The Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to meet Friday night at FedExForum, with both teams entering at 6-2 and the first of four matchups in the 2026-2027 season on deck. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST in Memphis.
Fans can catch the game on DAZN, WATN ABC24 in Memphis and KSBI Channel 52 in Oklahoma. Radio coverage will be available on 92.9 FM and 680 AM in Memphis, along with 98.1 FM in Oklahoma.
This is a different-looking Memphis team than the one many expected going into the season. With Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane now on different teams, the Grizzlies have shifted to a younger core built around No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, 2024 No. 9 pick Zach Edey, 2025 No. 11 pick Cedric Coward and 2024 No. 39 pick Jaylen Wells. Ty Jerome is handling the lead-guard duties.
Oklahoma City arrives after a 64-18 season that finished with the best record in the league. The Thunder were later knocked out by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
Their offseason included drafting Aday Mara with the 12th pick and Bennett Stirtz with the 16th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, while also trading Lugentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks and Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons. They re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams and gave Cason Wallace a contract extension.
Last season, the Thunder swept the season series 4-0.
Memphis is trying to bounce back from a 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers, and head coach Tuomas Iisalo pointed to the turnovers afterward. “Well, some of our passes were late and that allowed their pressure defense, then, to put two on the ball, but cut off their passing lanes, some of them were those. Others were directly off the dribble that we didn't handle their ball pressure that well, and we certainly didn't use it against them well enough.”
In Other News...
Isaiah Stewarts Pistons Reputation Still Says Everything About His Edge
Isaiah Stewart has carried a reputation for edge since his Detroit days, and it still follows him into Memphis. In a recent interview, Stewart talked about being viewed as one of the toughest players in the NBA, the kind of presence opponents notice immediately and have to account for every time he steps on the floor.
Now with the Grizzlies after Junes trade from Detroit, Stewart said he has learned from the moments that helped build that image, including past run-ins with LeBron James and Miles Bridges. The bigger question for Memphis is how that same intensity fits into a new setting, where his physical style can be an asset if it stays pointed in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Face A Tough Ty Jerome Decision At The Deadline
Ty Jerome has quietly become one of the more interesting names to watch as the trade deadline approaches in Memphis. The Grizzlies guard is in the final year of his contract, has a player option, and is on a team-friendly deal, the kind of setup that tends to draw attention from playoff teams looking for backcourt help without taking on a major financial commitment.
For Memphis, the question is less about whether Jerome has value and more about what that value looks like in a market that often rewards flexibility. General manager Zach Kleiman has long shown a willingness to prioritize draft capital, so any conversation around Jerome could easily turn toward picks if the Grizzlies decide to listen. Whether that leads to an actual move remains unsettled, but it is the sort of deadline decision that can shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Suddenly Face A Rotation Problem They Cant Easily Hide
Memphis is having to reshuffle its backcourt and frontcourt mix at an awkward time, with injuries forcing coach Tuomas Iisalo to adjust the rotation on the fly. The good news is neither issue sounds catastrophic, but the Grizzlies are still dealing with the kind of lineup uncertainty that can ripple through a game plan fast, especially when depth pieces are asked to take on larger roles without much warning.
Cam Spencer has already started absorbing more of the load as the primary backup point guard while the team waits on the next update. For a Memphis group trying to keep its rotation stable, the challenge now is less about long-term concern than about surviving the immediate stretch without letting two useful pieces leave too big a gap in the nightly structure. [Read more 🡒]