Oklahoma City Thunder beat Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 as Ajay Mitchell scores career-high 35

Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 35 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 at FedExForum on Friday, November 6, in Emirates NBA Cup Group Play. Oklahoma City improved to 7-2 and has now beaten Memphis 16 straight times. The Grizzlies fell to 6-3.

Mitchell shot 14-of-20 and made a career-high four threes in 30 minutes, adding 5 assists and finishing plus-33. Gilgeous-Alexander went 11-of-22, and Jared McCain scored 21 on 9-of-14 shooting with 4 steals. Rookie Bennett Stirtz had 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench.

A CAREER NIGHT FOR AJAY MITCHELL!

⚡️ 35 PTS (career-high)
⚡️ 5 AST
⚡️ 4 3PM (career-high)

The @okcthunder pick up their first win of @emirates NBA Cup Group Play action! pic.twitter.com/sODckvHsmK

— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2026

Video: NBA / X.

How it turned

The Thunder shot 69 percent in the first half and led 71-49 at the break, with Mitchell already at 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. A 12-0 run early in the third quarter pushed the lead past 30, and it peaked at 37. Memphis, which entered the night leading the league in three-point percentage, went 5-of-26 from deep in the first half.

OKC WAS EFFICIENT IN THE FIRST HALF!

Ajay Mitchell: 21 PTS (9-11 FGM)
SGA: 17 PTS (7-11 FGM)
Jared McCain: 14 PTS (6-8 FGM) pic.twitter.com/TlG4ITpqji

— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2026

Video: NBA / X.

The numbers

Oklahoma City shot 55 percent overall, scored 62 points in the paint and turned 18 Memphis turnovers into 30 points. Isaiah Hartenstein had only 2 points but posted 7 assists and 6 rebounds and was plus-31. The Thunder played without Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Jaylin Williams, Nikola Topić and Thomas Sorber.

Memphis shot 29-of-88 (33 percent) and 10-of-45 from three. Ty Jerome led the Grizzlies with 21 points. Zach Edey scored 14, going 8-of-8 at the line. Rookie Cameron Boozer had 12 rebounds but scored 8 on 2-of-14 shooting, missing all eight of his threes. Attendance was 16,197.

What’s next

The Thunder host the Washington Wizards on Saturday, November 7, at 8 p.m. ET (3 a.m. Sunday Cairo time). The Grizzlies visit the Toronto Raptors on Monday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m. ET (2:30 a.m. Tuesday Cairo time).

Full box score and play-by-play: Game Center. All-time head-to-head.