Jalen Williams scored a season-high 26 points, Ajay Mitchell added 23 and Kenrich Williams also posted a season high with 21 off the bench as the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from 21 points down in the second half to stun the host Memphis Grizzlies 117-116 on Friday night.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies 71-51 in the second half and extended their winning streak over Memphis to 16 consecutive games (including playoffs). The Grizzlies haven’t defeated the Thunder since Dec. 7, 2022. Memphis lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Oklahoma City trailed by 11 (114-103) with 3:32 to go when it began a furious comeback. The Thunder went on a 14-0 run and grabbed their first lead since the opening quarter on a 3-pointer by Kenrich Williams with 1:07 to go. Lu Dort capped the run with two free throws with 58.9 seconds left for a 117-114 advantage.
Memphis got a putback basket from Jock Landale with 37.3 seconds left but a frantic 15-foot jumper by Cedric Coward in the closing seconds was blocked by the Thunder’s Alex Caruso.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 23 points and GG Jackson tied a season high with 18 off the bench. Santi Aldama contributed 15 points and Landale had 13 points and 10 boards.
Oklahoma City, the reigning NBA champion, played without starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s MVP, averages 31.9 points per game while Holmgren goes for 18.2. Oklahoma City, which started the season 24-1, is 8-6 in its past 14 games.
Memphis was without two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant, who missed his fourth straight game with a right calf contusion. Morant has missed 20 of the team’s 38 games with an assortment of injuries. Reports surfaced earlier Friday that the Grizzlies will entertain offers for Morant ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
The Grizzlies built a 20-point lead in the second quarter behind Jackson Jr. and the playmaking of guard Cam Spencer. Spencer didn’t score in the first half, but had nine assists. He finished with 11 assists.
