Thunder's late surge stuns Grizzlies in Memphis
10 November 2025
Thunder overturns 19-point deficit to beat Grizzlies in Memphis
Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 19-point first-half deficit to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-100 on Sunday, improving to 10-1 for the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 35 points, and he scored 13 of them in the third quarter as Oklahoma City flipped the script and seized control.
Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell each contributed 21 points, providing strong support as the Thunder locked down defensively and pulled away in the second half.
For Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 17 points, while Ja Morant had 11 points along with three rebounds and eight assists as the Grizzlies built a lead early that gradually faded.
Memphis led 33-25 after the first quarter and carried a 62-51 edge into halftime, but Oklahoma City erupted after the break, outscoring the Grizzlies 34-18 in the third to take an 85-80 lead into the fourth period.
The Grizzlies twice pulled even in the final period, yet Mitchell drove for the go-ahead bucket and sparked a late Thunder run. Gilgeous-Alexander followed with two three-pointers and a hoop to widen the margin.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander said, "We know this league is full of variables every night, so you have to understand the task at hand and get it done." He added, "We’ve done that a few times this past season, and the mental approach is paying off in our play."
"We’ve built this mentality well," he continued, "and you could see it in our execution in the second half."
Around the league: Durant, Fox, and Wembanyama among the night’s stars
In Houston, Kevin Durant scored 31 points to lift the Rockets to a 122-115 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Alperen Şengün added 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. and Red Shepherd each scored 16 for Houston, which steadied itself after Friday’s defeat that snapped a five-game win streak.
"We weathered the storm," Durant said, noting the late-game push that secured the victory as Houston closed out the final minutes strong. Durant finished 11-of-15 from the floor with seven assists, helping fuel Houston’s late surge.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 37 points, but a rough late stretch and two missed free throws in the final minute prevented a Bucks comeback.
In New York, the Knicks dominated on their home floor, cruising past the Nets 134-98 to reinforce their strong season start.
In Philadelphia, Cade Cunningham scored 26 points and handed out 11 assists as the Pistons defeated the 76ers 111-107, clinching their sixth straight win after a slow start to the game.
In San Francisco, Jimmy Butler had 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as the Warriors beat the Pacers 114-83 despite Steph Curry missing his third straight game due to injury.
Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox sparked a late burst for the Spurs in a 126-119 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Lakers saw their five-game win streak halted by a 102-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Rookie Victor Wembanyama contributed 18 points and 18 rebounds for the Spurs, while Pelicans forward Trae Murphy delivered an eye-popping 41 points in the loss.
That night, the league’s narrative was clear: star power and young talent continue to define the NBA’s 2025-26 season, with every game carrying playoff-like urgency.
Punchline time, because even the angels of the NBA respect a good comeback: The Thunder didn’t just win — they filed a formal complaint with gravity, and gravity apparently agreed. Punchline two: If the clock had a sense of humor, it would have ended this game with a smile and a highlight reel.
