Ajay Mitchell Scores Career-High 35 as Thunder Rout Grizzlies 128-97

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on Friday night, November 6, 2026, at FedExForum in Memphis, and the story of the game was Ajay Mitchell. The young guard scored a career-high 35 points in just over 30 minutes of play, leading a short-handed Thunder team to a comfortable win in NBA Cup group-stage action. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points, and Jared McCain chipped in a season-high 21 points, as Oklahoma City won its third game in a row. Memphis, meanwhile, lost its third straight game after opening the season with six wins in a row.

Quick Facts

Ajay Mitchell Delivers a Career Night

Ajay Mitchell did not ease his way into this game. He attacked from the opening minutes, found space off the ball, and finished with confidence at the rim and from long range. He ended the night with 35 points on 14 of 20 shooting from the field, including 4 of 7 from three-point range, and he added 5 assists in just over 30 minutes on the court. Those numbers tell the story of a player who was efficient in every part of his game.

The first half was where Mitchell set the tone. He scored 21 points before halftime on 9 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 3 from three-point range. That kind of start changes the way a defense has to play. Memphis could not leave him open, but it also could not load up on him without opening space for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the Thunder lineup. His 5 assists also showed that he was not only looking for his own shot. He moved the ball, read the defense, and made the simple play when it was there, and that balance made his scoring even harder to stop.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jared McCain Add Strong Support

Mitchell did not do it alone. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points on 11 of 22 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three-point range, and added 4 assists. His scoring gave the Thunder a steady second option all night, and his presence on the floor made it harder for Memphis to focus its defense on Mitchell. His presence opened up room for his teammates, and he kept the offense moving.

Jared McCain added a season-high 21 points, along with 5 rebounds and 4 steals. His scoring gave Oklahoma City a third reliable option, and his work on defense helped the Thunder turn defense into offense and keep Memphis from building any real rhythm. Together, Mitchell, Gilgeous-Alexander, and McCain supplied 75 of the Thunder’s 98 points through three quarters. Friday night was a busy one around the league, and the Cavaliers spoiled LeBron James homecoming with a 119-95 win over the 76ers, but in Memphis the Thunder were the team that stole the show.

Thunder Shooting and Team Play Take Control Early

Oklahoma City took control of this game early and never gave it back. The Thunder led 35-28 after the first quarter, then outscored Memphis 36-21 in the second quarter to take a 71-49 lead into halftime. That 22-point halftime lead set the tone for the rest of the night. The third quarter ended 27-27, and the fourth quarter went 30-21 in favor of Oklahoma City, which pushed the final margin to 31 points. The Thunder led by as many as 37 points in the fourth quarter, a gap that showed just how one-sided the second half had become.

The shooting numbers explain a lot of that control. Oklahoma City shot 55.4 percent from the field as a team and made 16 of 35 shots from three-point range. The Thunder also scored 62 points in the paint, which showed that they were not only making jump shots. They were getting to the rim, finishing close to the basket, and putting constant pressure on the Memphis defense from inside and outside at the same time. The Suns also won big earlier in the week as they beat the Magic 117-104 behind 30 points from Devin Booker, and the Thunder followed that kind of sharp shooting form with a display of their own in Memphis.

A Short-Handed Thunder Side Shows Its Depth

What makes this win even more impressive is the list of players Oklahoma City was missing. The Thunder played without injured starters Jalen Williams, who is out after ankle surgery, Cason Wallace, who is out after shoulder surgery, and Chet Holmgren, who is out with a knee injury. Other players who were also out included Jaylin Williams with low back spasms, Thomas Sorber after knee surgery, and Nikola Topic after low back surgery. That is a long list of absences for any team, and it included three starters who would normally play major roles.

Teams often struggle when they lose that many players at once. Rotations get shorter, roles change, and players have to do things they do not usually do. The Thunder handled those changes well. Mitchell stepped into a bigger scoring role and delivered a career high. McCain stepped up with a season high. Gilgeous-Alexander carried his usual load and helped organize the offense. Injuries and absences are a theme around the league right now, and the news that Kristaps Porzingis has stepped away from basketball was another reminder of how quickly a roster picture can change, which makes the depth Oklahoma City showed in Memphis even more valuable.

