OKLAHOMA CITY — In a dominant display, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured their 11th consecutive victory, overpowering the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies 130-106 on Sunday evening. The clash featured two top teams in the Western Conference, but the Thunder’s lead expanded significantly before halftime.
Rookie Ajay Mitchell contributed 17 points, while Aaron Wiggins added 16 points, and Jalen Williams posted 14 points along with 10 rebounds. The Thunder (26-5) now hold a commanding five-game advantage over the second-placed Grizzlies.
Gilgeous-Alexander exhibited an efficient shooting performance, converting 14 of his 19 attempts, and also recorded seven assists, six rebounds, and led the team with four blocked shots before sitting out most of the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City’s defense was on point, blocking a total of nine shots, three of which came from center Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Thunder led 76-50 at halftime, bolstered by a strong first-half performance from Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 23 points. Ajay Mitchell and Kenrich Williams each chipped in with 12 points, notably combining for a 5-for-7 record from beyond the arc. Oklahoma City’s second quarter showcased their offensive prowess as they outscored the Grizzlies 42-19, gaining a significant advantage.
For Memphis (22-11), Desmond Bane led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, but the team was without key players, including star Ja Morant (shoulder) and Zach Edey, their No. 9 overall draft pick, who was sidelined due to concussion protocol. Jay Huff contributed 17 points, although Jaren Jackson Jr., who averages 21.9 points per game, struggled with his shooting, tallying only 13 points on a disappointing 3-of-17 shooting night.
The Grizzlies initially surged ahead with a 9-0 start but faltered afterwards, finishing the game with a 38.1% shooting percentage (37 of 97) and a meager 27.5% from three-point range (14 of 51). Despite losing the rebound battle 51-46, the Thunder dominated the paint, outscoring their opponents 56-36.
A significant moment came when Memphis closed the gap to 42-36 through a jumper from Jackson. However, Oklahoma City responded with a blistering 32-9 run to further extend their lead to 74-45, effectively sealing the outcome before the intermission.
In terms of crucial statistics, the Thunder capitalized on 21 turnovers committed by Memphis, converting them into 33 points.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies are set to face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, while the Thunder will play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the same evening.
