learn from it.
27:07One thing that they've seen today, even though they've played this team four times in the regular season,
27:12all four of those games lopsided victories for OKC, by the way.
27:16They haven't seen an OKC team this year this energized by a playoff crowd.
27:21That's what you're seeing out of the Thunder.
27:23Backley inside gets the layup.
27:25Before that, Lou Dort had as many points as the Grizzlies had this quarter.
27:32Still, they're outscoring Memphis by 13 here in the third.
27:35Well, it got to the point I thought Lou Dort may be paying rent to occupy the left wing
27:39because he's taken four uncontested looks early in the third quarter
27:44as Jalen Williams again able to explode at the rim.
27:47And Dort was paying rent with no other tenants.
27:49There were no defenders anywhere near him on those shot attempts.
27:52I heard he moved out to the country to be alone.
27:54I didn't know he meant during the game because there was nobody within ten feet of him
27:57on those early looks.
27:59OKC not going to take their foot off the gas as you would expect here.
28:02Shea downhill.
28:04Jack just can't finish.
28:0647-point game.
28:08Midway through the third quarter of game one.
28:10Bain underneath to Aldama.
28:12And good defense again by Holmgren.
28:14Has been outstanding defensively at the rim.
28:16And now he runs the break.
28:17Takes it himself.
28:20Offensive rebound, Jalen Williams.
28:22Shea moves it to the wing.
28:23Here's Isaiah Joe.
28:24Too strong.
28:26Poked out.
28:28Joe controls it.
28:30Holmgren will let it fly.
28:32That's good.
28:3413 three-pointer for Oklahoma City in the third by Holmgren.
28:39He's got 19 points.
28:42John Morant might have a cut on his face on a collision with Chet Holmgren.
28:48But Chet Holmgren drove to the rim on that last possession.
28:50So 30-second official timeout.
28:53Right here, Chet Holmgren coming in.
28:55You see that left elbow catches.
28:57John Morant in the face.
28:59No call on the play.
29:02A little surprised.
29:03Too many extended it, too.
29:05I know it's incidental.
29:06But when you put that elbow up, it's there for the official to see.
29:10Would expect an offensive foul.
29:11When you swing through on any type of move toward the rim, and that elbow is at head level,
29:18typically, if you make any contact, there's a good chance there's going to be a call.
29:22But they missed that one.
29:23It is a 50-point lead.
29:28Morant fouled.
29:30He'll go to the line.
29:32It's two for two at the line so far in the game.
29:3513 points for John Morant.
29:37And there's no let up.
29:39Even Chet Holmgren wants to challenge this call.
29:42He's pointing at the bench.
29:44And he did go, I think, pretty vertical to go up and contest that.
29:47This is the frustrating thing when you play OKC.
29:50You've got all the ball pressure you're dealing with on the perimeter.
29:53Then you've got to deal with that kind of shot blocking at the rim.
29:55The NFL Draft is in Green Bay Thursday night, 8 Eastern, 5 Pacific on ESPN.
30:01Coverage also available.
30:02NFL Network and ABC coverage that will focus on the prospect's journey.
30:06All three days are live on ESPN Deportes as well.
30:09ESPN Radio and the ESPN app.
30:11Tim Legler's Washington Commanders picking way towards the end of the first round
30:16because of that great season a year ago.
30:18Not used to this.
30:19I'm usually much more educated on the top ten picks
30:22because that's where we were for about 20 years, but not so.
30:26The tide has turned for the Commanders.
30:30In case you're wondering, the largest margin of victory in a playoff game
30:35as Jalen Williams scores, he got 99 points.
30:38It's 58.
30:39It's happened twice.
30:40The Lakers against St. Louis, the Hawks, back in 1956,
30:43and Denver, New Orleans in 2009, 58 points.
30:50Well, we're headed there, and we'll see what happens
30:52when eventually both teams empty their bench,
30:55which I would imagine would be the beginning of the fourth quarter.
30:58But we're headed there right now with a 51-point deficit.
31:02You know, you think you have four blowouts in a regular season.
31:04The average margin of victory was almost 26 points a game for OKC,
31:08and they've doubled that up.
31:10Nine straight wins overall by Oklahoma City against Memphis,
31:14an air ball by Jalen Williams.
31:17The one thing, Thunder, you don't want to do,
31:20and I'm sure Mark Dagnald is thinking about this,
31:22is all of a sudden get too loose and develop some bad habits
31:25at the end of game one,
31:27knowing you've got to turn around and play game two in two days.
