The stars are on the shelf, but the stakes remain high. The Oklahoma City Thunder roll into Memphis at 31–7 for a Friday night Western Conference showdown without their MVP engine, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and without rim protector Chet Holmgren. The Grizzlies will again be without Ja Morant, a blow that continues a season of lineup churn. With both leaders out, depth, discipline, and role-player execution will decide this one.

Oklahoma City is still a juggernaut on record alone, yet the Thunder must navigate a key road test without two pillars. Memphis, 16–21 and fighting to steady the ship, has been in survival mode for weeks. Expect a game defined by adjustments, not star turns.

Final Thunder vs Grizzlies injury report: who’s in, who’s out

The official January 9 injury report paints a stark picture on both sides.

Thunder (31–7, 13–4 away):

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Out (right ankle sprain). First missed game since Dec. 7.
• Chet Holmgren — Out (bilateral shin soreness). First missed game since Dec. 22.
• Isaiah Hartenstein — Out (right soleus strain).
• Cason Wallace — Out (left great toe soreness).
• Jaylin Williams — Out (right heel bursitis).
• Thomas Sorber — Out (right ACL surgical recovery).
• Nikola Topic — Out (surgical recovery).
• Alex Caruso — Questionable (low back soreness).

Grizzlies (16–21, 8–10 home):

• Ja Morant — Out (right calf contusion). Fourth straight missed game; his 20th missed game this season.
• Cedric Coward — Questionable (left ankle sprain).
• Vince Williams Jr. — Questionable (left patellar tendinitis).
• Brandon Clarke — Out (right calf strain).
• Zach Edey — Out (left ankle stress reaction).
• Ty Jerome — Out (right calf strain).
• John Konchar — Out (left thumb UCL tear).
• Scotty Pippen Jr. — Out (right toe surgery recovery).

Memphis’ Morant situation has been a season-long thread. He suffered a Grade 1 right calf strain on Nov. 15 that cost him 10 games. Since, a right calf contusion from Jan. 2 has him out again, and he’s been listed as a game-time decision at times before ultimately sitting. In 18 appearances, he’s averaged 19.0 points and 7.6 assists.

“No SGA and no Ja. Now we find out whose system travels better.”

How the Thunder reshape without Shai and Chet

Two nights ago, Oklahoma City needed overtime to beat Utah 129–125. Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant with 46 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Holmgren added 23 and 12. Both now sit, which flips the script on OKC’s approach in Memphis.

Expect Jalen Williams to carry more creation and touches. Luguentz Dort will anchor defense on the perimeter while hunting easy offense in transition. Wing shooters like Isaiah Joe become more central, and rookie guard Ajay Mitchell could see extended minutes handling the ball. With both Holmgren and Hartenstein out, seven-footer Branden Carlson projects for an uptick in time to soak up frontcourt minutes and spacing responsibilities.

Head coach Mark Daigneault’s guiding belief in habits and poise still applies. After the Utah win, he summed up what makes his group steady when the pressure rises: “Most impressive thing is how natural he looks regardless of the circumstance. He looks like the same player every minute of the game, every second of the game, down to the last second. He doesn’t waver. Everything is consistent, even in the pressure moments. That’s why he’s such a great pressure player.” Without SGA, that consistency has to come from the collective.

Grizzlies injury chaos and the Ja Morant gap

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo has been frank about the reality: constant instability. Memphis has used more than a dozen lineups in 37 games, often missing multiple starters. “There is constant instability with the roster. It’s changing every game… You can really start to improve when you have some stability. We haven’t had that yet.” Still, he credits his team for fighting through the turbulence: “Guys are doing a great job competing and making the best out of that situation.”

With Morant out, Jaren Jackson Jr. again becomes the primary option. Expect rookie guard Cam Spencer to be thrust into more on-ball duty, especially if Vince Williams Jr. remains limited. If Cedric Coward can go, his wing defense and slashing help balance the floor. The injuries to Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke, Ty Jerome, John Konchar, and Scotty Pippen Jr. drain both size and playmaking, forcing Memphis to prioritize effort plays, rebounding by committee, and clean possessions.

“Memphis in survival mode vs a 31–7 machine. Can JJJ manufacture enough offense?”

Form guide, betting line, and what it means

Oklahoma City opened a blistering 24–1 and then went 7–6 over the next 13, yet still sits at 31–7 and 13–4 on the road. Memphis is 16–21, 8–10 at home. Books reflect that gap even with OKC’s absences: the Thunder are -5.5 favorites.

That line also nods to OKC’s structure. The Thunder can win different ways—fast with spacing and pace, or slow behind half-court execution. In this one, with fewer creators available, look for shared ball-handling, quick decisions, and heavy wing involvement to keep the machine humming. On the other side, Memphis’ path is rooted in control: limit live-ball turnovers, crash the glass, and keep the whistle friendly by attacking the paint.

Key swing factors in Thunder vs Grizzlies

• Turnovers and tempo: Without SGA, OKC must protect the ball while still playing with pace. Memphis thrives if this becomes a grind.
• 3-point variance: Shooters like Isaiah Joe (OKC) and Cam Spencer (MEM) could swing momentum with timely threes that cover for missing stars.
• Frontcourt boards: With Holmgren and Hartenstein out, can OKC hold up on the glass? Second-chance points are Memphis’ friend.
• Foul pressure: Jaren Jackson Jr. needs to draw contact without falling into foul trouble himself. That balance often decides his impact.
• Bench minutes: Expect extended runs for Ajay Mitchell and Branden Carlson for OKC; Memphis counters with energy lineups and opportunistic scoring.

“This one’s about habits. Clean rotations, extra passes, and who wins the 50-50s.”

Big-picture stakes

For the Thunder, this is a test of depth and system trust. They just proved they can gut out wins late—129–125 in OT vs. Utah—behind star brilliance. Now they must do it by committee, without their MVP and their unicorn big. A road win under these conditions reinforces why they’re viewed as real contenders, not just a hot-start story.

For the Grizzlies, it’s another opportunity to build habits and confidence while shorthanded. Morant’s 20th missed game underscores the need to find offense and identity beyond one player. If Memphis can force an ugly, low-possession game and get contributions across the board, they can tilt this into a coin flip and give themselves a chance late.

Strip away the names for a night, and this becomes a clean basketball test: execution versus chaos, depth versus attrition, and which team can impose its style without its brightest star. That’s compelling in its own right.

Tip: Track the first six minutes. If OKC’s spacing and ball movement pop early, the Thunder can manage the wire. If Memphis turns it into a fight in the paint, we could be headed for a clutch-time scramble.

Either way, we learn something about both teams—what OKC’s floor really looks like without SGA and Holmgren, and how Memphis keeps pushing through the storm until stability finally arrives.