OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from two losses in three games to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 119-103 on Monday night in a game that was missing several key players.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 11 of 20 shots, had eight assists and four steals. It was his 100th consecutive game in which he scored at least 20 points, 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 was 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 was without injured starters Ja Morant (ankle) and Zach Eadie (ankle). The Grizzlies committed 23 turnovers, leading Oklahoma City to 31 points.
In total, the teams scored 80 three-pointers. The Grizzlies made 18 of 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 lead thanks to a dunk from Williams, a deep 3-pointer from Lu Dort and a layup from Gilgeous-Alexander. Three Caldwell-Pope turnovers fueled the blitz.
After Memphis cut the Thunder's lead to 78-71 on Caldwell-Pope's corner 3-pointer with 2:25 left in the third, Williams made a pair of jumpers and then dunked over Christian Koloko to make it 84-71.
The Thunder took a 93-75 lead on Mitchell's 3-pointer early in the fourth, but Memphis fought back. The Grizzlies pulled within 101-97 on Caldwell-Pope's 3-pointer, but Gilgeous-Alexander responded with a 3-pointer and then assisted Branden Carlson on a corner 3-pointer to extend the lead to 107-97.
This was as close to Memphis as we could get. Oklahoma City extended its lead to 113-99 on back-to-back baskets by Gilgeous-Alexander.
Next
Grizzlies: Visit the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
Thunder: Visit the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
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