The NBA can be a funny sport sometimes.
Heading into Saturday’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies, circumstances surrounding the game made it feel like a safe bet to assume the shorthanded Thunder would get blown out.
The Thunder entered the game with a five-game losing streak with an even longer injury report. By the time the game started, the Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng, Darius Bazley and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
That’s three regular starters from most starting lineups this season in Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey and Robinson-Earl along with two rotational pieces in Bazley and Dieng. To decipher even further, the Thunder were without their best two players in Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey.
Having that many bodies out would make it nearly impossible to beat most teams. The fact that it was against the first-place Grizzlies who were on a seven-game winning streak made it even more difficult.
On paper, the Grizzlies should’ve made easy work of the Thunder. Instead, the complete opposite transpired.
The Thunder were able to grow a lead as large as 24 points behind their starting backcourt of Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe, who combined for 47 points on 15-of-26 shooting. By the end of the second quarter, the Thunder had their biggest lead at the half in their season at 21 points.
The Grizzlies — who were without Ja Morant in the second half due to two controversial technical fouls resulting in his ejection — made it interesting in the second half, winning the final two quarters by a score of 66-51. But the Thunder were able to build enough cushion with their first half lead to still win by six points.
Just like that, the injury-plagued Thunder surprised the NBA world with a blowout win against a Grizzlies team that blew out the Milwaukee Bucks in their previous game.
Let’s take a look at Thunder player grades from the Thunder’s 115-109 win over the Grizzlies.
Lu Dort: A
With the Thunder missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, Lu Dort’s scoring opportunities significantly increased.
To Dort’s credit, he did a good job at scoring efficiently. In 31 minutes, Dort finished with 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 3-of-4 from 3. Dort also went 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. Dort also finished with seven rebounds and four assists.
“I feel like the whole team stepped up tonight,” Dort said following the game.
Lu Dort is in his bag, folks! 💰@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/PfSMfy515C
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) December 18, 2022
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2022
Gene pokes it away ➡️ Lu with the strong drive pic.twitter.com/Bzjse4sfEB
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2022
Isaiah Joe: A+
In his third career start and his first of the season, Isaiah Joe turned in a career night.
In 26 minutes, Joe scored a career-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting and went 5-of-8 from 3.
The Thunder desperately needed Joe’s scoring with the amount of talent out and he more than stepped up for them.
“We knew we were gonna be down a couple of guys tonight,” Joe said. “We just had to come together as a team.”
Isaiah Joe with a DEEP triple! 👌👀
There's a new option to watch the Thunder. Learn More: https://t.co/YioxgSU4nH@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/y98bMni07g
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) December 18, 2022
Finding the hot hand 🔥 pic.twitter.com/u3KwofEi0g
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2022
Zai reads the pass ➡️ Poku drills an in rhythm three 👌 pic.twitter.com/y0oYmRV1LF
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2022
Jalen Williams: B
Jalen Williams was given more playmaking opportunities than usual with the number of players out for the Thunder.
In 30 minutes, Williams had a weird statline of scoring a single point and going 0-of-8 from the field. In the distribution department, Williams dished out six assists.
A very weird game for Williams as he played a passive scoring role.
J-Dub puts out the fire, and Dort gets hot from 3 🔥
There's a new option to watch the Thunder. Learn More: https://t.co/YioxgSU4nH@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/HLnf1REA2V
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) December 18, 2022
Tre Mann: B
This was probably Tre Mann’s best game in several games. In 18 minutes, Mann scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 2-of-5 from 3. Mann also finished with seven rebounds and four assists.
This was Mann’s first double-digit scoring game in 10 days. The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 13 points in his 18 minutes, a game-high.
After the game, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Mann will be assigned to the G League soon. The move was pre-planned and not something decided in the moment.
“Looking forward to it. Ready to go with the Blue,” Mann said when asked about his impending assignment. “Just grow. That’s my mindset going down there.”
The Tre Mann step-back has checked into the game 👀@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/Yxmts2aGyr
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) December 18, 2022
The three to follow… pic.twitter.com/l9MnbsHwjK
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2022
Play through the whistle, kids @OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/fP2zDj1IQ9
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 18, 2022
Absolute filth, @tre2mann3 @okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/TpHfSdShbB
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) December 18, 2022
