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QUINIX Sport News: Player grades: Thunder complete sweep with 117-115 Game 4 win over Grizzlies

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Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. (5) defends during the first quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

MEMPHIS — Facing up against Vince Williams Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander only needed a few dribbles. Sudden stoppage created enough space from the Memphis defender for the probable MVP winner to step back and rattle in the deep mid-range jumper to quiet the crowd.

It took a little more effort and stress than anticipated, but the Oklahoma City Thunder escaped with a 117-115 Game 4 win to complete the Round 1 sweep. They’re the first team to move on to the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

This was universally expected to be a lopsided affair. Ja Morant’s injury zapped the optimism out of the gym. A half-filled crowd showed how disinterested Memphis became about this playoff series. The players didn’t show that, though. This turned into a thriller that came down to the final possession.

The Thunder held a 34-31 lead after the first quarter. After struggling in the first three games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snapped out of his funk. He had a perfect 16 points in the first frame. Both teams went back and forth in the second quarter. OKC couldn’t convert its outside looks while Memphis’ role players stepped up.

The Thunder entered halftime with a 60-59 lead. Out of the break, the Thunder went on a 16-6 run to create some space on the scoreboard. But the Grizzlies answered back as Scotty Pippen Jr. dissected OKC’s defense. The Thunder had a slight 88-85 lead after three quarters.

That guaranteed a close finish. It looked like the Thunder were on the verge of cruising through the final four minutes. A 16-6 run put them up by 12 points. Gilgeous-Alexander’s stepback 3-point sent Grizzlies fans for the exits as OKC led 108-96.

To their credit, the Grizzlies amped it up. They scored eight straight points to make it a 108-106 contest with a little under two minutes left. Santi Aldama’s corner 3-pointer brought the Memphis crowd back to life. Desmond Bane drilled a deep 3-pointer to make it a two-point game with eight seconds left.

After Jalen Williams split a pair of free throws on the next possession, the Thunder suddenly had just a 117-114 lead with six seconds left. The Thunder went the foul-up-three route on the next possession. Bane made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, hoping for one last look.

Instead, the final second finally expired, and the buzzer sounded. Phew. The Thunder avoided a disaster finish after letting go of the rope in the final two minutes. The short-handed Grizzlies almost pulled off the upset and kept their season alive for at least one more game.

The Thunder shot 44% from the field and went 7-of-35 (20%) from 3. They shot 28-of-35 on free throws. They had 22 assists on 41 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Gilgeous-Alexander had his best game of the series with an efficient 38 points. Williams also helped out with 23 points. Chet Holmgren finished with 11 points and four blocks. Isaiah Hartenstein tallied 11 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. Isaiah Joe scored 11 points off the bench.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies shot 46% from the field and went 12-of-31 (38.7%) from 3. They shot 29-of-30 on free throws. They had 24 assists on 37 baskets. Five Grizzlies players scored double-digit points.

Jaren Jackson Jr. was limited to 12 points and four rebounds. Bane had 23 points on 7-of-20 shooting. Pippen Jr. finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Aldama stepped up with 23 points and nine rebounds. Williams Jr. had 11 points off the bench.

This was the ugliest of the four wins, but you can’t complain about a playoff sweep. The Thunder fought off against the short-handed Grizzlies as Gilgeous-Alexander looked the best in all the playoffs. It took some serious sweating out and wasn’t a walk in the park, but that’s typical for you at this time of the year.

Let’s look at Thunder player grades:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-plus

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) defends during the fourth quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Heading to the free-throw line, Gilgeous-Alexander received some rare ‘MVP’ chants on the road. Loud boos quickly drowned them out, but he certainly earned the moment. He saved his best performance for last in this quick Round 1 series that lasted less than a week.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting, six assists and five rebounds. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 11-of-13 on free throws. He also had two steals and a block.

