Winners and losers: OKC Thunder’s blowout over Grizzlies shows guards’ firepower
Thunder guards lead the way
Oklahoma City’s three starting guards supplied 84 points in the wire-to-wire victory. Ajay Mitchell led the group with 35 points, scoring efficiently while attacking the defense in several ways.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 28 points, four assists, a steal and a block. He shot 50% from the field, 60% from three-point range and made all his free throws. Jared McCain added 21 points, including three makes on eight three-point attempts, after a cold spell.
Defense sets the tone
The Thunder limited Memphis to 97 points despite missing as many as three All-Defense players: Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace. Oklahoma City found success inside and on the perimeter, with Isaiah Hartenstein, Aday Mara, Josh Dix, Mitchell and Gilgeous-Alexander among the players contributing.
The defense disrupted Memphis’s offense and helped create chances at the other end. The Grizzlies finished the game shooting 32% from the field and 22% from three-point range.
Memphis struggles to score
Ty Jerome continued to provide shot-making and play-making for Memphis, but much of the team could not find its rhythm. Rookie Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick, made two of 14 shots against defenders including Hartenstein, Mara and Alex Caruso.
The Grizzlies’ bench also had difficulty scoring as the team struggled throughout the night. The loss came against an Oklahoma City team seeking a third straight win on the first night of a back-to-back.
Win lifts Oklahoma City
The Thunder’s 128-97 result followed back-to-back losses to the Mavericks and Rockets. With the victory, Oklahoma City improved to 7-2 and remained within the Western Conference’s top four.
The game was part of NBA Cup play. Nearly every Thunder player contributed to a performance that paired strong scoring from the guards with a defensive effort that kept Memphis below 100 points.
Key points
- Oklahoma City beat Memphis 128-97 in NBA Cup play.
- Ajay Mitchell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jared McCain combined for 84 points.
- The Thunder improved to 7-2 and extended their winning streak to three games.
- Memphis shot 32% from the field and 22% from three-point range.