Oklahoma City didn't need another 40-point rescue act from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Friday. Ajay Mitchell delivered a career-high 35 points instead, powering the Thunder to a 128–97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in their NBA Cup group opener. It was Oklahoma City's third straight victory, and a particularly convincing answer to the question of how much offence its depleted rotation can produce beyond its MVP. The Thunder's official game listing confirms the final score and Mitchell's game-leading total.
Mitchell's night was more than an impressive number beside his name. He scored 35 on 14-of-20 shooting, finding efficient offence while Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 and Jared McCain supplied 21. With three starters unavailable, Oklahoma City needed other ball-handlers and scorers to carry meaningful possessions. Mitchell didn't just fill time on the floor: he gave the Thunder a second major source of points. The NBA's official Mitchell highlights document his career-best performance.
The game was effectively tilted before half-time. Oklahoma City led 35–28 after one quarter, then won the second 36–21 to take a 71–49 advantage into the break. That 22-point cushion was built through sharp shooting and a defence that made Memphis work for clean looks. The Thunder later stretched their lead to 32 with a 12–0 burst early in the third. There was no late scramble to protect a narrow margin; they had created enough separation to control the rest of the evening.
The shooting contrast was brutal. Oklahoma City finished at 55 per cent from the field, while Memphis made just 10 of 45 attempts from three-point range. The Thunder also forced 18 turnovers and turned them into 30 points, a damaging combination for a Grizzlies side already struggling to sustain possessions. Memphis couldn't make up the difference through perimeter shooting, and every wasted trip made Oklahoma City's efficient attack more punishing. The Associated Press game report details the turnover and shooting figures.
Ty Jerome led Memphis with 21 points, Zach Edey scored 14, and rookie Cameron Boozer grabbed 12 rebounds. Those contributions weren't enough to prevent a third consecutive defeat after the Grizzlies opened the season 6–0. A team that began the campaign winning close contests now has a more immediate issue: it has to stop handing opponents easy opportunities while its own long-range shots aren't falling. The Thunder didn't merely outscore Memphis; they repeatedly made the Grizzlies' possessions less valuable.
For Oklahoma City, the wider significance is Mitchell's growing place in the attack. Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 43 and 42 in successive wins over Cleveland, but Friday showed a different route to a comfortable result. Mitchell's scoring burst came with Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace sidelined, and it strengthened the case for trusting him with real offensive responsibility while those absences continue. It also allowed Gilgeous-Alexander to contribute 28 without having to account for almost everything himself.
The Thunder improved to 7–2 and opened West Group B with a win; Memphis slipped to 6–3. Oklahoma City hosts Washington next, while the Grizzlies head to Toronto. The most encouraging detail for the Thunder isn't simply that they won by 31. It's that an undermanned team found a decisive second scoring option, defended aggressively and made a potentially awkward road Cup fixture look remarkably straightforward.
Comments