OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder took no chances against the struggling Memphis Grizzlies.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 23 points and six assists in three quarters and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 124-93 on Sunday night.
Rookie Cason Wallace scored a season-high 22 points, Josh Giddey had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Lu Dort scored 14 points and made all four of his 3-point tries for the Thunder. Oklahoma City earned its third straight victory to stay atop the Western Conference standings.
Oklahoma City opened a 22-8 lead midway through the first quarter and never looked back.
“They have guys fighting for contracts, fighting for minutes, and they’re a dangerous team to play,” Giddey said. “And I think we did a good job of playing the game, not the opponent.”
The only bad news for the Thunder came when sophomore scorer Jalen Williams left in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle and did not return. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault offered no update after the game, saying the team would review the situation in the morning.
Rookie GG Jackson II scored a season-high 30 points in his second career start and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 16 for Memphis, which has lost seven of nine.
The Grizzlies were shorthanded, as they have been for much of the season. Star guard Ja Morant missed most of the season. Desmond Bane remained out with a sprained left ankle and Marcus Smart was still out with an injured finger on his right hand, among other injuries for Memphis.
The Grizzlies started their 38th starting lineup of the season on Sunday.
“Yeah, it’s a challenge,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “You have to accept it. You have to accept reality. I mean, every game has a different starting lineup, different depth, who’s in and who’s out. It’s a challenge, but these guys there go and compete hard. Trying to find chemistry is definitely a challenge. But we put in the work.
“Tonight was just not our game and we will be better on Tuesday.”
Giddey sparked the Thunder early with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in the first quarter to help Oklahoma City take a 38-24 lead.
Daigneault said it’s important for Oklahoma City to start strong.
“I mean, you see games every night in the NBA where a team is down or a team with a lesser record eliminates a team with a better record,” he said. “And so I never take it for granted when we give that kind of match-up of energy production. And it was from the jump.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in the first half and the Thunder made 11 3-pointers before the break to take a 64-43 lead. Oklahoma City shot 57% in the first half.
Oklahoma City poured it on in the third quarter. A steal and two-handed dunk by Dort put the Thunder ahead 90-57 with just under five minutes left in the period. Aaron Wiggins dunk over Jaren Jackson Jr. on a fast break to give Oklahoma City a 99-63 lead. The Thunder led 102-68 after three quarters.
FOLLOWING
Grizzlies: Host the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Thunder: Host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
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