31:29Now, the best you can hope for right now if you're Memphis
31:31is trying to have some of these guys have a little bit of offensive success here
31:35to close out the game,
31:37hoping that whatever daylight you see and rhythm can carry over to the next game.
31:44I'm talking about Jaron Jackson, Jr., John Morant, Bain, of course,
31:47but even a guy like Kennard, who we've mentioned,
31:49if he gets some run and can knock down some threes,
31:51maybe there's some carryover to game two.
31:54Morant got that one to fall.
31:56Jalen Williams commits the foul, 16 points for Job.
32:05There are other great defensive teams in this league, Dave,
32:08but nobody demoralizes you the way OKC does
32:11because of not only the pressure of the ball,
32:14but the way they protect each other off penetration
32:16and then the pursuit out to the three-point line.
32:19There's just very little time to make decisions against this defense.
32:24And when you're Memphis trying to get stops,
32:26you're down two key defensive guys.
32:28Jalen Wells, an outstanding rookie,
32:30who's in the conversation for Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Rookie.
32:35He would have been guarding Shea Gilgis-Alexander most likely.
32:38He's out for the year with a broken wrist.
32:40Brandon Clark, another important player in the rotation, he's out as well.
32:44Bagley underneath gets the slam.
32:46He's got 12 points.
32:49Yeah, you can't say enough about what Wells did as a rookie.
32:52Being handed the number one perimeter offensive player every night
32:55as a defensive assignment and handling it the way that he did
32:59certainly is going to make all-rookie teams.
33:02Might even get some Rookie of the Year votes
33:04because he was a season-long starter on a team
33:08that spent most of the year in the top four in the Western Conference.
33:11Rookie out of Washington State, suffered a wrist fracture.
33:14Injuries a really scary fall about a week ago.
33:18In a game against Charlotte, got a concussion as well.
33:29Jackson just one of nine, now one of ten.
33:33Vince Williams lobbed, and Bagley with a slam.
33:35Mark Dagnall doesn't like what he's seeing right now.
33:37Calls a timeout, this team up 46, 247 left in the third.
33:50It's not been a great night scoring for Shea Gilgis-Alexander,
33:54but always seems to make the right play.
33:57He had missed his last two threes, so what does he do?
34:00Waits for the open blue door.
34:01Yeah, great decision-making.
34:03It's a big part of the evolution of Shea Gilgis-Alexander.
34:06Clearly, he's a raw scorer first, and it sets everything up for their offense,
34:11but he has come a long way with his ability to facilitate.
34:15And Sam Presti, you saw him read lips there, he sang smart in that play by Shea Gilgis-Alexander.
34:23Presti took over as the Thunder GM in 2007.
34:27He's only 47 years old.
34:29He's one of the best execs in pro sports.
34:32Not to have won a championship as a general manager, but maybe that's coming here in 2025.
34:37Basket and a foul.
34:41Well, it's one thing to build a great team.
34:43It's another to build a great team with sustainability long-term.
34:46And that's what they have created here in Oklahoma City with the age across the board of their top guys
34:55and their identity as well and how they understand they can continue to put pressure on teams with this defense.
35:04Youngest team in the league, and they might be the best.
35:06And they still have a ton of first-round picks to build around this great roster that they put together,
35:13an outstanding coaching staff led by Mark Dignall.
35:17Well, we told you the largest margin of victory in any playoff game.
35:21In case you're wondering, the largest margin of victory in a game one of a playoff series is 47.
35:28Done twice, last in 1995.
35:30The Orlando Magic against Boston also happened in 86.
35:34Lakers-Spurs in transition, Wiggins, and it's back to a 51-point lead.
35:41I repeat, 51 with 2.15 to go in the third.
35:46And the fast-break points continue for OKC.
35:5024 of those now in the open floor.
35:52And to give you an idea how dominant OKC has been today, you're talking about a team in Memphis,
35:58second-highest-scoring team in the league, number one in pace, eighth in fast-break points.
36:03They don't have a single fast-break point today in this game.
36:07Where would they be without Marvin Bagley?
36:09What would the score be right now?
36:11Seven field goals for Bagley, the rest of the team, with 16 combined across their roster.
36:16They're shooting 27 percent.
36:19Bagley shooting 100 percent.
36:20It's 7 of 7, and it's now 25-0 fast-break points in favor of the Thunder.
36:26Jaron Jackson leaning in, another miss.
