Grinding It Out: Thunder Win Game 2

In a Game 2 battle that tested Oklahoma City’s toughness, the Thunder found a way to manufacture offense, weather Memphis’ adjustments, and lean into their defensive identity. Head coach Mark Daigneault credited his team’s perseverance and discipline in a game that “was a little muddy” but ultimately swung OKC’s way thanks to timely stops.

“I thought just our perseverance in the third to just grind through that quarter… we ended up with a bunch of offensive rebounds, I think 12 in the second half,” said Daigneault. “We just manufactured second half offense to win.”

While the Thunder's offensive rhythm came and went, especially in the third quarter, it was their defense that shone brightest. Daigneault pointed to the defensive contributions of Alex Caruso, who delivered key plays in pivotal moments.

“He was unbelievable,” said Daigneault. “The block on Morant, the jump ball on the Jackson post-up… He was a catalyst in that group that started the fourth.”

OKC's depth continued to shine, as emerging stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams carried the offensive load while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found his rhythm.

“Dub, obviously great. Chet, great. Caruso offensively was really good,” said Daigneault. “And then I thought Shai stabilized the game in the third… he made some settling shots for us.”

The Thunder didn’t rely on a singular hero. Everyone contributed. Cason Wallace's confidence on a late dunk off a swing pass showed growth, while Joe, Wiggins, and Hart chipped in at critical times.

“We're going to need everybody at different times to make plays,” said Daigneault. “And I thought that was on display again tonight.”

The defensive game plan worked to limit Memphis’ strengths, especially in transition, where OKC held the Grizzlies to just three fast-break points, something Daigneault called the most impressive stat of the night.

“Probably holding them to three,” he said. “They're a really, really good transition team… I thought we did a really good job on the defensive glass.”

Despite only forcing 15 turnovers, the Thunder turned them into 25 points and stayed clean with just seven giveaways of their own.

“We had a really clean game in the floor game with turnovers,” Daigneault said. “We won the possession battle tonight.”

Memphis leaned heavily on its stars—Bain, Jackson, and Morant took nearly two-thirds of their team’s shots. While Ja Morant got into the paint, OKC made his life difficult.

“Most of his shots were really, really tough,” said Daigneault. “We’ve done a good job of sending him into a crowd.”

Holmgren's rim protection and rebounding, paired with Isaiah Hartenstein’s presence, anchored a two-big lineup that continues to pay dividends.

“They’ve done a great job of upscaling… we were able to keep them on the court late even against small lineups because of their intelligence and their fluidity,” Daigneault explained.

The Thunder’s maturity showed in how they handled Memphis’ energy, particularly after a 51-point blowout in Game 1. This time, the Grizzlies came with fire, and OKC answered with resilience.

“We were ready for them to play really well tonight… now they’re going back home… we’ve got to be ready for a similar type of punch in Game 3.”

Even in a game where their offensive flow faltered, OKC showed why it’s one of the deepest and most connected teams in the league. And while Daigneault joked about one misstep, costing his team two points by calling Caruso off a rebound assignment, his trust in his players and their trust in each other carried the day.

“It’s not like if Shai’s having a bad shooting night, everyone’s playing differently,” Daigneault said. “Everybody’s playing the same… and that’s what a team is.”

The Thunder now hold a 2–0 lead heading into Memphis, knowing the fight is far from over, but confident.