How Grizzlies' 73-point win highlighted a return to defense during winning streak

Late in fourth quarter of the Memphis Grizzlies' record-setting 152-79 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, several fans at FedEx Forum started chanting "Dee-fense, Dee-fense".

The Grizzlies were up by 78 points, the largest lead in an NBA game dating back to the 1997-98 season, per the Elias Sports Bureau. They didn't want to miss history and didn't as the Grizzlies' 73-point win broke the NBA record for largest margin of victory and set at least six single-game franchise records.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green tweeted "73 points?!?! That's a fine." Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young tweeted just one word "DAMN" with a shocked face emoji.

Like a perfect storm, the Grizzlies' lead swelled from 36 points at halftime to 51 after three quarters. It happened with injured guard Ja Morant as a spectator on the bench.

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Most players were so caught up in the moment that they didn't realize the history they accomplished until the game was over.

"I didn't know it was the franchise record, I just kind of dunked it," said John Konchar, whose one-handed dunk was the 145th point to break the previous team record of 144. "It's an awesome accomplishment for our team."

"Just a nice, little cherry boop," added Jaren Jackson Jr.

It also showed how far removed the Grizzlies (12are from losing by 43 points to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 20. A team that looked so lifeless and disinterested two weeks ago held the Thunder to just 36 first-half points.

Over the last three games, they've turned to their defense to carry them with Morant out. It would've seemed ludicrous since as of Monday, the Grizzlies were last in the NBA points allowed per game and defensive rating.

So what changed? Well, part of it was facing three sub-.500 teams in the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and the Thunder. But it's also returning to a shifting defense that's focused on limiting paint points

Players are rotating more to help each other and with Jackson's rim protection - nine blocks in three games - it's created fewer easy looks and daring teams to beat them with shooting.

"Before we had a different scheme going into the year trying to take away the three-point line," Desmond Bane said. "Then we were giving up a lot in the paint and we were giving up threes. So we went back to protecting the paint and it's been good for us.

That formula worked too well over a young, developing Thunder team that missed leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie Josh Giddey. But it's also why the Grizzlies held their last three opponents to just 90.3 points per game - including 31.3 paint points - and 25.2% 3-point shooting.

The Grizzlies won't dominate like this because they can't play a lottery-bound Thunder team every night. The next four games - at Dallas, at Miami, then hosting Dallas and the Lakers - will test if their defensive resurgence is for real.

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You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_B) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies' 73-point win shows defensive hunger that's been missing