Grizzlies v. Thunder Preview

Colin Rafferty –

Your Memphis Grizzlies have a game today inside FedEx Forum where they will welcome in the reigning NBA Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There is no love lost or found between these two teams. The Thunder were the team last year that bounced the Grizz in 4 games out of the playoffs in the 1st round.

That was after the heinous act by Lu Dort that undercut Ja Morant injuring him and taking him out of the series. It was during game 3, a game in which the Grizzlies were looking poised to snag a win and maybe make it more of a series than it turned out to be.

The Thunder come into the game with a 9-1 record leading the NBA in team defense and point differential, while also being top 5 in points per game.

Coming off a much-needed win on Friday against the Mavericks, the Grizzlies will have their hands full.

The free throw merchant himself, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will undoubtably get his 12+ free throws, but if they can limit his play making abilities and force some bad shots, they could make it an interesting game.

It will need to be a Herculean-type effort from this team as the injuries are still a factor, but from the Grizzlies PR most of the players are in the “recovery” process so that is a good sign.

Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cedric Coward will need everything they have to stay will this team offensively and will need all the defensive help they can get.

Konchar, Wells, Spencer, and Caldwell-Pope I am looking at you guys to keep the Thunder wings and off-ball playmakers from contributing to big spurts.

Landale, good luck my brother. Your hands will be full dealing with the size and versatility of the Thunder big men, highlighted by former 2nd overall pick Chet Holmgren.

Friday’s game against the Mav’s was a relieving moment for Grizz fans, the team looked more engaged and there was several moments where Ja and other teammates were having discussions with head coach Toumas Iisalo.

The rotations were smaller and at times were timely, but it still is a work in progress it looks like.

Iisalo comes from the FIBA basketball mentality; problem with that is, the NBA is a league with far superior talent and when you have that, you play it as much as you can.

In FIBA basketball, teams can get away with having bigger rotations and have more “effort” and win, the NBA is different. That doesn’t mean he won’t be able to adapt, but it might give some insight to why or how he is coaching this team so far.

If Friday is an indication of things to come, great. Remember this though, the Mavericks are one of the worst teams in the NBA. The Grizz should’ve won and did, the Mav’s didn’t shoot that well and it helped the Grizz.

The Thunder are on the opposite end of that spectrum, they shoot well. I mean really well, just a shade under 50% from the field.

The defensive line will need to be on a tight rope this evening and if that is the case, they should be able to turn it into good offensive sets.

Since the days of Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins and Co. the Thunder have been a team the Grizzlies have fought and battled against. Today we will need to go back to those days and do what Z-Bo wanted – ‘Bring them into the mud.’

The Grizzlies promotional’s are back at it! Today will be Military Appreciation Night, presented by Ashely and the first 5,000 fans will receive a ‘Classic Edition Crossbody Bag.’

Get there early, wear the bear, and cheer the boys on to a second victory in a row!

Tip-off is at 5 pm CST.

The Grizzlies also announced their 2025-2026 ‘City Edition’ jerseys yesterday. They will be honoring the Memphis music legend Isaac Hayes this year.

Here’s a look: