Thunder Mount Historic Comeback To Take A Commanding 3-0 Lead In Opening Series vs. the Grizzlies

Thunder Pull Off Historic 29-Point Comeback to Stun Grizzlies in Game 3

OKLAHOMA CITY—In a game that will be etched into the Thunder lore and NBA history, the Oklahoma City Thunder mounted a historic 29-point comeback to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 in Game 3 of their first-round series. With the win, the Thunder now hold a commanding 3-0 series lead and have positioned themselves just one victory away from advancing to the second round. But beyond the score, this game was a story of resilience, defensive grit, and the Thunder stars answering the call on the biggest stage.

The game began with Memphis dominating on their home floor. Fueled by an energetic crowd, and before we had a chance to really blink a few times, the Grizzlies raced out to a 66-37 lead midway through the second quarter. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. looked like men on a mission. Getting anywhere they wanted, slicing through the defense and setting the tone for a team desperate to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole.

Oklahoma City looked like a team we hadn’t really seen all year. Everyone out of sync and Memphis’ physicality was not being matched which is not like this Thunder team. A few key defensive stops late in the second quarter gave them life, trimming the halftime deficit to 26.

“We kind of reconnected to who we are. We were out of character in the first half. The third, I thought we kind of reconnected. There was great communication—even when we were down 20. We didn’t break. We stayed present. We just stacked possessions and trusted the one-play-at-a-time thing,” said head coach Mark Daigneault when talking about the halftime adjustment. 

Then came the third quarter—and with it, one of the most impressive two-way performances of the postseason. Chet Holmgren, who had been quiet in the first half with only 1 point, erupted for 23 of his 24 total points in the second half. It was night and day from what we saw in the first half and he looked like a man on a mission. Altering shots at the rim and taking it coast to coast to get whatever shot he wanted which helped flip the momentum in Oklahoma City’s favor.

“I don’t think I played the way I wanted to in the first half. But in the playoffs, to be able to scrap a first half mentally and come out and do what I did in the second—that’s maturity,” Holmgren says about his second half performance. 

Teammate Jalen Williams echoed those sentiments saying,

“Big kudos to him [Chet]. You could just see the maturity level and his evolution as a player… especially being hurt half the season. For him to have the confidence to make those shots, it’s a testament to how hard he works.”

Yet it wasn’t just the stars who brought the Thunder back from the brink. Once again, enter Alex Caruso. The veteran NBA Champion guard who has been a godsend the glue of Oklahoma City’s already stacked defense all year, provided some much needed energy and effort on both ends that helped turn the game in Oklahoma City’s favor. Caruso’s impact on this game was immense, even if it didn’t dominate the boxscore. He *only* had  10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and a block—every one of them timely. Whether it was diving for a loose ball, disrupting passing lanes, or calmly setting up a fast break, Caruso’s presence was vital in stabilizing the team during their comeback.

“I love playing defense. I love competing on that end. That’s just fun—and being surrounded by a bunch of dudes that also enjoy that and find pride on that side of the floor. It’s a lot of fun,” Caruso said after the game. 

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault also deserves his share of credit. His halftime adjustments—particularly increasing ball movement on offense and sending more aggressive traps at Memphis’ ball-handlers—turned the tide. He tightened the rotation, trusted his bench, and leaned into small-ball lineups that sped up the pace and pulled Memphis’ bigs away from the paint. The result was a perfect storm of energy, cohesion, and execution.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies were dealt a crushing blow in the second quarter when Ja Morant appeared to re-aggravate a hip injury and did not return. Without their offensive catalyst, Memphis became stagnant and struggled to generate consistent looks. Jaren Jackson Jr. tried to carry the load, finishing with 22 points and 7 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough. The Grizzlies’ composure crumbled under pressure, and Oklahoma City’s confidence only grew.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Thunder had completed the largest comeback in franchise playoff history—and second largest in NBA playoff history. More importantly, they did it by staying true to who they’ve been all season: a team that competes relentlessly, defends as a unit, and believes in each other no matter the score.

Looking ahead

With a 3-0 lead, Oklahoma City now finds itself in the driver’s seat. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, and Game 4 will present a golden opportunity for the Thunder to close things out and advance. For Memphis, the questions are piling up. Can Morant return healthy in time to extend the series? Can the supporting cast rise to the occasion after such a deflating collapse?

Regardless of what happens next, Game 3 will be remembered as the night the Thunder made history. It wasn’t just a defining moment not just for Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren, but for players like Caruso—who brought the grit and veteran savvy that championship teams are made of.

“Never surprised, always impressed,” said Mark Daigneault. “They just feel an unbelievable responsibility to one another. I think it just comes down to that. They’re the epitome of a team 1 through 18… We stood up with our backs against the wall tonight. Certainly, again, not surprised, but impressed every time they do it.”​

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