Former Memphis Grizzlies star Tony Allen recalls his fierce rivalry with the OKC Thunder, including his standout 27-point game in the 2010-11 season, and ranks OKC’s Paycom Center among his top NBA arenas.
Bollywood Fever: Tony Allen, known for his tenacity on defense during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies, faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in numerous heated battles throughout the past decade.
Allen, a key figure in the Grizzlies’ “Grit-and-Grind” era, embraced the challenge of defending the Thunder’s offensive stars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, in both regular-season and playoff matchups.
In a past interview on the Chris Vernon Show, Allen was asked to list his favorite NBA arenas from his playing days.
Initially, he mentioned the home courts of teams like the Los Angeles Lakers (Crypto.com Arena), Sacramento Kings (Golden1 Center), Cleveland Cavaliers (Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse), Portland Trail Blazers (Moda Center), and New York Knicks (Madison Square Garden).
However, when the discussion turned to Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, Allen quickly elevated it above the Kings’ arena.
“Shout out to Oklahoma, man. … I had 27 points in one of them games. It is the epic Grit-and-Grind game. I know them stats like yesterday,” Allen reminisced.
Allen’s reference was to a standout performance during the 2010-11 season, when he dropped 27 points, grabbed 5 steals, and pulled down 4 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a 105-101 overtime victory against the Thunder.
This game stands as one of his most memorable moments from the intense rivalry between the two Western Conference powerhouses.
Throughout his time with Memphis, from 2010 to 2017, Allen faced the Thunder 19 times in regular-season matchups, accumulating a 9-10 record.
The two teams also met in the playoffs three times over four consecutive years, with their 2011 and 2014 series both going to seven games.
The tough competition, combined with the raucous atmosphere created by OKC’s passionate fanbase, made the rivalry a special chapter in Allen’s career.
Despite the challenges of facing a Durant and Westbrook-led Thunder, Tony Allen always appreciated the fierce competition and looks back fondly on his encounters with Oklahoma City.
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