Memphis Loses Its Third Straight After a Fast Start

For Memphis, the loss was the third in a row, and it came after a very different start to the season. The Grizzlies opened the season with six straight wins, which raised hopes and set a high standard for the team. Now, after three straight losses, that early momentum has faded, and the team has to find a way to get back on track. A 128-97 home loss is a tough result at any time, and it is even tougher when it follows two other losses and ends a run of good form.

Ty Jerome led Memphis with a team-high 21 points and 5 assists. He was the most productive player for the Grizzlies on a night when the team as a whole struggled to keep up. Memphis scored only 21 points in the second quarter while Oklahoma City scored 36, and that 15-point swing turned a close game into a 22-point halftime deficit. On defense, the Grizzlies allowed 55.4 percent shooting from the field, 16 made three-point shots, and 62 points in the paint. A three-game losing streak after a 6-0 start is not a crisis, but it is a clear warning sign.

Thunder Streak Continues and Washington Comes Next

The win was the third straight for Oklahoma City, and it was also the 13th straight regular-season win for the Thunder against Memphis. Oklahoma City has now beaten Memphis in 13 regular-season meetings in a row, which is a long run of success against the same opponent. The three-game winning streak is also important because of what came before it. Before this run of three wins, Oklahoma City had lost two games to Dallas and Houston by a combined 45 points. Those were heavy defeats, and they raised questions about how the team would respond. The answer so far has been clear, and this 31-point road win was the most convincing of the three.

With the win, Oklahoma City moved to 7-2 on the season, while Memphis dropped to 6-3. Those records are close, which makes the size of the win even more striking. The NBA Cup group-stage setting adds another layer to the result, because every group-stage result counts toward the next round, and a road win by 31 points is a strong way to make a statement in that setting. Next up for the Thunder is a home game against Washington on Saturday. That quick turnaround means the team will not have long to enjoy this win before it has to get ready again, but it will carry the momentum of three straight wins into that game.

FAQs

What was the final score between the Thunder and the Grizzlies?

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on Friday night, November 6, 2026, at FedExForum in Memphis. Oklahoma City led 71-49 at halftime and led by as many as 37 points in the fourth quarter. The win moved the Thunder to 7-2 while the Grizzlies dropped to 6-3.

How many points did Ajay Mitchell score against Memphis?

Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 35 points in just over 30 minutes. He shot 14 of 20 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range, and he added 5 assists. He scored 21 points in the first half on 9 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 3 from three-point range, which set the tone for the Thunder win.

Who else played well for Oklahoma City?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points on 11 of 22 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three-point range, and added 4 assists. Jared McCain added a season-high 21 points, along with 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Together, Mitchell, Gilgeous-Alexander, and McCain supplied 75 of the Thunder’s 98 points through three quarters.

Why were the Thunder short-handed against Memphis?

Oklahoma City played without injured starters Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and Chet Holmgren. Williams is out after ankle surgery, Wallace is out after shoulder surgery, and Holmgren is out with a knee injury. Jaylin Williams, Thomas Sorber, and Nikola Topic were also out, which made the 31-point road win even more impressive for the Thunder.

Sources

• Reuters – Ajay Mitchell career night helps Thunder rout Grizzlies
• The Oklahoman – Thunder score vs Grizzlies, November 6
• ClutchPoints – Ajay Mitchell sets new career high in blowout win over Grizzlies

Final Thoughts

The Thunder beat the Grizzlies 128-97 in a game that will be remembered for Ajay Mitchell and his career-high 35 points, but the win was about more than one player. It was about a short-handed team that shot well, defended with purpose, shared the scoring load, and refused to let two heavy losses to Dallas and Houston define its season. For Oklahoma City, the focus now turns to Washington at home on Saturday, and to the chance to extend a three-game winning streak to four. If the Thunder can keep playing like this, the night in Memphis will stand as one of the early highlights of the season.