- The Thunder are 24-5 and have the best record in the Northwest Division.
- Memphis is 22-10 and has the best record in the Southwest Division.
- These teams last played on Mar. 16, with the Thunder claiming a 118-112 victory.
After our earlier look at the Celtics vs Pacers matchup, Another game on tap from Sunday night’s NBA slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Memphis Grizzlies. Our Thunder vs Grizzlies prediction foresees the Thunder coming out on top.
OKC Seeks 10th Consecutive Victory
The Thunder tied for the best record in the Western Conference last season, and they have picked up where they left off. After a 119-116 setback against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 1, OKC has reeled off nine straight wins, including a 120-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 26.
Four starters reached double figures in that contest, spearheaded by a spectacular effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He scored 45 points on 15-for-22 shooting from the floor, was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. He also tallied eight assists and seven rebounds.
Jalen Williams pumped in 20 points, while Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein pitched in with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Surprisingly, the Pacers led by a 61-53 margin at the break and held a 107-103 advantage late in the final frame. However, OKC responded with an 8-0 run, taking a 111-107 lead with 1:39 left to play in regulation.
Memphis Looks To End Five-Game Slide Against OKC
Following a season in which they won just 27 games, the Grizzlies have already accumulated 22 wins and have the second-best in the Western Confernece. After a 114-110 defeat at the hands of the LA Clippers on Dec. 26, Memphis enters this contest on a two-game winning streak, with victories over the Toronto Raptors (155-126) and the New Orleans Pelicans (132-124).
In the victory against New Orleans, Memphis produced a balanced scoring attack, as all five starters scored in double figures. Jaren Jackson Jr. was a force at both ends of the floor. He finished with a team-high 33 points on 11-for-21 shooting from the field and a 4-for-6 effort from 3-point range. He also tallied four steals and three blocked shots.
Ja Morant scored 25 points and seven assists while connecting on eight of his 11 shot attempts. Desmond Bane added 18 points and eight assists, and Zach Edey contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. Not all of the news from this contest was good, though, as Ja Morant sustained a shoulder injury and will need to be evaluated over the next few days to determine if he will miss any games.
Thunder vs Grizzlies Prediction: OKC Gets Another “W” Against Memphis
Not only are the Thunder in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, they have posted 14 wins across their last 15 outings. Furthermore, OKC is ranked in the top 10 from a scoring perspective and boasts the league’s top defense.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have been playing some solid basketball as well. After an 8-7 start, they have gone 14-3 and have won four of their previous five games. These teams average a combined 239.2 points per contest, which indicates the potential of a high-scoring affair. However, if Ja Morant can’t go, look for OKC to get its sixth straight win over Memphis.
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