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[Saba Sports News] Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant made a direct and defiant statement following his team’s disastrous Game 1 loss in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday.
The Grizzlies were routed 131-80 by the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City—a defeat that ranked as the fifth-largest margin in NBA playoff history. The lopsided result sparked immediate doubts about Memphis’ ability to compete in the series at all.
Still, Morant remained confident. After the game, he made a firm declaration, “We will never play that bad again,” he said.
Given how poorly the team performed, it’s a reasonable bet. Memphis trailed by 32 at halftime and had surrendered 112 points by the end of the third quarter. Morant himself struggled, posting 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting with just four assists and three rebounds.
Even if the Grizzlies bounce back, the series outlook remains grim. They looked completely overmatched by Oklahoma City in Game 1—far from the postseason contender they hoped to be after late-season roster moves. If they can’t regroup quickly, this playoff run may be short-lived.