Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League Preview

When: Wednesday, July 5th, 6:00 PM Central

How to Watch: NBA TV

For the second time in three days, the Memphis Grizzlies will be playing a fun and exciting brand of basketball. The NBA Summer League is officially here, and the Grizzlies made sure to get off to an exciting start on Monday evening in the Salt Lake Summer League setup. Big games from Kenneth Lofton Jr., David Roddy, and Vince Williams Jr. fueled the Grizzlies to a come-from-behind 94-92 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Roddy provided the play of the game with the go ahead drive and score with under ten seconds on the clock to seal the victory.

Next up on the schedule for the Grizzlies is a familiar Summer League foe in the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are currently the betting favorites to win the Las Vegas Summer League, and for good reason. They are stacked, with lottery picks and other former first round selections up and down the roster, including 2022 second overall pick Chet Holmgren and 2022 Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams leading the way. Like the Grizzlies, the Thunder got off to an impressive start on Monday with a 95-85 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Of course, tonight’s game will be a rematch from last year’s summer league matchup, and the Grizzlies likely have a bit of revenge on their minds. The Thunder put on a defensive clinic, winning the game 87-71. However, one of the more fun head-to-head matchups of last year’s Summer League caught the attention of many across the league, as Lofton Jr. and Holmgren put together a few highlight reel plays against one another:

The offensive skill of Lofton Jr. versus the defensive impact of Holmgren will make their one-on-one moments tonight one of the more exciting matchups in the pre-Vegas Summer Leagues. However, for the Grizzlies to earn a second straight victory, more results will be needed than Lofton Jr., Roddy, or others taking over individually for short stretches. A more cohesive team effort is likely a desired point of progression on Wednesday night.

For instance, the Grizzlies made just 14 of 34 two point shots on Monday, and had 21 turnovers compared to 20 assists. It seemed at times that Memphis simply settled for threes, so better ball movement and decision making on offensive sets will be critical to overcome a very good Thunder defense. Furthermore, better looks from three for Jake Laravia, Roddy, and Williams Jr. will also be a huge boost, especially early to try and establish a lead.

While a win certainly would be a nice outcome in tonight’s matchup, the more important development is progression for many individual Grizzlies with each Summer League game. Much of the attention will be on Lofton Jr. and Roddy, but a big night from Laravia would certainly be a huge boost of confidence for the team (assuming each of the Grizzlies talents play.) The Thunder and Grizzlies have two of the most intriguing young rosters in the NBA, so seeing them go head-to-head will hopefully result in a great game from both squads.