OKC Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 130-106 with a dominant second quarter

The Oklahoma City Thunder won their 11th straight regular season game by defeating the struggling Memphis Grizzlies 130-106. Oklahoma City won the second quarter by 23 points and put up 76 points in the first half after a scoreless three minutes to start the night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points on 14-for-19 shooting, seven assists, six rebounds, a career-high 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, one rebound and one steal for a plus-minus of +20.

Jalen Williams scored 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 the Grizzlies in scoring with 22 points on 15 shots, along with nine rebounds and four assists. Backup center Jay Huff scored 17 points on 11 shots and three triples. Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled all night, scoring 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting and 0-for-6 from long range.

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

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

The Grizzlies went on a 9-0 run to start the game, receiving clear shots from four different players. Bane hit a wide-open three-pointer from Pippen Jr. and Jackson Jr. converted a driving floater, forcing a Thunder timeout three minutes into the game — while Paycom Center fans were still standing.

Gilgeous-Alexander hit a nail jumper at 8:47 to give Oklahoma City its first points. He collected 11 points through perfect shooting and four assists in the first frame. After a scoreless start, the home offense built an explosive 40-point lead within 10 minutes of play, grabbed four offensive rebounds and shot 8 of 15 from downtown.

Grizzlies backup center Jay Huff scored eight points on three straight possessions eight minutes into the quarter. Bane knocked down his second 3-pointer to give Memphis a six-point lead with two minutes left before the Thunder stormed back after 12 minutes to take a 34-31 lead.

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

The Thunder shot 16 of 24 (66.7%), including 11 of 14 (78.6%) from inside the arc, and scored 42 points in the second frame. Gilgeous-Alexander made all eight 2-point attempts in the first 24 minutes – scoring 23 points, five assists and four rebounds and building a 76-50 lead after the first half. Memphis shot just 17 of 45 (37.8%) with 12 turnovers before halftime.

Oklahoma City remained quiet for the rest of the game, the result essentially a formality. In the end, 13 of the team’s first 14 field goals came in the second half as the team shot 0-for-7 from distance in the third quarter.

The Thunder close out 2024 against the Minnesota Timberwolves this Tuesday, December 31st at 7pm CST.

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