After letting his teammates cook for the first three games, Gilgeous-Alexander took over the steering wheel. He ensured the Thunder wouldn’t fly back to OKC with a Game 5 on the docket. The Grizzlies had no answer for the 26-year-old. He abandoned the outside shot and returned to his bread and butter of drives to the basket and mid-range jumpers.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored a quick 18 points in the first quarter. He attacked Memphis’ defense. After being annoyed by Pippen Jr. in the series, he made him look like the former G League player he was. He had 31 points after three quarters and put the final touches on this sweep with some big-time buckets down the stretch.

This Thunder will need this version of Gilgeous-Alexander from here on out. He won’t be afforded the luxury to go at half-speed and let his teammates contribute to most of their playoff wins. As the field gets thinner, the likely MVP winner must return to being an efficient 30-plus points once he steps on the court.

Jalen Williams: A-minus

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) dribbles during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Bumping off Pippen Jr., Williams swished in a transition pull-up 3-pointer. The rare outside bucket pushed OKC’s lead to double-digit points for the first time in the game with a little under six minutes left. It was a much-needed self-made score.

Williams finished with 23 points on 10-of-21 shooting, five assists and four rebounds. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 1-of-2 on free throws.

In a role reversal, Williams had a solid process but not the preferred results among the Thunder’s two All-Star players. He only had 13 points after three quarters, but not from a lack of effort. His mid-range shots rattled out and he didn’t finish at the cup at the efficient rate from the first three games.

All of that was forgiven as the fourth-quarter closer. He scored 10 points in the final frame to put this one away. Along with Gilgeous-Alexander, both Thunder players hit on timely baskets to extinguish any hopes of a Grizzlies comeback win.

Williams hasn’t been asked to be a closer much this season. That happens when you have the greatest point differential ever at plus-12.9. But the 24-year-old has shown he can reach 100 MPH on his fastball when needed. At the biggest stage possible, he put the final touches on a masterful Round 1 series that showed he’s good enough to be the second-best player on a title contender.

Chet Holmgren: B

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) defend during the first quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Mark this playoff series as a textbook example of what Holmgren can do. With their season on the line, Jackson Jr. put up another stinker. Besides a few moments, he was a complete non-factor in this playoff series. To the point that Grizzlies fans wonder if he should be a franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future.

That’s what happens when you match a perimeter big with Holmgren. In a series-clincher, he finished with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting, two rebounds and an assist. He also had four blocks and two steals.

The Grizzlies couldn’t score inside the paint when Holmgren was on the floor. That happened again in the series finale as Memphis relied on outside shooting variance to stay within range. Credit that to Holmgren, as he broke out in this playoff series on both sides of the ball.

A lot of folks wondered what the Holmgren-Hartenstein pairing would look like together. Injuries torpedoed their regular-season chances to create a dynamic, but this first playoff series with the double-big duo passed everything with flying colors. Speaking of.

Isaiah Hartenstein: B

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and forward Jalen Williams (8) defend during the second quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The other half also had an under-the-radar series. This is the first time Hartenstein has been mentioned here, but he deserves some love for his close-out performance and what he did the entire Round 1 matchup. He also dominated his matchup to freeze out Memphis’ frontcourt.

Hartenstein finished with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 12 rebounds and three assists. He also had four steals.

During the play-in tournament, Zach Edey showed off his strengths as a rebounder. He could’ve been a problem for OKC as Memphis needed to win the possession battle to overcome the talent disparity. Instead, the seven-foot rookie was a non-factor in the playoff series and fouled out in Game 4.

Credit that to Hartenstein. He’s the perfect counter to Edey’s raw strength. The seven-footer is built like an old-school center but has the new-age skillset with playmaking abilities and a patented floater that the Grizzlies couldn’t sag off of.

Several other Thunder players will get buzz for this Round 1 sweep, but Hartenstein remained a steady force in all four games. This was the best matchup to debut the double-big lineup against in a playoff series. It will be interesting to see if they stick with it for Round 2 against either Nikola Jokic or Ivica Zubac.

