Memphis Grizzlies vs OKC Thunder predicted starting lineups and depth charts for Game 1 (April 20) | 2025 NBA Playoffs

23 hours ago 2

close

Easter Sunday playoff hoops tips off with a Western Conference clash between the top-seeded OKC Thunder and the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder have been off for a full week, awaiting their first-round opponent — which ended up being the Grizzlies, who clinched the West’s final playoff berth.

Here’s the latest injury report for the game:

Memphis Grizzlies vs OKC Thunder injury reports

march madness logo

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies will be missing forward Brandon Clarke due to a right knee PCL sprain. GG Jackson is also out for personal reasons, and Jaylen Wells, still in concussion protocol, remains sidelined with a fractured right wrist and facial lacerations.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

One bright spot for Memphis fans: Ja Morant is not listed on the injury report. His status had been uncertain for their final play-in against the Dallas Mavericks after he rolled his ankle in their opener versus the Golden State Warriors, but he’s good to go this afternoon.

OKC Thunder

For the Thunder, the only absences are Ousmane Dieng (left calf strain) and Nikola Topic (knee surgery). Neither affects their core rotation — Dieng is a deep bench option, and Topic was already ruled out for the season.

Also worth noting: Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams and rookie guard Ajay Mitchell are not on the injury list and are expected to be available.

Memphis Grizzlies vs OKC Thunder predicted starting lineups and depth charts

Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup and depth chart

Expect the Grizzlies to start Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey.

Below is their depth chart.

Starter2nd3rd
PGJa MorantYuki Kawamura
SGScotty Pippen Jr.Luke KennardVince Williams Jr.
SFDesmond BaneJohn KoncharLamar Stevens
PFJaren Jackson Jr.Santi AldamaJay Huff
CZach EdeyJaren Jackson Jr.Marvin Bagley III

OKC Thunder starting lineup and depth chart

The Thunder are likely to start Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. That said, their lineup is flexible — guards like Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe or even Alex Caruso could slide in, with Holmgren shifting to center.

But with Memphis expected to roll out Jackson and Edey, OKC is likely to match size and stick with their double-big lineup.

Below is the Thunder depth chart

Starter2nd3rd
PGShai Gilgeous-AlexanderAlex CarusoAjay Mitchell
SGLuguentz DortCason Wallace
SFJalen WilliamsIsaiah Joe
PFChet HolmgrenKenrich WilliamsDillon Jones
CIsaiah HartensteinJaylin Williams

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs OKC Thunder

The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. EST at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. It will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

For fans looking to stream, the game is available live on NBA League Pass and FuboTV, both requiring active subscriptions.

Why did you not like this content?

  • Clickbait / Misleading
  • Factually Incorrect
  • Hateful or Abusive
  • Baseless Opinion
  • Too Many Ads
  • Other

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

Know More

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro

Read Entire Article