MEMPHIS — Ajay Mitchell delivered the biggest scoring night of his NBA career Friday, November 6, pouring in 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 in NBA Cup group play. Mitchell’s career high came with the Thunder missing key starters Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren, making his emergence especially valuable. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points, while Jared McCain scored 21 as Oklahoma City won its third straight game.
The Thunder broke open the matchup with a 36-21 second quarter and carried a 71-49 advantage into halftime. A 12-0 run early in the third pushed the lead to 32. Oklahoma City shot 55.4% overall, hit 16 three-pointers and dominated inside with 62 points in the paint. Its defense forced 18 Memphis turnovers and converted them into 30 points. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, made just 10 of 45 attempts from beyond the arc. Ty Jerome led Memphis with 21 points, and Zach Edey contributed 14.
Mitchell, a Belgian guard who entered the league as a second-round pick in 2024, has made the most of an expanded offensive role. His scoring had already been rising over the previous five games, but Friday’s performance created a new personal benchmark. Oklahoma City’s 31-point victory improved its record to 7-2 and extended its remarkable run against Memphis. The larger takeaway is the Thunder’s depth: even when established starters are sidelined, Mitchell is showing he can shoulder a major share of the scoring.