By The Athletic
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Oklahoma City had the best record in the NBA this season, and the Thunder showed why in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against Memphis on Sunday.

The Thunder opened the second quarter with a 19-2 run, turning a solid lead into a runaway. By the end of the half, OKC’s edge had ballooned to 68-36, and by the end of the third it was 112-63 — and it was only that close because Marvin Bagley III drilled a half-court buzzer-beater. The final period was garbage time, with the Thunder cruising to a 131-80 victory.

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It was the largest margin of victory in a Game 1 in NBA playoff history, and the fifth-largest margin in any playoff game.

Perhaps most impressive about the Thunder’s dominance was the relative lack of impact by OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a season-low 15 points on 4-for-13 shooting. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points per game in the regular season.

Thunder 131, Grizzlies 80

Thunder showed just how frightening they can be.

If there were any questions whether Oklahoma City’s dominant regular season would translate to the postseason, the Thunder delivered a near-historic performance in Game 1, putting the league on notice of exactly how loaded and lethal they could be in these playoffs.

Oklahoma City led by as many as 56 points, nearly setting an NBA record for the largest margin of victory in a playoff game. The Denver Nuggets in 2009 and the Minneapolis Lakers in 1956 each won playoff games by 58 points. The Thunder’s +12.9 point differential in the regular season set an NBA record.

The Thunder led by 32 points at halftime, holding the Grizzlies to 33% shooting at that juncture, and just 34% for the game. Six Thunder players scored in double digits, led by Aaron Wiggins’ 21 points off the bench. Oklahoma City shot 50% and outscored the Grizzlies 27-5 in fast-break points. The Thunder forced Grizzlies star Ja Morant into being a passer and perimeter shooter, holding him to 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting and 1-for-6 on 3-pointers. Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was held to four points and three rebounds on 2-for-13 shooting.

After an inexcusable effort, Grizzlies’ belief in themselves will be tested.

There are a variety of words one can use to describe the Grizzlies’ performance in Game 1 of their first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Ugly. Embarrassing. Uninspired. Nauseating. Regardless of how you choose to describe it, it’ll go down as one of the most lopsided playoff losses in NBA history.

There is no doubt that the Grizzlies were put in an awful position having to play the best team in the league just 36 hours after making it out of the Play-In Tournament, all while star point guard Morant is still recovering from a severe right ankle sprain he suffered early in the week.