The Oklahoma City Thunder (6-2) hit the road Friday to face the Memphis Grizzlies (6-2) in their first regular-season meeting of the 2026-27 campaign, a contest that doubles as a critical clash in the NBA Cup West Group B stage. OKC enters this matchup with momentum, having dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-116 on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the engine of that victory, dropping 42 points and dishing out eight assists, while Ajay Mitchell provided a potent secondary threat with 23 points and seven rebounds. The Thunder are navigating a new roster reality, but their offensive cohesion remains intact despite significant defensive absences.
SGA aims to keep OKC rolling as Memphis looks to bounce back from Pacers loss
Memphis, however, is seeking to shake off a recent slump after falling 107-103 to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. The Grizzlies’ offense struggled to find consistency, though Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward each managed 23 points in the loss. With both teams sitting at 6-2, this Friday showdown serves as a true test of depth and resilience. The Grizzlies will be without Scotty Pippen Jr. (lumbar disc herniation) and Isaiah Stewart (knee bone bruise), but they must find a way to contain OKC’s perimeter firepower to stay competitive in the group stage.
The Thunder face a severe injury crisis, with Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, Nikola Topic, and Thomas Sorber all ruled out due to various surgeries and injuries. This leaves Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell to shoulder the offensive load against a Memphis defense that has shown flashes of elite play. Fans should monitor this live blog for real-time scores, play-by-play action, and post-game highlights as the two Western Conference contenders battle for positioning in the NBA Cup.
Source: Yahoo Sports
