Thunder vs Grizzlies NBA Pick: Can OKC Stay Hot Against Memphis In This First-Round Matchup? (Apr 20)

• The Thunder finished with the league’s top record at 68-14.
• The Grizzlies locked up the No. 8 seed with a win over the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the Play-In tournament.
• These teams last played on Mar. 27, with the Thunder cruising to a 125-104 victory.

One of the games on Sunday’s NBA slate features the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of a Western Conference playoff series. Which team takes the opener in our Thunder vs Grizzlies pick?

Thunder Look To Remain Dominant Against Inferior Opponent

Following a two-game slide, OKC concluded the regular season with a four-game winning streak, including a 115-100 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans in the season finale.

Aaron Wiggins, one of four starters who reached double figures, led the way with 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.

Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Joe contributed 17 points each. Branden Carlson provided valuable minutes off the bench, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocked shots.

Leading 75-67 in the third quarter, OKC pulled away for good, courtesy of a 9-0 run that extended its lead to 17 points. The road team led comfortably the rest of the way.

Grizzlies Look To Play The Role Of Spoiler Against League’s Top Team

Meanwhile, after falling to the Warriors 121-116, the Grizzlies bounced back with a 120-106 win against the Dallas Mavericks to lock up the conference’s final playoff berth.

Jaren Jackson Jr. spearheaded an offense in which all five starters registered double-digit scoring totals. He finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and four assists on 10-for-18 shooting overall and an impressive 4-for-5 effort from 3-point range.

Ja Morant and Desmond Bane tallied 22 points apiece. Zach Edey and Scotty Pippen Jr. chipped in with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Dallas trimmed what had been a 25-point first-half deficit down to single digits midway through the third quarter. However, Memphis pushed the lead back to a comfortable 16-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Thunder vs Grizzlies Pick: Is OKC On Upset Alert In Game 1 Of This First-Round Matchup?

The Thunder are balanced at both ends of the floor. They were a top-five team offensively and finished third and first in scoring defense and defensive rating.

The good news is Memphis held its own from a scoring standpoint. This group boasted the second-best scoring average in the association, averaging 121.7 points per game. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies finished in the bottom third in points allowed, surrendering an average of 116.9 points per game.

The Thunder took all four meetings this season by double-digit margins and have won 10 straight in the series. With that in mind, look for the trend to continue when these teams clash on Sunday afternoon.