Highlights:

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Thunder sweep Grizzlies with 117-115 Game 4 win

​

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. (5) defends during the first quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

MEMPHIS — Facing up against Vince Williams Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander only needed a few dribbles. Sudden stoppage created enough space from the Memphis defender for the probable MVP winner to step back and rattle in the deep mid-range jumper to quiet the crowd.

It took a little more effort and stress than anticipated, but the Oklahoma City Thunder escaped with a 117-115 Game 4 win to complete the Round 1 sweep. They’re the first team to move on to the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

This was universally expected to be a lopsided affair. Ja Morant’s injury zapped the optimism out of the gym. A half-filled crowd showed how disinterested Memphis became about this playoff series. The players didn’t show that, though. This turned into a thriller that came down to the final possession.

The Thunder held a 34-31 lead after the first quarter. After struggling in the first three games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snapped out of his funk. He had a perfect 16 points in the first frame. Both teams went back and forth in the second quarter. OKC couldn’t convert its outside looks while Memphis’ role players stepped up.

The Thunder entered halftime with a 60-59 lead. Out of the break, the Thunder went on a 16-6 run to create some space on the scoreboard. But the Grizzlies answered back as Scotty Pippen Jr. dissected OKC’s defense. The Thunder had a slight 88-85 lead after three quarters.

That guaranteed a close finish. It looked like the Thunder were on the verge of cruising through the final four minutes. A 16-6 run put them up by 12 points. Gilgeous-Alexander’s stepback 3-point sent Grizzlies fans for the exits as OKC led 108-96.

To their credit, the Grizzlies amped it up. They scored eight straight points to make it a 108-106 contest with a little under two minutes left. Santi Aldama’s corner 3-pointer brought the Memphis crowd back to life. Desmond Bane drilled a deep 3-pointer to make it a two-point game with eight seconds left.

After Jalen Williams split a pair of free throws on the next possession, the Thunder suddenly had just a 117-114 lead with six seconds left. The Thunder went the foul-up-three route on the next possession. Bane made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, hoping for one last look.

Instead, the final second finally expired, and the buzzer sounded. Phew. The Thunder avoided a disaster finish after letting go of the rope in the final two minutes. The short-handed Grizzlies almost pulled off the upset and kept their season alive for at least one more game.

The Thunder shot 44% from the field and went 7-of-35 (20%) from 3. They shot 28-of-35 on free throws. They had 22 assists on 41 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Gilgeous-Alexander had his best game of the series with an efficient 38 points. Williams also helped out with 23 points. Chet Holmgren finished with 11 points and four blocks. Isaiah Hartenstein tallied 11 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. Isaiah Joe scored 11 points off the bench.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies shot 46% from the field and went 12-of-31 (38.7%) from 3. They shot 29-of-30 on free throws. They had 24 assists on 37 baskets. Five Grizzlies players scored double-digit points.

Jaren Jackson Jr. was limited to 12 points and four rebounds. Bane had 23 points on 7-of-20 shooting. Pippen Jr. finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Aldama stepped up with 23 points and nine rebounds. Williams Jr. had 11 points off the bench.

This was the ugliest of the four wins, but you can’t complain about a playoff sweep. The Thunder fought off against the short-handed Grizzlies as Gilgeous-Alexander looked the best in all the playoffs. It took some serious sweating out and wasn’t a walk in the park, but that’s typical for you at this time of the year.

Let’s look at Thunder player grades:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-plus

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) defends during the fourth quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Heading to the free-throw line, Gilgeous-Alexander received some rare ‘MVP’ chants on the road. Loud boos quickly drowned them out, but he certainly earned the moment. He saved his best performance for last in this quick Round 1 series that lasted less than a week.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 38 points on 13-of-24 shooting, six assists and five rebounds. He shot 1-of-4 from 3 and went 11-of-13 on free throws. He also had two steals and a block.

