The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on Friday, November 6, 2026, led by Ajay Mitchell’s game-high 35 points. Oklahoma City built a 22-point halftime lead at FedExForum and maintained control after the break, improving to 7-2 with the NBA Cup group-play victory.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Thunder Establish a 35-28 Lead
Oklahoma City opened with 35 points to take a seven-point advantage through the first quarter. Memphis scored 28, its highest total of any quarter, but could not match the visitors’ early production.
Second Quarter: Oklahoma City Extends the Gap
The second period produced the game’s biggest separation. The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies 36-21, extending their lead to 71-49 at halftime. Oklahoma City’s 15-point advantage in the quarter accounted for nearly half of the eventual 31-point winning margin.
Third Quarter: Memphis Holds Even
Both teams scored 27 points in the third quarter, leaving Oklahoma City ahead 98-76 entering the fourth. Memphis matched the Thunder’s production but could not reduce the substantial halftime deficit.
Fourth Quarter: Thunder Finish With Another 30-Point Period
Oklahoma City outscored Memphis 30-21 in the final period to complete the 128-97 victory. The Thunder reached at least 30 points in three quarters and held the Grizzlies to 21 in two.
Key Performers
- Ajay Mitchell, Thunder: Led all scorers with 35 points, providing the top individual performance in Oklahoma City’s road win.
- Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder: Led Oklahoma City with seven assists, helping a team effort that produced 25 assists.
- Aday Mara, Thunder: Paced the visitors with seven rebounds as Oklahoma City finished with a 45-43 advantage on the boards.
- Ty Jerome, Grizzlies: Led Memphis in both scoring and assists, finishing with 21 points and five assists.
- Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies: Collected a game-high 12 rebounds.
NerdSports Stat: Oklahoma City outscored Memphis 118-68 on field goals alone—a 50-point advantage that more than offset the Grizzlies’ 19-point edge at the free-throw line.
Game Analysis: Shooting Efficiency Makes the Difference
The clearest explanation for the result was the gap in shooting efficiency. Oklahoma City made 51 of 92 field-goal attempts, shooting 55.4%, while Memphis finished 29-for-88 at 33.0%. The Thunder made 22 more baskets despite taking only four more shots.
The difference extended beyond the arc. Oklahoma City connected on 16 of 35 three-point attempts, good for 45.7%. Memphis attempted 10 more threes but made six fewer, finishing 10-for-45 at 22.2%. That gave the Thunder an 18-point advantage from three-point range.
Memphis performed much better at the foul line, making 29 of 31 attempts for 93.5%. Oklahoma City went 10-for-16, or 62.5%. That substantial advantage helped the Grizzlies’ total, but it could not compensate for their difficulties converting field goals.
Oklahoma City also finished ahead in assists, 25-18, while the rebounding margin was just two. This was primarily a game decided by shot conversion rather than a large difference in rebounding totals.
Closing Context: Thunder Improve to 7-2
The Thunder improved to 7-2 overall and 3-2 on the road, while the Grizzlies fell to 6-3 overall and 2-3 at home. The result also gave Oklahoma City a win in NBA Cup group play. Memphis next hosts the Toronto Raptors on Monday, November 9, at 4:30 p.m. PST; Oklahoma City returns home to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, November 10, at 8 p.m. PST.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on November 6, 2026.
Ajay Mitchell scored 35 points. His individual shooting percentage was not provided in the available game statistics.
After the win, the Oklahoma City Thunder sit at 7-2 in the Western Conference.
Ajay Mitchell was the standout performer with a game-high 35 points in Oklahoma City’s 128-97 victory.
