The OKC Thunder secured a 118-99 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday in Game 2 of the first-round NBA playoff series.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
More: Thunder vs Grizzlies score, live updates: Where to watch NBA Playoffs Game 2 tonight
As the top team in the league, OKC is used to getting everyone’s best shot. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also land some haymakers.
Advertisement
Advertisement
For the second game in a row, the Thunder struck first. It claimed a 32-17 lead at the end of the opening quarter, and it set the tone defensively.
Driving lanes turned into traffic jams. Shooting windows were slammed shut. And every pass was a flight risk against an OKC defense that was eager to intercept it.
The Thunder went on a 9-0 run to start the game and never relinquished its lead en route to the wire-to-wire win.
More: Why ‘watch the games’ sentiment remains relevant for OKC Thunder amid NBA Playoffs
As the rest of his teammates entered the locker room following OKC’s practice on Monday, Alex Caruso stayed back to get some extra shots up.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The veteran guard didn’t shoot the ball once in 12 minutes of action during the Thunder’s Game 1 win. But he showed no lack of ability on the practice floor as he drilled one 3-pointer after the other.
And when Caruso checked into Game 2 late in the first quarter, he didn’t waste any time letting it fly. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander zipped a pass to Caruso, who confidently knocked down a triple.
Caruso finished with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
More: Why OU women’s gymnastics has big fan in OKC Thunder coach Mark Daigneault
After a slow start, Memphis’ offense found its rhythm in the second quarter.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Grizzlies scored on four of their first five possessions, and Jaren Jackson Jr. got the ball rolling with a 10-foot floater.
But that momentum hit a speed bump at the 9:52 mark when Jackson picked up his third foul of the night, which forced him to sit on the bench. He didn’t check back in until there was 4:34 left until halftime, and Memphis trailed 55-38 at that point.
Foul trouble was the only thing that could stop Jackson, who finished with 26 points, and that’s a common theme. The All-Star forward averaged a league-high 3.5 fouls per game during the regular season.
More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be the next MVP, but can he be the face of the NBA his way?
After trailing by as many as 23 points, Memphis cut the deficit to 90-79 at the end of the third quarter.
Advertisement
Advertisement
It marked the first taste of trouble this postseason for OKC, which could do no wrong through the series’ first seven quarters, and it responded well.
The Thunder launched a 9-0 run to begin the fourth quarter. Caruso began the scoring spree with a 3-pointer, and he also ended it with a 7-foot jumper.
OKC ultimately secured the win. Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 27 points on 10-for-29 shooting, while Jalen Williams added 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting.
More: How Jalen Williams went from little known OKC Thunder draft pick to NBA All-Star
With the win Tuesday, OKC now has a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. And history suggests that it has a strong chance of advancing.
Advertisement
Advertisement
NBA teams are 425-34 all-time (92.6%) when they take a 2-0 lead in a playoff series. The Thunder is 5-0 in those situations.
Game 3 is set for 8:30 p.m. CT Thursday in Memphis.
More: Mark Daigneault had respect from NBA coaching peers even before OKC Thunder’s rise
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder beats Memphis Grizzlies again, goes up 2-0 in NBA Playoffs
