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Thunder will try to make most of their rest before next round

AP photo by Brandon Dill / Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays during Game 3 of the team's first-round series against the host Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
AP photo by Brandon Dill / Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays during Game 3 of the team's first-round series against the host Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. AP photo by Brandon Dill / Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plays during Game 3 of the team's first-round series against the host Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

By CLAY BAILEY / The Associated Press 3 min read

MEMPHIS — As the first team to move on to the second round of the NBA playoffs this year, the Oklahoma City Thunder get some time off.

Rest for the best.

Oklahoma City, which finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA at 68-14, closed out a four-game sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday with a 117-115 victory. The Western Conference’s top-seeded Thunder, who have won eight straight games dating to the regular season, await the winner of the Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers series that is tied 2-2.

The Thunder weren’t sure if the break will serve as a benefit.

“Honestly, it could work both ways against us,” forward Jalen Williams said. “It could add a little rust, or it can add a little freshness. I think trying to find a balance between those two is going to be important, however long it is that we have to wait until this next series.”