Ajay Mitchell scores a career-high 35 points as Thunder rout Grizzlies 128-97

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 35 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-97 on Friday night in an NBA Cup group stage game.

Oklahoma City has won 16 straight over Memphis, including a four-game sweep in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.

Jared McCain finished with 21 points for the Thunder, who shot 55%.

Ty Jerome led Memphis with 21 points and Zach Edey added 14. Rookie Cameron Boozer was limited to eight points but grabbed 12 rebounds.

Oklahoma City benefited from a strong shooting night. In the closing minutes of the third quarter, the Thunder were converting at just under a 60% clip. They made half of their 26 3-point attempts through three periods.

Oklahoma City also forced 18 turnovers, turning them into 30 points.

Memphis, which entered the game leading the NBA in 3-point percentage, struggled from distance in the first half, converting only five of its 26 attempts from beyond the arc. The Thunder, meanwhile, connected on 69% of their shots, including 9 of 17 from 3-point range.

Memphis finished the game shooting 22% from 3-point range.

The Thunder led by 25 points near the end of the first half. Oklahoma City went on a 12-0 run early in the third quarter to expand its lead to 32.

Despite injuries to several key players, the Thunder entered having beat Cleveland twice. Gilgeous-Alexander continues to fuel the offense, scoring 43 and 42 points in the wins over the Cavaliers. Mitchell has thrived in an expanded role, averaging 21.6 points over the previous five games.

Thunder: Host Washington on Saturday.

Grizzlies: At Toronto on Monday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) handles the ball in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) goes up for a shot in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (27) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kenrich Williams (34) in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) shoots between Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome, left, center Zach Edey (14), and forward Kris Murray, right, in the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Daryl Mitchell made a half century and shared a 59-run partnership with Mitchell Santner Saturday in an act of resistance before New Zealand was dismissed for 134 in 41 overs, batting first in the second one-day cricket international against India.

Mitchell was out for 55 and Santner for 31 as New Zealand again failed to produce a challenging total against a concerted India attack. Henry Nicholls (11) was the only other New Zealand batter apart from Santner and Mitchell to reach double figures.

Gurnoor Brar produced difficult bounce and took 4-30 from 10 overs while Auqib Nabi struck twice early and finished with 2-31. Anshul Kamboj and spinner Axar Patel, bowling through the middle of the innings, took two wickets each.

India captain Shubman Gill won an influential toss, his sixth in seven matches across the T20 and ODI series, and couldn't hide his delight at being able to send New Zealand in on a pitch which had sweated under the covers for two days.

Asked what he intended do after winning the toss, Gill grinned and said: “Bowl. No surprises there.” His New Zealand counterpart, Mitchell Santner, looked dejected.

The toss was delayed by an hour because of a damp outfield and the match was reduced to 47 overs per side.

Gill has called tails in six matches and won the toss every time. The only time he called incorrectly was when he changed to heads.

The pitch was a little moist and tended to hold up early on. Arshdeep Patel took no wicket for four runs off his first four overs.

Later, he found sharper and more threatening bounce as New Zealand batters again succumbed to the lure of the pull shot. Three New Zealand top-order batters were out pulling in the first match at Auckland on Wednesday which India won by five wickets after bowling out New Zealand for 185.

New Zealand started poorly, losing three wickets inside the first nine overs.

Tim Seifert was out without scoring in the second over, popping a ball that held up sharply to Anshul Kamboj at midwicket from the bowling of Nabi. Nabi also removed Will Young who was cramped trying to defend a short ball on a fourth stump line, edging a catch to K.L. Rahul.

At the end of the 10-over power play, New Zealand was 29-5 and had hit only three fours and a six. New Zealand hit only two more boundaries between the 10th and 20th overs, after which it was 55-3.

Mitchell was dropped by Gill off Kamboj when he was 21 but subsequently battled through to his half century from 97 balls with five fours and two sixes.

He was out soon after, slicing a ball from Axar Patel to Kamboj in the deep. Santner followed quickly, caught behind by Rahul off a quick ball from Brar.

See AP’s full cricket coverage here

India's Auqib Nabi celebrates the wicket of New Zealand player Tim Seifert during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

India's Gurnoor Brar bowls during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell bats during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell gestures during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand's Mitchell Santner bats during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)

India's Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring 50 runs during the one day cricket international between New Zealand and India in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)

India's KL Rahul and New Zealand's Nathan Smith, right, shake hands following the one day cricket international between New Zealand and India in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (Joshua Devenie/Photosport via AP)