Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won seven in a row and locked up the No.1 seed in the Western Conference ahead of schedule. But there’s no time for complacency — the Thunder still need to maintain their edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers to guarantee home-court advantage through to a potential NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have once again reminded everyone why they’re among the league’s elite defensive units. Over the last five games, they’ve allowed just 105 points per 100 possessions. The standout performance came against the Los Angeles Clippers, where Norman Powell, James Harden and Ivica Zubac combined for just 12-of-36 shooting (33%). That suffocating defence allows the Thunder to push in transition and break games open — they’ve covered the spread in nine of their last ten.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies, by contrast, are falling apart defensively. Excluding a routine win over the struggling Utah Jazz, they dropped three straight before that, allowing a staggering 124.2 points per 100 possessions — their worst stretch all season. Without Ja Morant, still out with a hamstring injury, the Grizzlies lack a reliable focal point in attack. Morant’s averages of 22.3 points and 7.4 assists have been sorely missed.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Memphis Grizzlies Prediction
This is the first time since November the Memphis Grizzlies have slipped out of the top 10 in defensive rating — and it couldn’t come at a worse moment. Facing the top seed in the West without their superstar, and having already lost eight straight to the Oklahoma City Thunder (seven of those by significant margins), the Grizzlies look outmatched once again.
