The Oklahoma City Thunder lost 79-152 at the Memphis Grizzlies and thus experienced the highest defeat in NBA history. Head coach Mark Daigneault seems convinced that this result does not define the team.
“Tonight wasn’t who we are,” said Daigneault after the game, emphasizing: “I think we’ve definitely shown that we’re competitive. Today’s game is no indication of what our team is.” The Thunder had to compete without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Theo Maledon, Derrick Favors and Kenrich Williams, the Grizzlies were missing Ja Morant, Kyle Anderson, Ziaire Williams and Sam Merrill.
The Thunder lost 73 points behind, in the meantime they were even 78 points behind. The Miami Heat suffered their biggest defeat in 75 years of the NBA in 1991, when they lost 80: 148 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. OKC has suffered the biggest home defeat in NBA history, 57 points behind the Pacers last season, as well as the biggest away defeat.
“Obviously it was a combination for several reasons,” replied Daigneault when asked how the defeat came about in this form: “The Grizzlies played with great strength and speed. They made a few throws. We didn’t start well and never really got access to the game. Not a single part of the game. “
The Thunder sank only 32.9 percent of their throws from the field and 28.9 percent from downtown, Memphis ran absolutely hot with a franchise high of 62.5 percent for field throws and 52.8 percent from a distance and scored 29 points in the field Fast break, 82 points in the zone and 22 points after offensive rebounds.
Thunder: “Tasted your own blood”
“When you face competition, you also face ups and downs,” Daigneault explained: “Competition brings great joy, but also sadness, frustration and anger. And when you get into the ring, you face yourself all of those things. That’s why the joy feels so good after tasting your own blood. “
“I think we made some mistakes defensively at the beginning and before you know each other teams are in a rhythm and the game gets out of hand,” said Thunder-Forward Mike Muscala, admitting that the team gave up the game at a certain point have: “We obviously didn’t fight. You’d rather go out with a fight. You’d rather lose as a team that plays together.”
Accordingly, there was reason to celebrate on the other side. “Man, it feels great. It feels great to make it into the history books, just in front of our home fans,” said De’Anthony Melton, who came off the bench with 19 points at 8/10 FG: “And we did it as a full team. Everyone contributed, everyone played hard and we all got into the game. It’s always a blessing. “
No Grizzlies starter stood on the floor for more than 22 minutes, rookie Santi Aldama got most of the working time. The result? A career high of 18 points and a new franchise record for the Grizzlies with a plus / minus rating of +52.
Grizzlies bench with more points than Thunder
“Franchise records are of course great. Of course I’m also proud that our boys don’t think about them during the game,” cheered Head Coach Taylor Jenkins: “We are simply motivated by our standard every night. Our standard was in full effect today admire, both offensively and defensively. “
The reservists of the Grizzlies have scored a total of 93 points and would have already beaten the Thunder. In addition, Memphis scored more points (80) in the second half than OKC in the entire game, and with 82 points in the zone, more points than the Thunder in 48 minutes.
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