The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their strong start to the season with a commanding 128-97 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in an Emirates NBA Cup game at FedExForum on Friday night.
Ajay Mitchell led the Thunder with 35 points, five assists and one rebound, according to the NBA scoreboard and the Friday night round-up, as Oklahoma City improved to 6-2 and Memphis fell to their third straight defeat.
It was one of the most one-sided games of Friday’s nine-game slate, with the Thunder in control throughout.
Thunder’s depth on show
Oklahoma City’s win was built on balance and ball movement rather than one star performance, with Mitchell’s 35 points the headline act. The Thunder shared the scoring, moved the ball crisply and kept Memphis at arm’s length throughout the second half.
The Grizzlies, who have now lost three in a row, could not find any answer to the Thunder’s pace and spacing, and the 31-point margin reflected the gap between the two sides on the night.
Memphis’ slide continues
Memphis’ early-season form has been a concern, and Friday’s defeat was their latest setback in a season that has yet to catch fire. The Grizzlies need to find a way to string wins together, and quickly, if they are to stay in touch in the Western Conference.
The Thunder, meanwhile, look like a team that knows how to win games like this one — efficiently, and without drama. That is a useful habit to have in a long season.
What comes next
Oklahoma City host the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, while Memphis will look to end their losing run when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Monday. The Thunder, at 6-2, are firmly in the early-season mix in the West.
Oklahoma City’s depth was the difference on the night, with the Thunder sharing the scoring and moving the ball crisply throughout. Memphis, by contrast, could not find any rhythm against a side that defended with discipline and attacked with pace. The 31-point margin was the second-biggest of Friday’s nine-game slate, behind only Boston’s 39-point rout of Charlotte.
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Sources: NBA scoreboard via CraftedNBA (Nov 7, 2026); NigFooty NBA round-up (Nov 7, 2026); Sportradar (Nov 7, 2026).
