Basketball is a game of runs, but what the Oklahoma City Thunder just did to the Memphis Grizzlies feels like something else entirely. If you stepped away from the TV at halftime during their January 9, 2026, matchup, you probably thought it was over. The Grizzlies were up by 21. They were bullying OKC on the glass, looking every bit like the team that used to own the Western Conference physical identity.
Then the second half happened.
Honestly, the OKC Thunder vs Memphis matchup has become one of those weird, psychological hurdles for the Grizzlies. This latest 117-116 win for Oklahoma City wasn’t just another notch in the win column; it was the 16th straight time the Thunder have beaten Memphis, a streak that stretches back through last year’s demoralizing playoff sweep. It’s reaching a point where you have to wonder if the Grizzlies just see those sunset orange jerseys and forget how to close out a game.
The "Miracle in Memphis" and Why It Happened
You’ve got to look at the rosters to understand how wild this specific game was. OKC arrived at the FedExForum without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They were missing Chet Holmgren. Isaiah Hartenstein was out. Basically, the Thunder were playing without their MVP candidate and their entire frontline. On paper, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies should have feasted.
And for 24 minutes, they did.
Memphis led 65-46 at the break. Jaren was efficient, GG Jackson was sparking off the bench, and the Grizzlies were outrebounding OKC by a massive margin—they eventually finished with a 52-36 lead on the boards. But then Mark Daigneault, who continues to prove why he’s one of the best tactical minds in the league, went to a super-small lineup. He put Kenrich Williams at the five.
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Small Ball, Big Problems
It sounds counterintuitive. How do you stop a team that is killing you on the glass by getting smaller? You do it with grit. Kenrich Williams, often the unsung hero of this OKC era, started switching everything. He finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds, but his real impact was the game-winning three-pointer with just over a minute left.
Jalen Williams took over the primary playmaker role with SGA out, putting up a monster line of 26 points and 10 assists. He didn't play like a second option. He played like a guy who knew exactly where the cracks were in the Memphis defense.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, fell into a trap they’ve struggled with all season: late-game execution. They didn't turn the ball over once in the first quarter. In the fourth? They gave up 11 points off turnovers. It’s a recurring nightmare. Coach Tuomas Iisalo mentioned after the game that they lack a "three-level scorer" on the active roster who can just take the ball and get a bucket when the system breaks down.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Thunder-Grizzlies Dynamic
A lot of fans look at the 16-game win streak and think the Thunder are just a vastly superior team. While OKC is the reigning champ and currently sits at 32-7, the gap isn't always as wide as the final score suggests. The Grizzlies are a team defined by "what ifs."
What if Ja Morant was healthy? He’s missed more than half the games this season with calf contusions and other nagging issues. What if Zach Edey hadn't suffered that ankle stress reaction? Memphis has used over a dozen different starting lineups in 37 games. That kind of instability kills chemistry, especially in the fourth quarter when you need to know exactly where your teammate is going to be.
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- Turnovers: Memphis gave up 25 points off 17 turnovers in the Jan 9 game.
- Fast Breaks: They scored 7 fast-break points in the first quarter and zero in the entire second half.
- Defense: Alex Caruso, even on a night where he wasn't scoring much, ended the game by blocking Cedric Coward’s potential game-winner.
The OKC Thunder vs Memphis rivalry used to be about "Grit and Grind" versus the young trio of KD, Russ, and Harden. Now, it’s about a Thunder team that has perfected the "next man up" philosophy and a Grizzlies team trying to find its soul amidst a mountain of injury reports.
The Ja Morant Elephant in the Room
You can't talk about these two teams without mentioning the trade rumors. Just hours before the most recent collapse, reports surfaced that the Grizzlies front office might actually be listening to trade offers for Ja Morant. It’s a shocking turn for a franchise player, but when you can't stay on the floor and your team is blowing 20-point leads to shorthanded rivals, the vibes get dark.
The Thunder are the opposite. They are the model of stability. Even when their stars sit, guys like Ajay Mitchell (who dropped 23 in the recent win) and Aaron Wiggins step in and play the exact same way. They don't panic. Down 21? They just keep chipping away.
Key Insights for Your Next Matchup Analysis
If you're betting on or just watching the next time these two meet, keep these tactical points in mind:
1. Watch the Turnovers, Not the Shooting
Both teams can go cold from three (OKC shot 24% in their last win). The game is won in the "points off turnovers" column. If Memphis keeps the live-ball turnovers under 10, they win. If they get sloppy, OKC’s transition offense will bury them.
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2. The Small-Ball Pivot
Mark Daigneault will almost always go small if he’s losing the rebounding battle. It forces the Grizzlies' bigs like Jaren Jackson Jr. to defend on the perimeter, which takes away their elite rim protection.
3. Second-Half Pace
Memphis tends to slow down when they have a lead. It's a fatal mistake against the Thunder. OKC plays at one of the highest paces in the league, and they will run you into the ground in the fourth quarter if you try to stall.
The road ahead for Memphis doesn't get easier, but for the Thunder, this season is looking like a masterclass in depth. They aren't just winning; they are taking souls. The mental edge they have over the Grizzlies right now is perhaps the most lopsided in the NBA.
To really get a feel for how these teams stack up when fully healthy, you'll want to track the recovery of Chet Holmgren and Zach Edey. Their presence changes the vertical spacing of the floor entirely. For now, the Thunder own this matchup, and until Memphis finds a way to play 48 minutes of disciplined basketball, that 16-game streak is only going to grow.
Check the injury reports 24 hours before tip-off for the next game. If SGA is back and Morant is out, the spread will be massive. But as we saw on January 9, even the Thunder reserves are capable of a miracle.
Follow the defensive rating trends for both teams over the next month. OKC is currently 1st in the league, while Memphis has slid to 8th. That gap is where the game is decided.