By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Storming back from a 29-point deficit following an injury exit for Ja Morant, the Oklahoma City Thunder built a 3-0 lead with a 114-108 victory versus the Memphis Grizzlies in FedExForum on Thursday.
“It’s always tougher when you don’t have somebody like Ja. He’s our best player,” Spanish Santi Aldama mentioned in a postgame media session, “This is not really an excuse or a reason, you just have to win the game regardless.”
The 24-year-old forward finished with 14 points, six rebounds, one block, and one assist in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Morant sustained a left hip contusion with three minutes left in the first half. “He’s going through further evaluations tomorrow, and then we will know more,” Finnish head coach Tuomas Iisalo updated the status of the 25-year-old point guard.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, while German Isaiah Hartenstein went for five points, five rebounds, and four assists. Belgian Ajay Mitchell put in one point and one rebound. French Ousmane Dieng (left calf strain) and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) remained sidelined.
In Little Caesars Arena, the New York Knicks edged out the Detroit Pistons, 118-116, and shaped a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. Among the top performers in Detroit, British O.G. Anunoby registered 22 points, two steals, two rebounds, and one block. French Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti did not play.
Lasting nearly 33 minutes off the bench for the Pistons, German Dennis Schroder tallied 18 points, five rebounds, and two assists. In contrast, Italian Simone Fontecchio and Swedish Bobi Klintman did not log playing time.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Conference Quarterfinals
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 2-0 (121-100, 121-112)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 2-0 (103-86, 109-100)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 2-1 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 2-0 (117-98, 123-115)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 3-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 1-1 (85-95, 109-94)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-1 (95-117, 94-85)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 1-2 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117)