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Why Scotty Pippen Jr., Ja Morant are just kidding themselves with bold Thunder claim
On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies saw their season come to an end in the first round of the playoffs. Despite being swept at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, multiple members of the team feel they could have stacked up with the title hopefuls.
The series started in historic fashion with the Thunder pulling off a 51-point victory. Things further took a turn for the worst for Memphis in Game 3 when Ja Morant got injured after taking a hard fall.
After the Thunder completed their sweep, Morant uttered a bold take by saying he felt the Grizzlies could have pulled off an upset if he didn't get hurt. While on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back" show Tuesday, Scotty Pippen Jr. echoed that same stance.
"Third game we're up, Ja goes down," Pippen Jr. said. "Even the fourth game, we still competed. It could go either way I feel like if he doesn't go out."
Scotty Pippen Jr. says the Grizzlies could've taken down the Thunder if Ja Morant did not get injured
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 29, 2025
"We felt pretty well...it could go either way if he doesn't go out."@spippenjr | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/bADU6xVaV7
Although they never managed to secure a win, the Grizzlies did make things interesting in the latter half of the series. In Game 3, the Grizzlies had a 26-point lead going into halftime before OKC fought back and won, 114-108. Game 4 ended up being the closest of the four matchups, with the Thunder walking out with a two-point victory.
The Grizzlies might feel the series could have been a toss-up, but the opening games tell the true story. The Thunder were clearly the better team from the beginning and made that apparent with a pair of blowout victories on their home floor. Even if the Grizzlies managed to take one of the games on their home floor, it's doubtful they would win outside of Memphis.
Cohesion is a major factor in the Thunder being the team that advanced. OKC has been a tight-knit squad all year, while the Grizzlies have been scrambling since firing their coach toward the end of the regular season.
Morant's injury certainly shifted things, but their chances of pulling off an upset were slim from the beginning. Upon being swept, the Grizzlies will now regroup in the offseason in hopes of contending in 2026.
More must-reads:
- Ja Morant makes bold five-word claim about Thunder-Grizzlies series
- Cavaliers, Thunder prove their regular-season records were for real
- The '2023-24 NBA playoff points-per-game leaders' quiz
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Warriors Take Strong Stance on Jonathan Kuminga Trade
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Eagles get big injury scare at practice regarding key starter
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Rasmus Andersson Turns Down Huge Long-Term Offer from an NHL Team
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3 Steelers Rookies Who Impressed During The Exciting Preseason Opener Vs Jaguars
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2025 preseason with a nail-biting win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night. Rookie undrafted free agent Daryl Porter made the game-winning tackle inbounds in the final seconds, keeping the clock running and securing the 31-25 win. Porter was one of many rookies to make their debut on Saturday, in a game where 16 starters sat out both due to injury and veteran rest. Some, like defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, are expected to start right away, while others are fighting for a roster spot -- with many making a convincing case. One of these players was wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams, who is on the outside looking in at a 53-man roster spot currently. While the receiver room in Pittsburgh is crowded, and the Steelers are unlikely to keep more than six wideouts, there have been questions about whether a young guy could steal the final spot from a veteran like Robert Woods. The speedy 5'9" receiver from Indiana made quite a case on Saturday, hauling in 2 catches for 55 yards and the game-winning TD from quarterback Skylar Thompson. If Williams wants to stick around and at least compete for a practice squad spot, it's important that he's able to prove that he's more than just a speedster, and grabbing jump balls from the hands of a defender is a good start. Williams wasn't the only offensive weapon who impressed. Rookie running back Max Hurleman also made his case for a roster spot on Saturday night. Thompson's connection with Hurleman shined in the two-minute drill to end the half, connecting on a pair of consecutive passes, one being a touchdown. While Hurleman's official position might be listed as running back, the Steelers view him as more than that. Hurleman has lined up out wide, as well as in the backfield, making him much more of a Swiss Army knife than a traditional runner. If he wants to stick around, Hurleman's versatility will be why he does so, and he will have to hope that he can usurp someone like Connor Heyward, who is a similar weapon in the passing game. Steelers' 2025 First-Round Pick Gets His First Start While guys like Hurleman and Williams fight for a roster spot, the rookie Harmon has his locked up. In fact, the Steelers have the utmost faith in the rookie, with Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar stating that he will be starting Week 1. "You can write that," Dunbar said earlier this summer. "He’s our starting left defensive end." Starting rookies immediately is not something that Pittsburgh typically does, and it shows that they see enough in Harmon to put him in right away. While the box score didn't pop for him on Saturday night, there was still plenty to like. Harmon was able to get in the backfield on multiple plays and create pressure -- something the Steelers have been looking for after moving on from Larry Ogunjobi earlier in the offseason. Harmon is going to add a vital piece to both the pass and run defense for Pittsburgh in 2025. The team is hoping to bounce back after a disappointing playoff performance in January that led to Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry rushing for nearly 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. Coming out of Oregon, Harmon was lauded for his ability to both stop the run and create pressure on quarterbacks, leading the FBS with 55 total pressures. Whether it be their first-round pick, or guys fighting on the bubble, there's no doubt that the rookies were a highlight of the team's preseason performance on Saturday. Whether they can stick around will be decided when the roster cutdown deadline passes on August 27th. Until then, they will be looking toward their next opportunity, when the Steelers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 16th at 7 PM ET. Which rookie's performance were you most impressed by?
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