Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) defends during the first quarter during game three for the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Where Thunder's comeback win ranks in NBA playoffs history

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 10:02 AM ET

Chet Holmgren scored 23 points in the second half as the Thunder overcame a 29-point deficit to take a 3-0 series lead over the Grizzlies on Thursday night, 114-108.

The top-seeded Thunder overcame the largest halftime deficit (26) and the second-largest deficit (29) in NBA playoffs history, trailing only the Clippers' 31-point burst against the Warriors in Game 2 of their first-round series in the 2019 NBA playoffs.

Incidentally, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a rookie on that Clippers team that completed the improbable comeback six years ago. On Thursday, he experienced the same feeling again.

"I completely forgot about that [game], so it didn't cross my mind, but that is crazy," Gilgeous-Alexander said, via ESPN's Tim McMahon. "If they could build it, we could erase it. That's how we see it. That's what we did."

29-point comeback complete

Overcame the largest halftime deficit in NBA playoff history. Second-largest comeback in NBA playoff history. pic.twitter.com/f05R55VYxA
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 25, 2025

The @okcthunder were down by 26 at the half.

That's the largest halftime deficit overcome to win a playoff game in NBA history.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 25, 2025

The game flipped on its head with 3:15 left in the second quarter when Grizzlies star Ja Morant sustained a hip injury and exited the court. At the time, the home team led 67-40 and seemed to be in cruise control.

Following Morant's exit, the Thunder would outscore the Grizzlies 74-41 to pull off the incredible victory. Their top-ranked defense sprang into action as the shorthanded Grizzlies were held to a meager 31 second-half points and just 13 in the fourth quarter.

While some may downplay Thunder's comeback win due to Morant's injury, it's undeniable that Mark Daigneault's team upped its intensity in the second half and proved why it's the favorite for the NBA title.

All-Star Jalen Williams, who scored a career-playoff-high 26 points, explained why his team never wavered in confidence even after going down big in the first half.

"In the moment, it sucks," Williams said of the deficit. "It's not something you want to make a habit of, but we also have extreme confidence in how we can play to turn the tide. We were able to do that."

The Thunder were barely challenged in the first two games of the series. As such, Thursday's win may be what the doctor ordered for a young squad with lofty aspirations: it overcame adversity.

OKC will now try to complete the sweep of Memphis on Saturday.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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