- - Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31, Thunder rebound from 2 losses in 3 games to beat Grizzlies 119-103

TIM WILLERT December 23, 2025 at 6:20 AM

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1 / 4Grizzlies Thunder BasketballOklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks to shoot over Memphis Grizzlies forwards GG Jackson (45) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back after two losses in three games to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 119-103 on Monday night in a matchup of teams missing several key contributors.

Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 20 shots and had eight assists and four steals. It was his 100th consecutive game with at least 20 points, adding to the second-longest streak in NBA history.

Jalen Williams scored 24 points and Ajay Mitchell added 16 off the bench before leaving midway through the fourth quarter for Oklahoma City (26-3), which played without starters Chet Holmgren (illness) and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf soreness).

Cedric Coward and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each scored 15 points for Memphis (13-16), which played without injured starters Ja Morant (ankle) and Zach Edey (ankle). The Grizzlies committed 23 turnovers, leading to 31 Oklahoma City points.

The teams combined to shoot 80 3-pointers. The Grizzlies were 18 for 41 (44%), while the Thunder made 15 of 39 (38%).

Oklahoma City led 67-54 at halftime. The Thunder turned a 57-47 lead into a 17-point advantage on a dunk by Williams, a deep 3-point basket by Lu Dort and a layup by Gilgeous-Alexander. Three turnovers by Caldwell-Pope fueled the blitz.

After Memphis cut the Thunder lead to 78-71 on a corner 3-pointer by Caldwell-Pope with 2:25 left in the third, Williams made a pair of jumpers and then threw down a dunk over Christian Koloko to make it 84-71.

The Thunder took a 93-75 lead on a 3-pointer by Mitchell early in the fourth, but Memphis fought back. The Grizzlies pulled within 101-97 on Caldwell-Pope's 3-pointer, but Gilgeous-Alexander answered with a 3-pointer, then assisted Branden Carlson on a corner 3-point shot to extend the lead to 107-97.

That was as close as Memphis would get. Oklahoma City extended the lead to 113-99 on back-to-back baskets by Gilgeous-Alexander.

Up next

Grizzlies: Visit the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.

Thunder: Visit the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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Source: “AOL Sports”