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The Oklahoma City Thunder made NBA history by overcoming a 26-point halftime deficit to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 in Game Three of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night. The victory gives the Thunder a commanding 3-0 series lead.
Chet Holmgren was instrumental in the comeback, scoring 23 of his 24 points in the second half. His performance was ignited by a three-pointer at the start of the third quarter, which set the tone for the Thunder's rally. "Mark changed the trajectory of the game," Holmgren said, crediting Thunder coach Mark Daigneault for trusting him with the shot as reported by ESPN.
The Grizzlies, who led by as many as 29 points in the first half, suffered a major setback when star player Ja Morant exited with a hip injury. Morant, who had 15 points before his departure, was seen on crutches after the game, and his status for Game Four remains uncertain according to CNN.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 points, while Jalen Williams contributed 26 points. The Thunder's defense was pivotal in the second half, forcing the Grizzlies into 13 turnovers and limiting them to just 31 points as detailed by ESPN.
The Thunder's comeback is the second-largest in NBA playoff history, trailing only the Los Angeles Clippers' 31-point comeback against the Golden State Warriors in 2019. The Thunder will look to close out the series in Game Four on Saturday.