Thunder Tame Grizzlies In Impressive Road Win: 3 Takeaways From NBA Cup Showdown

Heading into tonight’s matchup, the Memphis Grizzlies were one of the best stories in the NBA . Despite having no expectations, they stormed off to a quick 6-0 start, much to the surprise of fans and experts alike. But then they lost two in a row, putting all the pressure on them to beat a hobbled Oklahoma City Thunder team down multiple starters. In the end, it was the Thunder who came out on top, cruising to a 128-97 win on the road. Ajay Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points, one rebound, and five assists on 70.0% shooting from the field (57.1% shooting from three). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t far behind with 28 points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block on 50.0% shooting (3-5 from three). Jared McCain , meanwhile, added 21 points, five rebounds, four steals, and one block on 64.3% shooting from the field (3-8 from three). For the Grizzlies, Ty Jerome gave a valiant effort with 21 points, two rebounds, and five assists on 50.0% shooting (2-7 from three). At center, Zach Edey dropped 14 points, eight rebounds, and one assist on 4.20% shooting from the field. Off the bench, Jerami Grant finished with 10 points and two assists on 66.7% shooting from the field. In the end, despite their record, the Grizzlies came in as the underdogs in this game, and we saw why. Even without multiple starters, the Thunder have the clear advantage in terms of talent, depth, and experience. Those factors all played a crucial role in the final result, which taught us some valuable lessons about where both teams stand after the first two weeks of play.   1. Thunder Can Survive The Injuries No team has been hit harder by injuries this season than the Thunder. They’re currently missing Jalen Williams , Cason Wallace , and Chet Holmgren , thinning the rotation and making them more reliant on unproven young players to perform. Tonight, they showed up and delivered when it counted, proving that this team might be able to stay competitive in the face of so many setbacks. While depth has always been a strong point for the Thunder, it’s a whole different thing to see their fifth or sixth-best player be able to step in and play major minutes on the floor. Tonight, the biggest standout was Ajay Mitchell , who went off for a team-high 35 points and five assists on 70.0% shooting. Jarred McCain also stepped up with critical shot-making, operating with a heightened sense of confidence and authority on the floor. Off the bench is where things got murky for the Thunder, but Alex Caruso held it down with his steady veteran leadership. If nothing else, this Thunder win shows that they are uniquely positioned to withstand their injury crisis. They’ve lost so many good players, but they still have so many more that are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Assuming this trajectory holds, there’s no reason to think the Thunder won’t finish as a top-four seed this year   2. Back To Reality For Memphis The Memphis Grizzlies had a very encouraging start this season, but there were always doubts it was going to be sustainable. Frankly, the roster isn’t built for immediate success, and nobody expected them to be anywhere near the playoff picture. Tonight, they had an opportunity to prove themselves against a shorthanded Thunder squad, but they just couldn’t muster enough scoring to keep up. As a team, the Grizzlies shot just 33.0% from the field and 22.2% from three. Against an experienced, well-disciplined group like the Thunder, points were hard to come by, and every possession became a slog. In these hostile conditions, teams usually look to their stars for help, but Cameron Boozer was in over his head. In 31 minutes, he was held to eight points, 12 rebounds, and four assists on 14.3% shooting from the field. At just 19, you can’t blame Boozer for a rough showing tonight, but it just goes to show how much the Grizzlies count on him for their success. In the end, while the Grizzlies deserve credit for overachieving early on, it was always evident they were never a serious contender. This game effectively proved it, as they were outplayed by a Thunder team that’s plagued with injuries.   3. Shai Is Unstoppable As the NBA’s MVP in 2025 and 2026, it shouldn’t shock anyone what Shai is doing right now, but it still deserves to be recognized. With averages of 30.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 44.7% shooting, he’s well on his way to another MVP campaign, and he added to his case today. Even with young and unproven teammates, Shai has no trouble getting to his spots and making the right play on the floor. Against the Grizzlies, it resulted in an impressive stat line of 28 points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block on 50.0% shooting. Whether it’s scoring, passing, or defending, Shai was doing a little bit of everything and was clearly the best player on the floor. The best part is, he never tried to force shots or resort to hero-ball tactics. All of his shots were within the flow of the game, and he gladly deferred to teammates tonight whenever the situation called for it. In the end, this game was more than a showcase of Shai’s talent — it was an example of his selfless humility. With so many of his best teammates down , it would have been far too easy for SGA to try and take over the game by himself. Instead, he picked his moments and got the others involved, ensuring everyone had a chance to shine.