The Memphis Grizzlies were scheduled to host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, Nov. 6, in a matchup that already had the feel of an early Western Conference measuring stick. Even with injuries to Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, the Thunder still opened as 3.5-point favorites, a sign of how much respect their recent run has earned.
That line also says something about Memphis. The Grizzlies were viewed as a live home underdog in a game between two of the Western Conference's winningest teams, with the matchup shaped by both Oklahoma City's depth and Memphis' strengths on the glass and from three-point range.
Why Oklahoma City is still favored
The Thunder have managed to keep winning despite the injury issues, and their recent production from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a major reason why. Across his last two games, he took 61 shots, scored 85 total points and added 16 assists. That kind of workload has made him the central piece of Oklahoma City's offense, even in games where the supporting cast has been shorthanded.
There is also a broader team trend behind the number. Over the Thunder's last five games, opponents averaged 116.2 points and shot 38% from three. Oklahoma City has still been successful through that stretch, but the defensive numbers show why this matchup could be more competitive than the spread suggests.
Memphis has a path to staying close
Memphis brings its own set of advantages into the game. The Grizzlies were presented as strong on both three-point shooting and rebounding, two areas that can help an underdog control pace and create extra possessions. If Memphis can win that battle, it can make life much harder on a Thunder team that has leaned heavily on star production and shot volume.
One of the biggest questions is how the Thunder choose to use Gilgeous-Alexander in this spot. The expectation was that he could shift from scorer to facilitator against Memphis, which would be a notable adjustment after the heavy scoring burden he has carried. If that happens, it could open the door for others to contribute while also testing whether Oklahoma City can keep its offensive rhythm against a disciplined opponent.
For bettors and fans, this game came down to a simple idea: Oklahoma City has been winning enough to remain the favorite, but Memphis has the profile of a team capable of keeping things tight at home. That combination makes Thunder vs Grizzlies one of the more interesting early-season games on the board.