After letting his teammates cook for the first three games, Gilgeous-Alexander took over the steering wheel. He ensured the Thunder wouldn’t fly back to OKC with a Game 5 on the docket. The Grizzlies had no answer for the 26-year-old. He abandoned the outside shot and returned to his bread and butter of drives to the basket and mid-range jumpers.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored a quick 18 points in the first quarter. He attacked Memphis’ defense. After being annoyed by Pippen Jr. in the series, he made him look like the former G League player he was. He had 31 points after three quarters and put the final touches on this sweep with some big-time buckets down the stretch.

This Thunder will need this version of Gilgeous-Alexander from here on out. He won’t be afforded the luxury to go at half-speed and let his teammates contribute to most of their playoff wins. As the field gets thinner, the likely MVP winner must return to being an efficient 30-plus points once he steps on the court.

Jalen Williams: A-minus

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) dribbles during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Bumping off Pippen Jr., Williams swished in a transition pull-up 3-pointer. The rare outside bucket pushed OKC’s lead to double-digit points for the first time in the game with a little under six minutes left. It was a much-needed self-made score.

Williams finished with 23 points on 10-of-21 shooting, five assists and four rebounds. He shot 2-of-5 from 3 and went 1-of-2 on free throws.

In a role reversal, Williams had a solid process but not the preferred results among the Thunder’s two All-Star players. He only had 13 points after three quarters, but not from a lack of effort. His mid-range shots rattled out and he didn’t finish at the cup at the efficient rate from the first three games.

All of that was forgiven as the fourth-quarter closer. He scored 10 points in the final frame to put this one away. Along with Gilgeous-Alexander, both Thunder players hit on timely baskets to extinguish any hopes of a Grizzlies comeback win.

Williams hasn’t been asked to be a closer much this season. That happens when you have the greatest point differential ever at plus-12.9. But the 24-year-old has shown he can reach 100 MPH on his fastball when needed. At the biggest stage possible, he put the final touches on a masterful Round 1 series that showed he’s good enough to be the second-best player on a title contender.

Chet Holmgren: B

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) defend during the first quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Mark this playoff series as a textbook example of what Holmgren can do. With their season on the line, Jackson Jr. put up another stinker. Besides a few moments, he was a complete non-factor in this playoff series. To the point that Grizzlies fans wonder if he should be a franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future.

That’s what happens when you match a perimeter big with Holmgren. In a series-clincher, he finished with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting, two rebounds and an assist. He also had four blocks and two steals.

The Grizzlies couldn’t score inside the paint when Holmgren was on the floor. That happened again in the series finale as Memphis relied on outside shooting variance to stay within range. Credit that to Holmgren, as he broke out in this playoff series on both sides of the ball.

A lot of folks wondered what the Holmgren-Hartenstein pairing would look like together. Injuries torpedoed their regular-season chances to create a dynamic, but this first playoff series with the double-big duo passed everything with flying colors. Speaking of.

Isaiah Hartenstein: B

Apr 26, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and forward Jalen Williams (8) defend during the second quarter during game four for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The other half also had an under-the-radar series. This is the first time Hartenstein has been mentioned here, but he deserves some love for his close-out performance and what he did the entire Round 1 matchup. He also dominated his matchup to freeze out Memphis’ frontcourt.

Hartenstein finished with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 12 rebounds and three assists. He also had four steals.

During the play-in tournament, Zach Edey showed off his strengths as a rebounder. He could’ve been a problem for OKC as Memphis needed to win the possession battle to overcome the talent disparity. Instead, the seven-foot rookie was a non-factor in the playoff series and fouled out in Game 4.

Credit that to Hartenstein. He’s the perfect counter to Edey’s raw strength. The seven-footer is built like an old-school center but has the new-age skillset with playmaking abilities and a patented floater that the Grizzlies couldn’t sag off of.

Several other Thunder players will get buzz for this Round 1 sweep, but Hartenstein remained a steady force in all four games. This was the best matchup to debut the double-big lineup against in a playoff series. It will be interesting to see if they stick with it for Round 2 against either Nikola Jokic or Ivica Zubac.

Highlights:

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player grades: Thunder sweep Grizzlies with 117-115 Game 4 win

 

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