Game ID: 22400440
Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 34 42 26 28 130MEM 31 19 24 32 106
MEM @ OKC ScoutingMEM @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 12/20 · back-to-backOUT Holmgren missed 16 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Caruso back 12/05 after 5, 20 min since (98% of 21)
OKC availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 17 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 32 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 18 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 32 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 19 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 32 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Holmgren missed 20 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OKC availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 21 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
NEW Mitchell 14 to 21 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 22 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
NEW Mitchell 14 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Holmgren missed 23 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 5 since 12/26, out tonight
NEW Mitchell 14 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Holmgren missed 24 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 6 since 12/26, out tonight
NEW Mitchell 14 to 22 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Williams Jr. missed 13 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Kennard back 12/15 after 4, 21 min since (94% of 22)
BACK Edey back 12/15 after 12, 24 min since (111% of 22)
BACK Konchar back 12/08 after 3, 13 min since (100% of 12)
BACK Spencer back 12/08 after 7, 17 min since (164% of 10)
MEM availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Williams Jr. missed 14 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Huff missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Kennard back 12/15 after 4, 20 min since (89% of 22)
BACK Edey back 12/15 after 12, 25 min since (114% of 22)
BACK Konchar back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (99% of 12)
BACK Spencer back 12/08 after 7, 12 min since (117% of 10)
MEM availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Williams Jr. missed 15 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Huff missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Kennard back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Edey back 12/15 after 12, 25 min since (117% of 22)
BACK Spencer back 12/19 after 2, 5 min since (50% of 10)
MEM availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Smart missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 16 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Huff missed 4 since 12/19, returns tonight: 13 min (109% of 12)
BACK Kennard back 12/15 after 4, 20 min since (90% of 22)
BACK Edey back 12/15 after 12, 26 min since (118% of 22)
BACK Spencer back 12/19 after 2, 4 min since (43% of 10)
MEM availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Smart missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 17 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Huff back 12/27 after 4, 13 min since (109% of 12)
BACK Spencer back 12/19 after 2, 4 min since (43% of 10)
MEM availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Aldama missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Smart missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 18 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Huff back 12/27 after 4, 15 min since (128% of 12)
NEW Edey 22 to 27 min over the last 4
MEM availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Morant missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Aldama missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Edey missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 22 min (100% of 22)
OUT Smart missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 23 min (122% of 19)
OUT Williams Jr. missed 19 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Huff back 12/27 after 4, 16 min since (139% of 12)
NEW Konchar 12 to 23 min over the last 4
MEM availability going into 1/04 · back-to-backOUT Morant missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Aldama missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Smart missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 20 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Edey back 1/03 after 2, 22 min since (100% of 22)
BACK Clarke back 1/03 after 2, 23 min since (122% of 19)
BACK Huff back 12/27 after 4, 13 min since (111% of 12)
NEW Konchar 12 to 21 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Morant missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Aldama missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Smart missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 21 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Edey back 1/03 after 2, 21 min since (97% of 22)
BACK Clarke back 1/03 after 2, 24 min since (130% of 19)
BACK Huff back 12/27 after 4, 13 min since (115% of 12)
NEW Wells 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Konchar 12 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Spencer 10 to 17 min over the last 3
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (20 straight), Caruso (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 22 and Bane at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Smart (3 straight), Williams Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 44 percent from three to OKC's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 102 a night to Memphis's 114. Call it Memphis 115, OKC 114, OKC keeping it close.
12/20 @ MIA 104-97 — OKC notes
OKC won 104-97. OKC shot 45% (39 of 86) to MIA's 43%, 14 of 34 from three. J. Williams led with 33 (12 of 25, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Gilgeous-Alexander added 25, Dort 14. The hinge was Q3, 31-23: a lead of 3 became 11. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/23 vs WAS 123-105 — OKC notes
OKC won 123-105. OKC shot 44% (47 of 106) to WAS's 40%, 10 of 38 from three. OKC turned it over 12 times to WAS's 19. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 41 (14 of 25, 3 of 6 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Jal. Williams added 17, Hartenstein 16. The hinge was Q4, 32-18: a lead of 4 became 18, and the lead reached 21. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/26 @ IND 120-114 — OKC notes
OKC won 120-114. OKC shot 46% (44 of 95) to IND's 47%, 13 of 37 from three. OKC turned it over 3 times to IND's 11. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 45 (15 of 22, 4 of 5 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Dort 13. The hinge was Q3, 30-23: the deficit went from 8 to 1. OKC trailed 53-61 at the half and won the second half 67-53. K. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/28 @ CHA 106-94 — OKC notes
OKC won 106-94. OKC shot 48% (42 of 88) to CHA's 36%, 10 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to CHA's 28. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 22 (8 of 15, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Wiggins 17. The hinge was Q2, 33-24: a lead of 6 became 15, and the lead reached 20. Wiggins was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/29 vs MEM 130-106 — OKC notes
OKC won 130-106. OKC shot 50% (52 of 103) to MEM's 38%, 14 of 44 from three, and got to the line 12 times to MEM's 21. OKC turned it over 10 times to MEM's 21. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 35 (14 of 19, 1 of 5 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Mitchell added 17, Wiggins 16. The hinge was Q2, 42-19: a lead of 3 became 26, and the lead reached 31. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/31 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (21 straight), Caruso (3 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Randle at 20 and Edwards at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 37 percent from three to OKC's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Minnesota's 110. Call it OKC 114, Minnesota 104, OKC by 10.
