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Ajay Mitchell scores a career-high 35 as the Thunder blow out the Grizzlies 128-97 in NBA Cup play
Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting with five assists as Oklahoma City beat Memphis 128-97 in Emirates NBA Cup Group Play. He had 21 by halftime while starting without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren.
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Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 35 points on 14-of-20 shooting as the Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on Friday night in Emirates NBA Cup Group Play at FedExForum. Mitchell added five assists in 30 minutes, hit four threes and finished with a team-high plus-33 while Oklahoma City improved to 7-2.
Mitchell’s career-high 35, posted by the NBA on X.
He had 21 points by halftime on 9-of-11 shooting, then added 14 more in a second half in which the Thunder’s lead never dipped below 20. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 and Jared McCain added a season-high 21 with four steals. Oklahoma City shot 55.4% from the field, went 16-of-35 from three and scored 62 points in the paint.
Mitchell’s full highlight package from the win, posted by the NBA on X.
“Just trying to be aggressive”
Mitchell, a third-year guard out of UC Santa Barbara, has started the last six games while the Thunder play without Jalen Williams (ankle surgery), Cason Wallace (shoulder surgery) and Chet Holmgren (knee). It was his second 30-point game of the season — he had scored a then-career-high 30 on Oct. 26 — and the fifth time in those six starts that he has scored at least 20.
“I was just trying to be aggressive, honestly. Seeing what the defense gives us and just try to play the game. That’s really it,” Mitchell said. “Every night is going to be different. I just go into every game with the same mindset. Just going out there and playing and not worrying about anything else.”
Mitchell from beyond the arc during the game, posted by the Thunder on X.
He said the focus stays on the next possession whether the shots are falling or not. “Just staying confident no matter what. I know the amount of work I put in. When I go out there and it’s not falling, I’m not worried,” he said. “I’m really focused on just helping this team win. Every possession matters. For me, it’s just moving on really quick to the next one.”
Building the lead, then staying up
Over Oklahoma City’s three-game winning streak, Mitchell is averaging 26 points on 56.6% shooting with 10 assists and three turnovers. The Thunder have led for the entire second half in each of their last two wins.
“We talk about a 48-minute game every single game,” Mitchell said. “Every single minute we’re out there — whoever’s out there — we’ve got to give it our best shot and just do everything to keep building that lead and then stay up.”
On the defensive end after the injuries, he said the group has had to create new ways to stop teams. “As a team, we know we’ve got to be all five together on defense and create ways to stop teams, and I think we’re doing a great job of that,” he said. “We’re all getting better with every experience we get.”
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The win was Oklahoma City’s 16th straight over Memphis, including the playoffs, and its first in NBA Cup group play this season. The Thunder host the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Memphis fell to 6-3.
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