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In a mismatch of epic proportions, Memphis piled up a franchise-record 131 points, including a 25-point third quarter in a 110-78 victory over Oklahoma City on Friday night.
This points total is the most ever in an NBA season. The previous mark of 113 points was set by the 2007-08 Miami Heat.
Derrick Rose was not expected to play in this game after signing a two-year contract with the Grizzlies on Wednesday. But he watched from the bench, as has been the custom when he returns to Memphis.
Meanwhile, Ivan Rabb, a third-year forward, who was selected in the 2017 NBA draft, had a terrific debut for Memphis, scoring 15 points and shooting 7 for 7 from the field in 18 minutes.
“I told the team after the game, I felt like they just took the ball to the hole,” Rasual Butler, the Grizzlies shooting guard, said. “It was amazing.”
Trailing 55-35 at halftime, the Thunder were down by 34 points with 4:25 left in the third quarter. Russell Westbrook was a half-step slow when he missed a fastbreak layup, and two minutes later, the Grizzlies went ahead by 28 points.
Westbrook finished with eight points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, but he missed all three of his three-point attempts. Paul George scored 21 points for the Thunder, while Jerami Grant had 15 points and seven rebounds.
“We gave a lot of credit to the second unit,” George said. “We know they come in here and take pride in what they do.
“We knew coming into this game if we don’t get stops on our end we weren’t going to have an outcome that we wanted to.”
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