The Oklahoma City Thunder had what one might call a “normal” loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game the Thunder mounted a massive comeback. They didn’t blow a big lead. Those are how the bulk of their losses have gone this season. On Wednesday night … well, it was just a simple 122-113 defeat.
The 24 hours leading up to the game was anything but simple.
The Thunder’s flight was delayed due to the awful weather in Oklahoma City. They traveled on Wednesday and went straight to the arena, which they arrived at around 6:15 p.m. for the 8 p.m. tipoff.
“That’s the first time I’ve traveled the day of the game in the NBA,” center Mike Muscala said.
Muscala said legs were tired at the beginning of the game before he got a burst. Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was coming off four straight missed games, said his legs were tired at the beginning as well.
But with that, the Thunder didn’t want to use the unusual day as an excuse for the loss.
“Shai told us before the game no excuses,” Muscala said.
Gilgeous-Alexander relayed the message in the postgame press conference:
“The circumstances were a little bit different tonight, but it’s our job. It’s what we have to do,” he said. “We gotta play to a certain standard and a certain level.”
This was just one of the potential excuses they didn’t want to hear after falling to Memphis.
The Grizzlies took advantage of the absence of Al Horford, who was resting on the second night of a back-to-back. Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 12 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. Ja Morant had a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.
Memphis had 52 points in the paint, more than twice as many as the Thunder’s 24.
Head coach Mark Daigneault wouldn’t use Horford’s rest to give his bigs an out for the defensive performance.
“Al’s a really good player. Really reliable player, great defensive player,” Daigneault started. “Not trying to take anything way from him, but we’ve been without Al in back-to-backs before and defended much better than we did tonight.”
As costly as the points in the paint was the fouling. Oklahoma City averages 18.1 fouls per game, the fourth-fewest in the league, and on average the opponent attempts 18.9 free throws, the third-fewest. On Tuesday, the Thunder committed 25 fouls, allowing the Blazers to attempt 33 free throws. Portland made 26 from the stripe.
All five Grizzlies starters scored at least 15 points, four attempted at least six free throws, and three — Valanciunas, Grayson Allen and Kyle Anderson — finished with at least 20 points.
After ending the third quarter down by only one point, the Thunder gave up 36 points in the fourth. The Blazers attempted 18 free throws in that frame.
Oklahoma City had its best game from deep of the season, going 19-for-41, a 46.3% clip, but Portland’s percentage was essentially identical as they hit 12 of 26, 46.2%.
“If we shoot the ball well, it’s great, but if we can’t get stops … it doesn’t mean much,” Muscala said.
The Thunder struggled to get stops but they also didn’t protect the ball particularly well on offense, committing 18 turnovers. Anderson had five steals on his own.
The best part of the game for the Thunder was Gilgeous-Alexander’s return. He was solid, scoring 22 points, and while he wasn’t as electric as normal, the guard got to the rim, had six assists to just one turnover, and after the game said his left knee was feeling 100% after he had missed a week of games.
“We didn’t make enough shots, and nights like that happen,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It is what it is, but I think we gave the effort and I’m pleased with that.”
This post originally appeared on OKCThunderWire. Follow us on Facebook!