36:28He has won for 11 in this game.
36:31And he's been really good in the playoffs, 24th career playoff game, averaged about 16 points,
36:37shoots 35 percent from three, turnover here by the Thunder.
36:42But when you're not as talented as the other team,
36:47you absolutely have to have your best players be great, especially on the road with a team
36:53that's been waiting for a week-plus to play a game, and that just hasn't happened.
36:57Pippen, one of eight, oh, four for three in his postseason debut.
37:02Kenridge Williams downhill, lost the ball.
37:04And it was touched last by Bagley.
37:10One thing that Mark Dagnall has been big on, because this team has had a lot of games
37:16in which they've had a very comfortable lead in the fourth quarter,
37:19he is big on the details no matter the score.
37:22You're going to see him continue to coach and continue to make sure
37:25that they stay true to their core values as a team.
37:28Joe, penetrated kick, spot-up three, no good for Kenridge Williams.
37:36Pippen on the run, scooped to Aldama, his three is good.
37:42One of the few times Memphis has had an early push up the floor,
37:46and it led to a trail three for Aldama.
37:49They're just four of 25 from behind the arc in this game.
37:52And the first fast-break points, officially, for Memphis.
37:57A.J. Mitchell with the floater.
38:00Another player that was banged up some this year.
38:06Thunder so deep, they'd go 11-12 deep.
38:09We weren't sure we would get there in this game,
38:12but might go deeper than that at this point.
38:16Jackson got it to fall on the drive.
38:19It's been a rough day for Jaron Jackson, Jr.,
38:23and going forward in this series,
38:25if Memphis wants to put up any resistance,
38:28he's going to have to be much better than he was today.
38:32Wiggins three, off target.
38:35Game two, just over 48 hours from now,
38:39they'll tip it off here in Oklahoma City.
38:44Thunder will hold for the final shot, or will they?
38:49Jalen Williams.
38:55Oklahoma City with 14 threes,
38:59and a 52-point lead.
39:04Oh, three-pointer from half court for Marvin Bagley.
39:10He's eight of eight from the floor.
39:12Yet, his team is getting destroyed.
39:17Just what I was about to say,
39:18there goes the perfect shooting day.
39:21Marvin Bagley had something else in mind.
39:24Any kind of life for Memphis.
39:26The Oklahoma City Thunder with the third-largest lead
39:38going into the fourth quarter in the shot clock era.
39:42It's 112-63.
39:45Jay Huff missed a three.
39:46Rebound, Kenrich Williams.
39:48The Thunder 12 minutes away from a 1-0 series lead.
39:51Game two, Tuesday night here in OKC.
39:53And Memphis was 4-of-26 from three
39:57until Marvin Bagley hit a 48-footer at the buzzer.
40:03Mitchell's three off the front iron,
40:05and Conchauer with a rebound.
40:07Luke Kennard has checked in.
40:09A little late for the Grizzlies, though.
40:11Maybe could have used his shooting earlier in the game.
40:16Lamar Stevens inside.
40:18Count the basket.
40:18Boston Celtics looking for back-to-back championships.
40:26They'll start their run against Orlando next on ABC.
40:30What a year for Jason Tatum in the MVP conversation
40:33and have to imagine first-team All-NBA.
40:35Yeah, he'll get votes.
40:36Probably some MVP votes.
40:38Certainly, I think it's headed for a first-team All-NBA selection.
40:41Three-pointer for Isaiah Joe.
40:44Do you feel like there's an aspect of Jason Tatum that is still underrated?
40:50Consistency.
40:51I think it's very difficult to go out there game in, game out,
40:56produce the way Jason Tatum does at the level that he does in every facet, really.
41:01He's a committed defender.
41:02He creates, he scores 30 for you most nights.
41:06So, I think if there's anything, it's that.
41:07I don't think you appreciate, necessarily, how often he's doing what he does.
41:11You think of all the great players in Celtics history.
41:14Many of the best players in the history of the game played in Boston.
41:18If he wins back-to-back championships,
41:20something that hasn't been done in almost 60 years in Boston,
41:24what that would mean for him,
41:26and where he stands amongst the greats in that amazing franchise.
41:33And I think that has been a talking point for that team.
41:36They don't want to be just a team that won a championship.
41:39They want to go down as a team that you're talking about years later
41:43of what they were able to accomplish.
41:46Jalen Brown, finals MVP last year.
41:48We'll see where that knee is.
41:49It was something that was bothering him at the end of the regular season.
