Thunder vs. Grizzlies: 3 things you need to know

EAST
(1) IND vs. (8) ATL | (2) MIA vs. (7) CHA
(3) TOR vs. (6) BKN | (4) CHI vs. (5) WAS
WEST
(1) SAS vs. (8) DAL | (2) OKC vs. (7) MEM
(3) LAC vs. (6) GSW | (4) HOU vs. (5) POR

The Oklahoma City Thunder hold home court advantage in their opening round series with the Memphis Grizzlies in a matchup that seems better suited for the Western Conference Final. The Grizzlies struggled with injuries in the first half of the season, but came on strong to close out the year, while the Thunder have dealt with some injury woes of their own, but those were masked by the MVP-caliber season put together by Kevin Durant.

The seven-game series will open at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday. Here are three things you need to know.

Marc Gasol is healthy

That's noteworthy because for a big chunk of the year, he wasn't.

In the games he missed, Memphis compiled a 10-13 record. By the time he returned to the lineup from the knee injury that sidelined him for 23 games, the Grizzlies were 17-19 and on the outside looking in of the Western Conference playoff picture.

Upon his return, the Grizzlies hit the ground running, winning nine of 10, and closing the year on a five-game winning streak to clinch a playoff spot. Add it all up, and the Grizzlies compiled a 33-13 record over their final 46 games of the season, good for a .717 winning percentage, which would have placed them third in the Western Conference had they maintained that mark over the course of the entire season.

KD bettered MJ

Not in a game of one-on-one (boy, that would be a story). Durant had himself a regular season, leading the league in scoring for the fourth consecutive time, all but locking up what will be his first NBA MVP award.

Durant accomplished these feats on the back of some consistently spectacular play, never more evident than during a stretch from Jan. 7 to Apr. 7 when he scored 25 points or more in each of 41 consecutive games. In those contests, he averaged 34.8 points on 51.5 percent shooting.

Durant's 41-game streak eclipsed Michael Jordan's modern day record of 40 such games, set during the 1986-87 season.

In that span of games, the Thunder faced the Grizzlies three times, with Durant scoring 37, 31, and 37 points respectively.

Déjà vu?

These teams met in the postseason a year ago, albeit in the second round. Russell Westbrook wasn't around for that series, but it is hard to overlook how easily the Grizzlies handled the Thunder in that one. The Memphis defense limited the Oklahoma City offense to just 89.6 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting for the series. The Grizzlies also won each of the two games played on their home court in that series, and this year, they closed out the regular season with a franchise-record 14 consecutive wins at home.

Before writing off the Thunder entirely, it is worth noting that Kevin Durant was permitted to rack up 28.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in that postseason series, and this time around he'll have a far better supporting cast.

Schedule