The Oklahoma City Thunder secured their 11th consecutive victory, defeating the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 130-106 on Sunday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 35 points, seven assists, and four blocks while shooting an efficient 14-of-19 from the field.
The Thunder, now 26-5 on the season, hold a five-game lead over second-place Memphis in the Western Conference standings. Oklahoma City’s dominance was clear as they outscored the Grizzlies 42-19 in the second quarter, building a commanding 76-50 lead by halftime.
Rookie Ajay Mitchell contributed 17 points, and Aaron Wiggins added 16. Jalen Williams delivered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Isaiah Hartenstein anchored the defense with three of Oklahoma City’s nine blocks.
Memphis, playing without Ja Morant (shoulder) and rookie Zach Edey (concussion protocol), struggled offensively. The Grizzlies shot just 38.1% from the field and 27.5% from three-point range. Desmond Bane led Memphis with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Jay Huff added 17 points off the bench.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis’ leading scorer this season, was held to 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting. The Grizzlies turned the ball over 21 times, leading to 33 points for the Thunder.
The Grizzlies’ bench provided some spark, with Luke Kennard scoring 16 points and rookie Yuki Kawamura contributing 10 points and three assists. However, the absence of key players like Morant and Smart left Memphis unable to compete with Oklahoma City’s firepower.
The Thunder lost the rebounding battle 51-46 but excelled in every other facet, including a perfect 12-of-12 from the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander, a key MVP candidate this season, sat most of the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City maintained its comfortable lead.
With this win, Oklahoma City extended its Western Conference dominance, demonstrating both elite offensive execution and defensive intensity. The Grizzlies, now 22-11, will need to regroup quickly as they await the return of their injured stars.
