The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a jaw-dropping performance Thursday night, storming back from a 29-point deficit to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series. The win gives the Thunder a commanding 3-0 series lead and marks the second-largest comeback in NBA postseason history.
While the Thunder’s epic rally dominated headlines, the game’s momentum shifted dramatically late in the second quarter when Memphis star Ja Morant suffered a hard fall and exited with a hip injury. Morant went down after being undercut by Thunder forward Luguentz Dort during a fast break. The play was reviewed and ruled a common foul, with officials determining there was no malicious intent.
After the game, Dort addressed the incident, expressing concern for Morant and clarifying his actions:
“Tough one. Obviously, I hope he’s OK,” Dort told reporters. “I was running back, making a hustle play for my team. I didn’t know he was behind me, and I was slipping. I tried to make a play on the ball, but we just ran into each other and he fell down. But I hope he’s OK. I didn’t mean to hit him like that.”
Dort also revealed that he immediately apologized to Morant at the free-throw line, emphasizing that there was no intent to injure:
“When he was at the line, I dapped him up and I apologized obviously. It’s never good when a good player like that goes down. But people can say whatever they want. He dapped me up. That was it. That was enough. At least he knows that I didn’t mean to take him down like that.”
Morant, who had 15 points and five assists before the injury, was ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Grizzlies, who led by 26 at halftime, struggled to maintain their lead without their All-Star guard, allowing the Thunder to seize control in the second half.
The Thunder’s comeback was fueled by standout performances from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points), Jalen Williams (26 points), and Chet Holmgren, who scored 23 of his 24 points after halftime. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, face an uphill battle as they await updates on Morant’s condition with their season on the brink.
Game 4 is set for Saturday, with the Thunder looking to complete the sweep and the Grizzlies hoping for a miracle turnaround.