41:52Orlando got a little bit healthier.
41:53Should be an interesting game one.
41:56Mike Green, Doris Burke, Richard Jefferson will have the call.
41:59Empty possession for the Thunder, and it's Memphis ball.
42:1048-point lead for Oklahoma City.
42:14They've led by as many as 52 in this game.
42:20They led by 32 at halftime.
42:23They're average margin of victory during the regular season was 12.9.
42:35That is the best in NBA history.
42:37And this has been – this was at 12.9 with about six minutes to go in the first quarter,
42:45and it's been all downhill from there.
42:49Yeah, okay, see, hit him with that burst to close the first quarter, and it just rocked Memphis,
42:55and they really were not able to generate anything offensively to give them a chance in this game.
43:00Canard missed it, and now Kenridge Williams looking to run.
43:05And if you're Tuomas Isolo, the interim head coach for Memphis – now, he's coached in a lot of games overseas.
43:14He had a long-time head coach, long-time player overseas.
43:17He told us before the game that, you know, in terms of his offense, he learned a lot from Mike D'Antoni.
43:22He likes Greg Popovich in terms of how he adjusts based on his personnel.
43:26You're the interim coach.
43:28You're trying to get the job.
43:29Obviously, you're trying to win.
43:30How do you – what's your messaging over the next two days?
43:33You know, a lot of people would say, oh, you know, you flush this tape.
43:36You don't watch it.
43:37You just bury it and move on.
43:38I disagree.
43:39I think you sit down and watch this because I think nothing is going to appeal to your pride more as a player
43:44because tape doesn't lie.
43:46And when you watch it, I think that's really where now you get a level of intensity
43:50that you're going to need going into game two.
43:53That right there, a microcosm of today's game, just a fumble out of play by Huff.
44:02Isolo took over for Taylor Jenkins on March 28th.
44:06They were 44-29, and they were the five-seed at that point.
44:09They finished as the eight-seed.
44:11Again, just two behind the Lakers for the three as Mitchell swishes home a three-pointer.
44:19And the lead is 53.
44:22But for Zach Kleinman, the general manager and ownership, it's going to be a very interesting offseason
44:31because, and there's Zach, you've got to figure out what you're going to do with the head coach.
44:36You've got to figure out, as Ja Morant, your guy long-term, is your main guy.
44:40And then you've got to find the right pieces around, and they relied on a lot of young guys this year.
44:46Williams with the steel, knocking it away from Huff.
44:51He'll get the layup in transition.
44:52Well, you're looking at a team that was at 1.2 in the Western Conference deep into the season.
45:00I said spent most of the year in the top four, had a late-season slide that forced them into the play in which they were able to escape.
45:07Then you come out, and you're down 55 in game one of a playoff series.
45:13It feels like you're far away from where they were a few years ago when this was a team that I think not a lot of people wanted to play in the Western Conference.
45:21And they have maintained that Ja Morant is not going anywhere.
45:26And it'll be interesting, though, because Morant has shown flashes of the guy we saw before the injuries and the suspensions.
45:35But is that going to be there consistently?
45:38Because at one point, he was the future face of the league.
45:42He was one of the most dynamic offensive players in the game, but we just haven't seen that same guy.
45:48We talked about that before the game.
45:50You know, we saw some glimpses of it even on Friday night.
45:53The plays that Ja Morant can singularly make with that athletic ability at that position.
45:59And you were wondering if he was going to be able to find something like that today, particularly in the first half,
46:05to give your team a sense of hope that they were in the game.
46:08But Oklahoma City was having none of that.
46:11And this, to me, was more about what they're capable of defensively when they play at their top level.
46:20It's a 55-point lead, largest of the game.
46:23Again, the largest margin of victory ever in a playoff game is 58.
46:26It's happened twice, the last time in 2009, the other in 1956.
46:32And it has to be disheartening if you're Memphis, because Friday night they had so much juice and energy when they knocked off Dallas in that play-in tournament win.
46:43But it was not there from the get-go here today.
46:49Jay Huff at the line shooting two.
46:51Take a look at our upcoming NBA playoff schedule.
46:53Brought to you by Amazon.
46:54TNT tonight.
46:55NBA playoffs presented by Google.
46:57First round, first game between Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Houston.
47:01TNT Monday.
47:02Detroit at New York.
47:03Clippers at Denver.
47:05What do you make of the Warriors-Rockets series?
47:07And that's going to be all about that defense.