1/02 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 37 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (22 straight), Caruso (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 27 and Harden at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to OKC's 10 and the glass, where OKC has been minus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-5. Call it OKC 114, the Clippers 104, OKC by 10.
1/03 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Holmgren (23 straight), Caruso (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Towns at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-5 and the line, where New York takes 25 free throws a game to OKC's 19. Call it OKC 113, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
1/05 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (24 straight), Caruso (6 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 100, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Brown (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 41 percent from three to OKC's 35 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-1 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it OKC 112, Boston 111, Boston keeping it close.
12/21 @ ATL 128-112 — MEM notes
MEM won 128-112. MEM shot 52% (50 of 97) to ATL's 49%, 18 of 41 from three, and got to the line 13 times to ATL's 24. MEM turned it over 18 times to ATL's 25. Bane led with 23 (7 of 12, 4 of 8 from three); Pippen Jr. added 22, LaRavia 16. The hinge was Q1, 43-27: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Bane was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/23 vs LAC 110-114 — MEM notes
MEM lost 110-114. MEM shot 38% (38 of 99) to LAC's 44%, 16 of 42 from three. Jackson Jr. led with 24 (9 of 26, 1 of 7 from three, 5 of 9 at the line); Morant added 23, Bane 21. Q2 was theirs, 28-23, but the other 3 periods went 91-82 against them. They led by as many as 10. Morant's -12 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs TOR 155-126 — MEM notes
MEM won 155-126. MEM shot 53% (58 of 109) to TOR's 45%, 18 of 45 from three, and went to the line 29 times to TOR's 18 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 63-40 for them. Jackson Jr. led with 21 (9 of 17, 1 of 3 from three); Edey added 21, Bane 19. The hinge was Q3, 43-30: a lead of 8 became 21, and the lead reached 32. Edey was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/27 @ NOP 132-124 — MEM notes
MEM won 132-124. MEM shot 47% (42 of 89) to NOP's 45%, 17 of 41 from three, and went to the line 35 times to NOP's 29 — 31 points from the stripe to their 27. Jackson Jr. led with 33 (11 of 21, 4 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Morant added 25, Bane 18. The hinge was Q1, 32-25: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Jackson Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
12/29 @ OKC 106-130 — MEM notes
MEM lost 106-130. MEM shot 38% (37 of 97) to OKC's 50%, 14 of 51 from three, and went to the line 21 times to OKC's 12 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. MEM turned it over 21 times to OKC's 10, and OKC turned those into 10 steals. Bane led with 22 (7 of 15, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Huff added 17, Kennard 16. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 28 to 24, but the other 3 periods went 102-74 against them. LaRavia's -23 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Beal at 23 a game. Without Booker (5 straight), Allen (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Smart (4 straight), Williams Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Memphis 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/03 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Monk at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 26 and Bane at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Morant (2 straight), Aldama (3 straight), Edey (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Sacramento's 13 and the line, where Memphis takes 29 free throws a game to Sacramento's 20. Call it Memphis 118, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/04 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Kuminga at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Podziemski (2 straight), Payton II (4 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 31 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Morant (3 straight), Aldama (4 straight), Smart (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 126 and the line, where Memphis takes 31 free throws a game to Golden State's 19. Call it Golden State 118, Memphis 115, Memphis keeping it close.
1/06 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Morant (4 straight), Aldama (5 straight), Smart (7 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 27 and Grimes at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Marshall (4 straight), Edwards (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-8 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the defense, Dallas allowing 114 a night to Memphis's 125. Call it Memphis 119, Dallas 115, Dallas keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MEMCC C. Castleton
CS C. Spencer
DB D. Bane
JH J. Huff
JJ J. Jackson Jr.
JK J. Konchar
JL J. LaRavia
JW J. Wells
LK L. Kennard
SP S. Pippen Jr.
YK Y. Kawamura
OKCAM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
BC B. Carlson
CW C. Wallace
DJ D. Jones
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
MEM/OKC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Thunder rout short-handed Grizzlies 130-106 for their 11th straight victory
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder won their 11th straight game, beating the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 130-106 on Sunday night in a matchup of Western Conference leaders that turned lopsided before halftime.
Rookie Ajay Mitchell scored 17 points, Aaron Wiggins contributed 16 and Jalen Williams added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder (26-5), who opened a five-game lead over second-place Memphis.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 14 of 19 shots to go along with seven assists, six rebounds and a team-high four blocks. He sat most of the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City blocked nine shots, including three by center Isaiah Hartenstein .
The Thunder led 76-50 at halftime behind 23 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and 12 each from Mitchell and Kenrich Williams , who combined to go 5 for 7 on 3-point shots. Oklahoma City outscored the Grizzlies 42-19 in the second quarter to take control.
Desmond Bane had 22 points and nine rebounds for Memphis (22-11), which played without star Ja Morant (shoulder) and Zach Edey , the team’s No. 9 overall draft pick, who was in concussion protocol. Jay Huff added 17 points but Jaren Jackson Jr ., the team's leading scorer at 21.9 points per game, managed 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
Takeaways Grizzlies: Memphis jumped out to a 9-0 lead but struggled to score after that, making 37 of 97 shots from the field (38.1%) and 14 of 51 from 3-point range (27.5%).
Thunder: Oklahoma City lost the rebound battle 51-46, but outscored the Grizzlies 56-36 in the paint.
Key moment Memphis pulled within 42-36 on a jumper by Jackson, but Oklahoma City went on a 32-9 run to extend the lead to 74-45 and put the game out of reach before halftime.
Key stat Oklahoma City converted 21 Memphis turnovers into 33 points.
Up next Grizzlies: Visit Phoenix on Tuesday night.