10:34 PM
The Memphis Grizzlies set an NBA record for margin of victory in their win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The previous record was Cleveland's 68-point win over Miami. On December 17, 1991, the Heat were defeated by the Cavaliers.
"Tonight is not who we are,'' Daigneault said. I think we've shown that in a competitive way. This isn't indicative of who our team is.
The Memphis used 12 players and nine of them reached double figures in scoring, with Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the way with 27 points. Ja Morant was the best player for Memphis.
The year 2021.
The Grizzles def. It's the thunder.
+83.
1991
The Cavs lost. It's heat.
+68
1998
Pacers win. The Blazers.
+65
1972
Lakers The Warriors.
+63
It was 72-36 at halftime and the Grizzlies just kept adding to the lead, eventually pulling ahead by as many as 78 -- the largest lead in any game since 1996.
On May 1 last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder were down by 67 points to the Indiana Pacers, but they came back to win by just 57 points.
This was worse. It was worse historically.
The team set a franchise record for shooting. None of the three players who scored in the 19 points scored by De' Anthony Melton, Santi Aldama and John Konchar started.
It feels great. It feels great to be in the history books, especially in front of our home crowd. We did it one through 15. Everyone contributed, everyone played hard and we all need to get in the game. It's always a blessing.
"We knew what we had to do, and we were prepared for it,'' he said. "We had to step up.''
No starter played more than 21 minutes. The bench for the Memphis team scored 93 points, outdistancing Oklahoma City's entire team by 14 points.
Oklahoma City shot only 33% and Lu Dort led the way with 15 points.
The score was 12-8 after five minutes. There was no stopping Memphis. In the four quarters, the Grizzlies scored 15 points per quarter.
It was the third game in a row that the Grizzlies have led from the beginning. Leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander entered concussion protocol earlier Thursday and the Oklahoma City Thunder lost their eighth straight game.
Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a blow to the head late in the game, but still scored 39 points. The rest of Oklahoma City's players couldn't fill the void left by point guard Josh Giddey, who was sick.
Before Thursday night, the Thunder had been competitive in their losses. Their biggest defeat was 13 points.
When you compete, you have exposure to the highs and lows. Competition comes with joy and also grief and anger. That's what you expose yourself to when you step in that ring.
"It's why the joy feels so good, because when you get punched and you taste your own blood, it doesn't feel right.''
Information from The Associated Press was used.
