On April 21 , the 2024-25 NBA playoffs officially kicked off. In the first round of the focus game, the Western Conference powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies 131-80 at home , making a " good start " in the playoffs with a jaw-dropping 51- point victory . This victory not only helped the Thunder take the lead in the series, but also broke many NBA playoff records in one fell swoop - the 51- point victory margin set a new record for the largest difference in the history of the playoffs G1, and also became the fifth largest difference in the history of the NBA playoffs.

From the beginning of the game, the Thunder showed their overwhelming strength. They quickly established a double-digit lead in the first quarter, and the second quarter was completely a performance for the home team. The Grizzlies had a cold touch in the second quarter, scoring only 16 points, while the Thunder scored 36 points in a single quarter and led by an astonishing 32 points at halftime . This halftime score difference also created the record for the Thunder's largest halftime lead in the playoffs.

After the second half, the Thunder did not relax, but went all out in the third quarter to score 44 points, completely destroying the Grizzlies' idea of a comeback. In the end, as the fourth quarter passed, the Grizzlies lost 80-131 on the road, losing 51 points, not only losing the game, but also leaving an embarrassing mark in history.

Although the Thunder's entire team performed extremely well, the star player Shai Gilgeous - Alexander performed relatively flat in this game. He played for 23 minutes and 06 seconds, made only 4 of 13 shots, 1 of 7 three-pointers, and contributed only 15 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks, but his plus-minus value was still as high as +28 , which indirectly reflected his stability on both offense and defense.

Instead, the role players were on fire - Aaron Wiggins was the top scorer with 21 points, and Jaylen Williams also had 20 points , 5 rebounds and 6 assists. In addition, the Thunder had 6 players scoring in double digits, with smooth teamwork and strong tactical execution.

On the other hand, the Grizzlies' core point guard Ja Morant was not back to his peak form. He shot 6 of 17, 1 of 6 three-pointers , and 4 of 5 free throws , scoring only 17 points , 3 rebounds , and 4 assists. The aftermath of his shoulder injury was clearly still affecting his performance. Among other players, Bagley also scored 17 points and 5 rebounds, but the team's overall shooting rate was bleak, and the offense and defense system was almost collapsed. Bane was in a slump, scoring only 9 points and failing to provide enough support for the team.

With this big win, the Thunder not only took the initiative in the series, but also announced to the league their competitiveness in the playoffs. For the Grizzlies, this defeat is undoubtedly a wake-up call. How to quickly adjust their status and deal with the Thunder's multi-point attack will be the key to their comeback.