Devastating 75-Point Loss! Morant vs. Gilgeous-Alexander: Will There Be a Miracle?

The Memphis Grizzlies have officially made their way into the 2025 NBA playoffs, though their path to the postseason has been anything but smooth. After suffering a defeat in the first play-in game to the Golden State Warriors, they came back with a vengeance in the second play-in match. In front of a home crowd, the Grizzlies dominated the Dallas Mavericks from the opening tip, never trailing for a single second. With a first-quarter lead of 15 points and a maximum lead of 25 points, the Grizzlies ultimately cruised to a 120-106 win, securing their spot in the playoffs.

While the victory was impressive, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room: Ja Morant. The Grizzlies’ star, playing through an ankle injury that required painkillers just to suit up, delivered yet another stellar performance. In 33 minutes of play, Morant posted 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. His shooting efficiency wasn’t the best—hitting just 7 of 24 from the field—but the highlights don’t lie. Despite playing hurt, Morant was involved in multiple jaw-dropping moments and forced the Mavericks’ defense to scramble whenever he attacked the basket. Not to mention, he contributed defensively with 3 steals and provided much-needed leadership on the floor. His +12 in plus-minus reflects how pivotal he was for Memphis on both ends of the court.

Despite Morant’s efforts, the Grizzlies’ regular season was marked by inconsistency. Once sitting as high as third in the Western Conference, they slumped their way down to the eighth seed. Still, what most people failed to notice was the growing strength of Morant’s game over the past few months. Across 50 games, Morant averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, but his numbers were trending upward as the season wore on. In his last 13 games, he averaged 29.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists, with shooting splits of 50.0% from the field, 35.1% from three, and 79.8% from the free-throw line. His true shooting percentage jumped to 60.3%. It’s clear: the Grizzlies are only truly dangerous when Morant is healthy and playing at his best.

However, the road ahead is anything but easy. The Grizzlies enter the playoffs as the eighth seed, and their first-round opponents will be the formidable Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are coming off one of the most dominant regular seasons in NBA history, finishing with a staggering 68 wins. Their 12.9-point average margin of victory is the best in league history, and they were an absolute juggernaut, beating opponents by double digits 54 times and by 15 or more points 40 times. Oklahoma City has been putting teams to bed all season long, and the Grizzlies will need to dig deep if they want to avoid a quick exit.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Grizzlies have already struggled against the Thunder this season. In their four regular-season matchups, Memphis was outclassed, losing by an average margin of 18.8 points. The four losses were by 24 points, 13 points, 17 points, and 21 points. In those games, Morant struggled to make a real impact, posting disappointing performances like 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 6-of-19 shooting and 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists on 8-of-22 shooting. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s star, was in a class of his own, putting up dominant numbers in those matchups, including a 32-point, 8-assist, 2-block performance and a 41-point, 2-rebound, 8-assist game. Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact was undeniable, and his efficiency was off the charts. In comparison, Morant’s performances just couldn’t keep pace with the Thunder’s superstar.

It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, Morant and Gilgeous-Alexander were often compared as two of the brightest young talents in the NBA. In 2022, Morant made the All-NBA Second Team and was viewed as one of the league’s emerging stars, while Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t even an All-Star. Fast forward to 2025, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. Not only has Gilgeous-Alexander overtaken Morant in terms of individual accomplishments, but he’s also led his Thunder team to new heights. The difference in their trajectories can be traced to Morant’s injury struggles and off-the-court issues, including suspensions that kept him sidelined for stretches of the season. On the other hand, Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into one of the best players in the NBA, with a skill set that’s impossible to ignore.

This upcoming series between the Grizzlies and the Thunder is more than just a matchup of two teams—it’s a battle between two of the league’s best young point guards. Morant and Gilgeous-Alexander will be the focal points of their respective teams, and their head-to-head performances could determine the fate of the series. Additionally, we’ll see intriguing matchups like Jaren Jackson Jr. against Chet Holmgren, and Desmond Bane vs. Jalen Williams, as two of the most talented young rosters in the league go head-to-head. For the Grizzlies to have any hope of making a deep playoff run, Morant will need to find a way to elevate his game and match the brilliance of Gilgeous-Alexander.

The challenge for Memphis is daunting. The Thunder are simply a better team, with more depth and a level of dominance that Memphis has struggled to replicate. Despite Morant’s heroic efforts in the play-in game against Dallas, the Grizzlies have been outclassed by Oklahoma City all season long, and it’s hard to envision a scenario where they manage to pull off an upset.

Can Memphis defy the odds and pull off a miracle? The “Black Eight” Cinderella stories are always part of the playoff lore, but the reality is that the Grizzlies face an incredibly tough task. If they’re going to have any chance in this series, Morant must step up like never before. But it’s not just about him; the rest of the team—especially the likes of Jackson Jr., Bane, and others—must also rise to the occasion and show that they can compete with a Thunder team that has shown no mercy to anyone this season.

So, what are the chances of Memphis pulling off a victory? It’s hard to say, but given the gap in talent and performance between the two teams, it’s going to take something extraordinary for the Grizzlies to win this series. A miracle, in the truest sense of the word, might be their only shot. But miracles in the NBA don’t come around often, and the Thunder are far from a team that’s going to make it easy for anyone.

It’s a showdown between two of the NBA’s best young stars, and we’re about to find out just how much heart the Grizzlies really have.