MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — As the first team to move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder get some time off.
Rest for the best.
Oklahoma City, which finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA at 68-14, closed out a four-game sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday with a 117-115 victory. The Thunder, who have won eight straight dating to the regular season, await the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Denver Nuggets series that is tied 2-2.
The Thunder weren’t sure if the break will serve as a benefit.
“Honestly, it could work both ways against us,” forward Jalen Williams said. “It could add a little rust, or it can add a little freshness. I think trying to find a balance between those two is going to be important, however long it is that we have to wait until this next series.”
Oklahoma City dominated the first two games at home and then faced a tougher challenge on the road. After winning Game 1 by 51 points and capturing Game 2 by 19, the Thunder had to overcome a 29-point deficit in Game 3 before holding off a late Memphis rally in Game 4.
“These last two have been good for us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “On a playoff stage with playoff pressure.”
One aspect of the Oklahoma City play that improved, particularly in Saturday’s Game 4, was the play of guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After leading the league in scoring during the regular season at 32.7 points a game, he struggled — by his standards — in the first two games. He averaged 21 points in the first two and was a combined 14 of 42 from the field.
In Saturday’s series-clinching win, Gilgeous-Alexander made his first seven shots, was 13 of 24 from the field, and finished with 38 points to go with six assists.
“He was pretty consistent with his floor game in all these games,” Daigneault said. “I thought the way he played didn’t change, and that’s what we’re focused on. I thought he had some makeable stuff in the early games that he missed, but I didn’t think he played any different. I just think he got into a groove (Saturday).”
Gilgeous-Alexander said in the past, he might have turned down his aggressiveness if he was struggling. However, he said mentally he made a jump this year.
“I try not to focus on the results and just focus on my mental development,” the Thunder guard said. “I think I’ve taken a step forward in that, and I had a night like (Saturday) because of it.
“In the past, I would definitely, I guess, shied away from the moment because of where my shooting was headed.”
Now he and the Thunder are looking ahead.
“We always say the times between the games is the days that you have to win in the playoffs,” Williams said, “And that’s (what) we’re going to try and tackle in this little break we get. Just try to be a better team.”
While some were not sure if the time off was a benefit, Daigneault said the Thunder will “always take it.”
“It’s good physically to rejuvenate,” he said. “Guys, I’m sure, are dealing with little things here and there that they get to get healthy and it allows ample prep time.
“I thought we handled it really well coming out of the regular season, getting ourselves ready to play at the start of this series. We’re going to have to replicate that.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Brought to you by www.srnnews.com
