Losing a game is never fun, and losing a game in the NBA playoffs is even less enjoyable. Losing a game in the NBA playoffs by 51? At best, you laugh and shake your head.
That’s where the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves, preparing for Game 2 of their first-round series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC stormed to a 51-point win—131-80—over the Grizzlies in Game 1, the fifth-largest margin of victory in the history of the NBA playoffs. Memphis needs to stabilize the series in Game 2, so let’s see if they can take any inspiration, or at least consolation, from the other shellackings on the all-time list.
The Top 10 Biggest Blowouts in NBA Playoffs History
T-10. 2017 – Cleveland Cavaliers 130, Boston Celtics 86 (44 points)
No one remembers that the Celtics were the No. 1 seed in this series, but they needed a buzzer-beater to win their only game of the series. Cleveland—some will tell you this was the best Cavs team of LeBron’s tenure—won four games by an average of 25.8 points, which included a 33-point elimination on top of this 44-point thumping.
LeBron, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love (intriguing idea for a big three!) each scored 20+ while the Celtics shot 37% from the field. Watch out for Celtics leading scorer Jaylen Brown: it’s good to have a young star learn how to move past a blowout.
The Seattle SuperSonics (122-78 vs. Phoenix in 1997), Los Angeles Lakers (153-109 over Denver in 1985), and St. Louis Hawks (145-101 vs. Detroit in 1958) also had 44-point playoff wins.
9. 2024 – Minnesota Timberwolves 115, Denver Nuggets 70 (45 points)
Down in the series against the defending champs, Minnesota pulled off one of the gutsiest wins in recent playoff memory. The Timberwolves held Denver to 30% shooting and 19% from three.
Anthony Edwards led the way with 27 points, and the glass-eating trio of Rudy Gobert (14), Karl-Anthony Towns (13), and Naz Reid (11) propelled the T-Wolves to an eventual upset of the Nuggets in Game 7 after this Game 6 shocker. Sometimes, Memphis, you can beat the opponent’s MVP with great team effort.
T-7. 1986 – Los Angeles Lakers 135, San Antonio Spurs 88 (47 points)
This was the first game in a three-game sweep by the Lakers. The teams hit five combined threes all series, which makes the Lakers’ 127.1 offensive rating this game all the more impressive. It was a good old-fashioned beatdown by the No. 1 seed, as Magic Johnson dished 18 assists (to 9 turnovers), James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar combined for 34, and the team shot 66% from the field.
T-7. 1995 – Orlando Magic 124, Boston Celtics 77 (47 points)
Here is some good news for Memphis: The Celtics, crushed by 47, won the next game! Sure, they lost the series 3-1, but it improved after a 30-13 opening quarter here. Shaq made 11 of 14 free throws in a 23-point game, eight Magic players scored in double digits, and the Celtics had 20 turnovers. And yes — that was Dominique Wilkins in Celtics green for one season. That might be the weird spark Memphis needs.
6. 1971 – Milwaukee Bucks 136, San Francisco Warriors 86 (50 points)
The Warriors had staved off elimination in Game 4, but decided they couldn’t afford to lose their tickets to Cancun, trailing by 34 at halftime while Abdul-Jabbar pulled down 17 rebounds. When the team came back, they were the Golden State Warriors. Not sure Memphis needs that kind of change.
5. 2025 – Oklahoma City Thunder 131, Memphis Grizzlies 80 (51
points)
OK, a brief check-in. The teams on the wrong end of blowouts thus far are 3-10 in the rest of the series, not including that wild Timberwolves-Nuggets classic. It’s not all bad news: Kareem and LeBron aren’t on the other side, and the best-of-seven format gives Memphis time to turn it around. A nice 152-79 explosion will turn things around.
4. 2015 – Chicago Bulls 120, Milwaukee Bucks 66 (54 points)
The Bulls won the first three games, but Milwaukee took the next two to force a Game 6. That’s when the Bucks fell apart. Nobody scored more than eight points. Their top scorer? Zaza Pachulia. Yep — eight points.
A young Giannis Antetokounmpo added five. Milwaukee’s offensive rating was 69.9. Mike Dunleavy led the Bulls with 20. And yes — four of Zaza’s points came on free throws. Yikes. Look away, Memphis.
3. 1973 – Los Angeles Lakers 126, Golden State Warriors 70 (56 points)
We’ve seen this story before for both the Lakers and Warriors, although this was a Western Conference Finals. The Warriors won the next game before bowing out in the series’ fifth game. Jim McMillian led the way with 28 points, Wilt Chamberlain had 17,491 rebounds (OK — probably closer to 25), and Jerry West dished out 11 assists.
Rick Barry and Walt Hazzard combined to shoot 5-30 for Golden State. Hang in there, Memphis; if the Warriors’ 1975 title two years later is anything to go by, you’re so close.
T-1. 1956 – Minneapolis Lakers 133, St. Louis Hawks 75 (58 points)
This blowout was so bad that both teams moved cities. No, I’m just kidding, that happened a few years later, but here’s the positive for Memphis: the Hawks won this series!
It was a bizarre playoff format, and the series was three games, but Bob Pettit and the Hawks won it after shooting 22-91 and giving up 10+ points to every player on the Lakers. This is the only example the Grizzlies can point to, but if 58 points didn’t faze the Hawks, surely 51 is slight work for Memphis.
T-1. 2009 – Denver Nuggets 121, New Orleans Hornets 63 (58 points)
On the other hand, New Orleans did not win this series, although they did win the game before this blowout, which is the largest in recent memory. Everything went right for Denver: Carmelo Anthony scored 26, Linas Kleiza hit three treys, and the Hornets had 27 turnovers, 10 more than made shots (17).
At least they made 27 free throws, and Tyson Chandler posted a team-best plus-minus of -16. Also, the Hornets shot 13% from three, worse than Memphis’ 18% in Game 1. So, Grizzlies fans, it could’ve been worse.
Game 2 of the Thunder-Grizzlies series tips off Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., with the Grizzlies hoping to vanquish a dominant Game 1 opponent and a history of playoff blowouts that has been almost historically unfavorable to them.