Memphis begins a four-game, nine-day road trip in Oklahoma City on Sunday as the Grizzlies look to capture a season series victory over the Thunder… The Grizzlies own the league’s third-best road winning percentage (.647) and have won 20 of their last 27 road games. Steven Adams is slated to play his first game in Oklahoma City in a Grizzlies uniform this evening on 92.9 FM ESPN…
Steven Adams leads the NBA in offensive rebounds per game (4.6), helping Memphis lead the NBA in the category as a team, as well as second chance points (18.3).Memphis leads the NBA in points in the paint (57.6), a franchise record and the third highest average by any NBA team since data was tracked starting with the 1996‐ 97 season… The Grizzlies also lead the NBA in rebounds, blocks, steals and fast break points.The Grizzlies recorded a season-high 16 blocks in the win over the Knicks on Friday.Memphis defeated Oklahoma City by an NBA-record 73-point margin on Dec. 2, 2021… The Grizzlies’ 152 points set a new franchise record for points in a game.
Individual Milestones
Desmond Bane needs 18 3-pointers made to pass Mike Miller (202 in 2006-07) for the single-season franchise record.Jaren Jackson Jr. needs 20 blocks to pass Pau Gasol (169 in 2001-02) for the single-season franchise record.Steven Adams needs 38 offensive rebounds to pass Zach Randolph (330 in 2009-10) for the single-season franchise record.Ja Morant is on pace to set a new single-season franchise record for scoring average (27.7)… The current mark is held by Shareef Abdur-Rahim (23.0 in 1998-99).Desmond Bane is on pace to set a new single-season franchise record for free throw percentage (.894)… The current mark is held by O.J. Mayo (.879 in 2008-09).
Series Records and Current Streaks vs. Opponent (Regular Season)
Overall: 32-65 (Lost 1)Road: 11-37 (Won 1)Last Win: 12/2/21Last Road Win: 3/24/21
Connections
Grizzlies center Steven Adams was drafted 12th overall by the Thunder in the 2013 NBA Draft and played his first seven seasons in Oklahoma City, appearing in 530 games (466 starts) and averaging 9.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in 26.8 minutes… Adams is the SuperSonics/Thunder all-time leader in field goal percentage (.589).Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins coached Thunder center Mike Muscala for five seasons (2013-18) as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks.Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was drafted 21st overall by the Thunder in the 2019 NBA Draft, and his rights were traded to Memphis on July 6, 2019 for the draft rights to Thunder forward Darius Bazley (23rd overall) and a future second round draft pick.Grizzlies guard/forward Desmond Bane and Thunder forward Kenrich Williams were teammates at TCU for two seasons (2016-17 to 2017-18).Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played at the University of Kentucky, as did Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Affairs Tayshaun Prince… Gilgeous-Alexander (Toronto), Clarke (Vancouver) Grizzlies guard/forward Dillon Brooks (Mississauga) and Thunder wing Luguentz Dort (Montreal) are all from Canada.Grizzlies forward/center Killian Tillie (Cagnes-sur-Mer) and Thunder guard Theo Maledon (Rouen) are both from France while Grizzlies wing Yves Pons is a native of France by way of Haiti.Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Strategy Rich Cho spent 15 years (1995-2010) with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder organization, including the final 10 seasons as assistant general manager.Grizzlies assistant coach Darko Rajaković was an assistant coach with the Thunder for five seasons (2014-19)… Rajaković and Thunder forward Alexej Pokusevski are from Serbia.Grizzlies assistant coach Vitaly Potapenko appeared in 148 games (54 starts) over parts of four seasons (2002-06) with the Seattle SuperSonics and averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.7 minutes.Thunder TV analyst Michael Cage is a West Memphis, Ark., native who also once served as a Grizzlies TV analyst.
