NBA Summer League: Thunder Fall, Grizzlies Advance with Mixed Player Stats

Thunder Drop to Mavericks

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 97‑87 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Thursday. Josh Dix started for the Thunder and posted 11 points, hitting 4 of 10 field goals and three of six threes in 30 minutes. Payton Sandfort added 12 points on 5‑of‑12 shooting, along with five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Bennett Stirtz, who had led the team in scoring for three straight games, sat out as one of four inactive players.

Grizzlies Clinch Semifinal Spot

Memphis Grizzlies used a dominant 96‑64 victory over the Atlanta Hawks to secure a semifinal berth. Brendan Hausen, who scored 20 points on Tuesday, managed just two minutes and missed his only field‑goal attempt on Thursday. The win sets up a showdown with the Houston Rockets on Saturday, July 18 at 5:30 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video.

Payton Sandfort’s Scoring Night

Payton Sandfort finished with 12 points on Thursday, converting 5 of 12 shots from the floor and 2 of 7 from deep. He also contributed five rebounds, two assists and collected a steal for the Thunder. The performance highlighted his offensive versatility in the summer league format.

Josh Dix’s Strong Start

Josh Dix earned a starting role and netted 11 points, shooting 4 for 10 overall and three for six from three‑point range. He also grabbed two rebounds and recorded a steal in 30 minutes of play. Dix’s outing gave the Thunder a boost on the offensive end despite the loss.

Bennett Stirtz’s Inactivity

After averaging the most points for the Thunder over the previous three games, Bennett Stirtz remained inactive on Thursday. He was listed among four players who did not see court time, leaving the roster depth to other contributors. Stirtz will be available for Oklahoma City’s final consolation game.

Future Fixtures

Oklahoma City wraps up its summer league schedule Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets at 3:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Thunder will look to salvage a win in their consolation contest after back‑to‑back defeats. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies prepared for a pivotal semifinal clash with the Houston Rockets, aiming to extend their postseason run.