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Desmond Bane Sets Unwanted NBA Record In Loss To Thunder

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gautam Varier | Last updated Apr 20, 2025 5:15 PM ET

The Memphis Grizzlies were given little chance in their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and if Game 1 was anything to go by, that was the right assessment. The Thunder took a 1-0 series lead by demolishing the Grizzlies 131-80, and Desmond Bane ended up setting an unwanted NBA record in the process.

All of the Grizzlies' starters put in woeful performances against the Thunder, and Bane had one of the worst games of his playoff career since becoming a full-time starter in 2021. The 26-year-old finished with just nine points and two rebounds in the 27 minutes that he was out on the court.

Despite Bane playing just over half the game, he ended up with a woeful plus-minus of -51. According to StatMuse, he is the first player in the 21st century to hit -50 in a playoff game.

Desmond Bane is the only player in the 21st century with a +/- of -50 in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/vGIkFI7eLY
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 20, 2025

That's definitely not something you want on your resume. Bane can take some solace from the fact that he is also tied for the highest plus-minus in a playoff game in the 21st century, according to StatMuse.

Bane was +46 against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals in 2022. He couldn't have imagined back then that he would end up on the other side just a few years later.

The Grizzlies were down 32-20 at the end of the first quarter, and things went from bad to worse from there. The Thunder led by as many as 56 points at one stage and ended up setting the record for the largest margin of victory in a Game 1.

Bouncing back from such a harrowing defeat won't be easy, but the Grizzlies don't have much time to lick their wounds. Game 2 is at Paycom Center on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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