Thunder sweep Grizzlies, get to rest before 2nd round

As the first team to move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder get some time off.

Rest for the best.

Oklahoma City, which finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA at 68-14, closed out a four-game sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday with a 117-115 victory. The Thunder, who have won eight straight dating to the regular season, await the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Denver Nuggets series that is tied 2-2.

The Thunder weren’t sure if the break will serve as a benefit.

Oklahoma City dominated the first two games at home and then faced a tougher challenge on the road. After winning Game 1 by 51 points and capturing Game 2 by 19, the Thunder had to overcome a 29-point deficit in Game 3 before holding off a late Memphis rally in Game 4.

“These last two have been good for us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “On a playoff stage with playoff pressure.”

While some were not sure if the time off was a benefit, Daigneault said the Thunder will “always take it.”

“It’s good physically to rejuvenate,” he said. “Guys, I’m sure, are dealing with little things here and there that they get to get healthy and it allows ample prep time.

“I thought we handled it really well coming out of the regular season, getting ourselves ready to play at the start of this series. We’re going to have to replicate that.”



(AP Photo George Walker IV)