Despite being one of the top teams in the Western Conference for most of the regular season, the Memphis Grizzlies struggled to end the year and ended up in the Play-In Tournament. Despite ultimately securing the No. 8 seed in the West, the Grizzlies were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 to complete a four-game sweep.

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of their Western Conference Playoffs matchup, but Ja Morant believes it might have gone down differently had he not exited Game 3—and then missed Game 4—with a left hip contusion.