47:10They were difficult on Steph Curry in the regular season.
47:14Held them to three points in a game late in the regular season.
47:17They are a top-shelf defensive team, very tough-minded team.
47:22And, of course, Golden State just now feels like they're in a different place with the acquisition of Jimmy Butler.
47:27They beat Memphis on Tuesday.
47:29They had a loss at home to San Antonio a little over a week ago, then lost to the Clippers last Sunday.
47:36Had they won, they would have been in the top six.
47:38But they lose, they go to the play-in, and so they end up getting the Rockets in a 2-7.
47:43Yeah, well, the Houston Rockets have had a great year, and they really played well coming down the stretch.
47:48You think about the margin for error in this league.
47:50If Golden State loses that game the other night to Memphis, which they almost did, one possession game with six seconds to go,
47:56then it would have had to win on Friday night.
47:58And they'd be sitting here right now playing against this Oklahoma City-level defense in front of their home crowd.
48:03And it would be Memphis and Houston tonight.
48:06Wiggins on the move, breaking down the defense, just lost the ball out of bounds.
48:10122-69, Oklahoma City well on its way to a win in game one.
48:24Up next on ABC, the finals MVP from a year ago, Jalen Brown leads the Boston Celtics in game one against the Orlando Magic in the 2-7 matchup in the East.
48:35Well, back here in the West, let's look at the teams with the most playoff experience.
48:40The Lakers, clearly LeBron James with a lot of those, and that's why they have the second most behind the Clippers.
48:48The Warriors with plenty, and the Thunder with 178.
48:52That's the second fewest behind Memphis, just 125.
48:59This is only the 24th career playoff game for Shea Gilgis-Alexander, team that lost in the conference semis last year to Dallas as the one seed.
49:07They have not been to the conference finals since 2012.
49:10Well, it's definitely a progression in terms of experience.
49:13There's no other way to learn it other than going through it.
49:16The level of intensity, the shot making pressure, even the way the game is called, all of that is different in the postseason.
49:23And usually there's a progression in this league before you are ready.
49:27Last conference finals 2016, Kevin Durant's final year, last NBA finals 2012, last NBA championship in Seattle in 1979.
49:37On the other side, the East, we saw playoff experience come up big for the New York Knicks.
49:42And that 21-0 run, they never panicked, showed great poise.
49:47And Detroit does have some players on that roster that have been in the postseason before.
49:51But first time for Cade Cunningham.
49:53And the Pistons looked like a team, at least late, that had not been in that situation before in the postseason.
49:59Detroit, one of the great stories in the league this year with that turnaround.
50:03And what a job J.B. Bickerstaff did with that young core group.
50:06And they couldn't have done more for 40 minutes to position themselves to win a playoff game.
50:12But you saw the experience factor clearly in the way the Knicks closed that game with that 21-0 run at Madison Square Garden.
50:20Dylan Jones checks into the game.
50:22He knocks down a jump shot.
50:23It's 124-69.
50:25Largest margin of victory ever in a game.
50:27One of the playoffs is 47.
50:30And so that is in jeopardy for Memphis.
50:34They don't want to be in that dubious list.
50:36Out of bounds with Jones, a turnover.
50:38Shea Gilgis Alexander and Ja Moran both sitting out this final quarter.
50:43The Thunder in this game outscored Memphis by 25 with SGA out of the game.
50:5315 points.
50:54So this will be, since he's done, this is going to be the fewest points he scored in a game this season.
51:01Prior to that, it was 18 points.
51:04Back on October 30th against the Spurs, he had been 20-plus in 72 consecutive games.
51:11Obviously, this is in a completely different situation, but just throwing that out there.
51:17Well, if they wanted that to stay intact, you could put him in real quick.
51:20Just let him go get two buckets.
51:21Probably wouldn't be heavy lifting.
51:24Certainly not today.
51:25NBA playoffs presented by Google continue Friday night.
51:28We've got three game threes.
51:30Boston, Orlando on ESPN.
51:33Indiana and Milwaukee will be on ESPNU.
51:36And the Lakers at Minnesota on ESPN.
51:41Minnesota with a huge win last night.
51:44Luka Doncic was great in his Laker playoff debut.
51:47But the Wolves, even though they flipped Randle for Towns, they looked like that team that went to the conference finals a year ago.
51:55Yeah, the answers for the Lakers are going to come on the defensive end of the floor.
51:58That's where the adjustment has to come.
52:00Minnesota was in rhythm all night.
