OKC Thunder Blow Out Memphis Grizzlies 130-106 With Dominant Second Quarter

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a stellar all-around performance. Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 17 points.

Dec 29, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) blocks a shot by Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder won its 11th straight regular-season game by taking down the battered Memphis Grizzlies 130-106. Oklahoma City won the second quarter by 23 points and racked up 76 first-half points after a scoreless three minutes to start the night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 35 points on 14-for-19 shooting, seven assists, six rebounds, a career-high tying four blocks and a game-high +27 plus-minus.

Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including three 3-pointers. He added three assists, a rebounds and a steal on a +20 plus-minus.

Jalen Williams tallied 14 points on 16 shots, 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block for his third double-double of the season. Isaiah Hartenstein recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

Desmond Bane led Grizzlies scorers with 22 points on 15 shots, as well as nine rebounds and four assists. Backup center Jay Huff scored 17 points on 11 shots with three triples. Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled throughout the night, putting up 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting and 0-for-6 from deep.

Factor	Thunder	Grizzlies
Points	130	106
Effective FG%	57.3%	45.4%
Turnovers	10	21
Offensive Rebounds	9	16
Free Throws	12-for-12	18-for-21

The Thunder started Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace.

Memphis started Scotty Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, John Konchar and Jaren Jackson Jr. It is important to note that Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke, Marcus Smart, GG Jackson II and Vince Williams Jr. were all inactive due to injuries.

The Grizzlies blitzed out a 9-0 run to start the game, receiving made shots from four different players. Bane drained a wide-open triple from Pippen Jr. and Jackson Jr. converted a driving floater, forcing a Thunder timeout three minutes into the game — with the Paycom Center fans still standing.

Gilgeous-Alexander swished a nail jumper at the 8:47 mark for Oklahoma City's first points. He racked up 11 points on perfect shooting with four assists in the first frame. The home offense exploded for 40 points in 10 minutes of game time after its scoreless start, grabbing four offensive rebounds and shooting 8-for-15 from downtown.

Backup Grizzlies center Jay Huff scored eight points on three straight possessions eight minutes into the quarter. Bane knocked down his second 3-pointer, putting Memphis up by six points with two minutes left, before the Thunder stormed back for a 34-31 lead after 12 minutes.

Oklahoma City scored on four of its first five second-quarter possessions, including back-to-back threes from Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell. The Grizzlies offense went scoreless on eight consecutive possessions after Jackson Jr. made a left-handed hook shot over Hartenstein. Mark Daigneault successfully challenged a Jalen Wiliams shooting foul on Jackson Jr., who would have shot three free throws.

The Thunder shot 16-for-24 (66.7%), including 11-for-14 (78.6%) inside the arc, for 42 points during the second frame. Gilgeous-Alexander made all eight 2-point attempts over the first 24 minutes — he tallied 23 points, five assists and four rebounds to propel a 76-50 lead after the first half. Memphis shot just 17-for-45 (37.8%) with 12 turnovers before halftime.

Oklahoma City cruised for the rest of the game with the result essentially being a formality. In the end, 13 of the team's first 14 second-half field goals came in the paint, as the team shot 0-for-7 from deep during the third quarter.

The Thunder closes 2024 against the Minnesota Timberwolves this Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. CST.

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