52:03Wiggins for three.
52:0856 is the advantage right now.
52:12Can you loan me your calculator if this keeps up?
52:17Well, I got both shoes off, so I was counting on that last basket too.
52:21Conch are inside and off gets the basket.
52:24Enrich Williams.
52:37Here's seven out of TCU.
52:39Drives, missed it, poked out to Kennard.
52:44Corner three, Conch are off the top of the backboard and then hit part of the shot clock.
52:51Said going in, two biggest things.
52:54Ball security.
52:56Memphis with 22 turnovers.
52:58You're not going to have a chance against Oklahoma City with 22 turnovers.
53:02And the second thing I said, you're going to have to make your fair share of threes.
53:06They are now five for 32 from the three-point line.
53:09So neither of the things you have to accomplish against OKC was Memphis able to put a dent in.
53:16And one of those made threes was a 50-footer at the buzzer by Marvin Bagley.
53:23Another Memphis turnover in transition.
53:31Bagley with 17, Morant with 17.
53:34Jaron Jackson Jr. just four points, two of 13, 0 of 4 from three.
53:39Desmond Bain, nine points, three of 12, one of six from three.
53:44Almost all his points came early on.
53:45Wiggins, who was one of the most improved players in the league this year,
53:48almost doubled his scoring average from a year ago.
53:51He missed there.
53:52Wiggins had 35 points in a game in the regular season at Utah late.
53:56That's another throwaway that time.
53:58Canard trying to hit Lamar Stevens.
54:06All right, we asked about the messaging on the Memphis side.
54:09What about Mark Dagnall?
54:10How does he handle this?
54:12Going from game one to game two after a win like this, knowing you've got to get three more.
54:16I don't think he's had a problem all year.
54:18We've done a number of Thunder game with making sure that his team stays ready
54:24and doesn't get complacent or overly impressed with themselves.
54:27They're just so hungry and focused every single night.
54:32It's truly a testament to the coaching staff and I think the individual pride of this group.
54:39I don't think you're going to worry about a letdown if you're Mark Dagnall.
54:42Steven spinning, missing.
54:49Oklahoma City ball.
54:512.25 to go in game one, game two, Tuesday night.
54:55Nice pass by Williams and the basket from Wiggins.
55:00So it's at 56 right now.
55:02Again, largest margin of victory in a playoff game is 58.
55:05It's happened twice.
55:07Canard got a three.
55:17Not really sure what the reason is for Luke Canard sort of falling out of the rotation here late in the season.
55:24But again, spacing and shooting is critical against OKC's defense.
55:28I don't know if there's a plan to give him more minutes going forward.
55:32But I think it might be something they want to look at because he doesn't need a lot of time to get it off.
55:38You're not going to get much time against this defense.
55:40Well, certainly something has to change between today and Tuesday.
55:44We'll see if that involves different rotation shift in the starting lineup for something else.
55:51Not sure it'll matter.
55:52This Oklahoma City team is that good.
55:5468 regular season wins.
55:56Seventh best in NBA history.
55:58Largest margin of victory in NBA history.
56:02Seventh best record.
56:03Point differential number one.
56:05They won 54 games by double figures most ever.
56:09And this is a 49 point lead right now with a minute to go.
56:15The only thing you could do if you're Memphis is understand this isn't a cumulative score series.
56:25It's starting at 0 0 in game two.
56:28So I do think you should watch the film to hold people accountable.
56:32The same time you've got to move forward and come out and play with some level of confidence at the start of game two.
56:40One thirty one to eighty fifty two seconds left.
56:48Aaron Wiggins with twenty one off the bench and a well deserved standing ovation for the Oklahoma City Thunder the best team in the league during the regular season.
56:57And perhaps the team to beat here in the postseason.
57:02This will be the largest margin of victory.
57:07In a game one in NBA history it was forty seven twice in 1986 in 1995.
57:21It's fifty one as we close out game one chance of OKC raining down from a very happy fan base here in Oklahoma City.
57:36In a game one.
57:41Impressive game one performance on both ends of the floor in every aspect for the Oklahoma City Thunder one thirty one to eighty.
57:50They beat Memphis.
57:52Largest playoff winning franchise.
57:54Temper tests with önemli speakers.
57:55And THE SH подготов ** So we don't have to wait seven seconds.
58:00Lindsay is going to fill the field goals.
58:01I think one of the things from climbing high is really about the
58:17traditional field is just for眉 position where the players can go.
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