{"id":150762,"date":"2025-07-06T07:36:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T07:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/150762\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T07:36:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T07:36:11","slug":"grizzlies-beat-thunder-nikola-topic-in-nba-summer-league-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/150762\/","title":{"rendered":"Grizzlies beat Thunder, Nikola Topi\u0107 in NBA Summer League opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nikola Topi\u0107<\/a>\u00a0era of Thunder basketball<\/a> is almost here.<\/p>\n

After sitting out last season due to a knee injury, Topic will make his NBA Summer League debut<\/a> Saturday when the Thunder opens its three-game stand in Salt Lake City<\/a> against the Grizzlies at 6 p.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-6 Serbian guard averaged 15.1 points and 5.9 assists per game with Crvena zvezda<\/a> in the Adriatic League when he last played competitive basketball in the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n

Topi\u0107 suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee nearly two months before the 2024 NBA Draft, where he fell from a projected top-five pick to No. 12 overall to the Thunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve seen this before, where somebody has a year where they can just focus on getting their feet underneath them as an NBA player, working on their body, learning the league,\u201d\u00a0Thunder general manager Sam Presti said during his offseason news conference<\/a>\u00a0June 30. \u201cI think he’s made great strides during this period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here what you need to know about the\u00a0Thunder-Grizzlies game<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Pre-order our new book on the Thunder’s road to NBA Finals<\/a><\/p>\n

REQUIRED READING: Thunder GM Sam Presti says Nikola Topi\u0107 ‘made great strides’ ahead of NBA Summer League<\/a><\/p>\n

Sign up for the\u00a0Thunder Sports Minute newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to access more NBA coverage.<\/p>\n

More: NBA Summer League 2025: OKC Thunder roster, schedule and everything else to know<\/a><\/p>\n

Final: Grizzlies 92, Thunder 80<\/a> | Nikola Topic scores 14 points in debut, but Memphis beats OKC<\/p>\n

Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson each scored 20 points Saturday to lead the Grizzlies to a 92-80 win over the Thunder in their Salt Lake City Summer League opener.<\/p>\n

Nikola Topic’s first game in a Thunder uniform had flashes of brilliance (14 points, four assists and two steals) and areas for improvement (seven turnovers, four fouls).<\/p>\n

Ajay Mitchell led the way for OKC with 24 points and six assists.<\/p>\n

The Thunder committed 23 turnovers in 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

Up next for the Thunder in Salt Lake Summer League play is a 6 p.m. Monday game against the 76ers.<\/p>\n

More: Nikola Topi\u0107, Ajay Mitchell shine for OKC Thunder in NBA Summer League loss vs Grizzlies<\/a><\/p>\n

End third quarter: Grizzlies 72, Thunder 62<\/a> | Memphis closes on 9-2 run to extend lead on Ajay Mitchell, OKC<\/p>\n

Jaylen Wells (20 points) and GG Jackson (13 points) keep rolling for the Grizzlies.<\/p>\n

Brooks Barnhizer, the Thunder’s second-round pick two weeks ago, is up to 12 points and seven points.<\/p>\n

Nikola Topic made another 3-pointer in the third quarter and is up to 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting.<\/p>\n

Ajay Mitchell has 18 points to lead the Thunder.<\/p>\n

Halftime: Grizzlies 45, Thunder 40<\/a> | Jaylen Wells, Nikola Topic shining in return from injuries<\/p>\n

It didn’t take long for Jaylen Wells to shake off any rust he had after breaking his wrist in April.<\/p>\n

Wells has 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting with two rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Grizzlies at halftime.<\/p>\n

GG Jackson, who made the All-NBA Rookie second team in the 2023-24 season before suffering a foot injury that limited him last year, has seven points for Memphis.<\/p>\n

Ajay Mitchell keeps showing why he was a hidden gem in the 2024 draft. The second-round pick out of UC Santa Barbara is leading the Thunder with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting.<\/p>\n

Nikola Topic is up to seven points, three assists and two steals for OKC in 13 minutes.<\/p>\n

Brooks Barnhizer and Mady Sissoko each have seven rebounds for the Thunder.<\/p>\n

End first quarter: Grizzlies 19, Thunder 18<\/a> | Nikola Topic makes his Thunder debut in NBA Summer League<\/p>\n

Nikola Topi\u0107 showcased some smart defense getting in passing lanes in his first taste of live NBA action with the Thunder.<\/p>\n

After the first quarter in Salt Lake City, Topi\u0107 had two points on 1-for-4 shooting, two steals and three turnovers.<\/p>\n

Ajay Mitchell scored nine points on 3-for-7 shooting to lead the way for OKC.<\/p>\n

Playing for the first time since breaking his wrist in April, guard Jaylen Wells<\/a> scored eight points to lead the way for the Grizzlies.<\/p>\n

More: Thunder GM Sam Presti says Nikola Topi\u0107 ‘made great strides’ ahead of NBA Summer League<\/a><\/p>\n

Starting lineups for Thunder vs Grizzlies<\/a> in Salt Lake City Summer League opener<\/p>\n

Thunder: Nikola Topic, Ajay Mitchell, Brooks Barnhizer, Malevy Leons, Mady Sissoko<\/p>\n

Grizzlies: Zyon Pullin, Cam Spencer, Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson II, Armando Bacot<\/p>\n

What time is Thunder vs Grizzlies game today in NBA Summer League?Date:\u00a0Saturday, July 5Time: 6 p.m. CTWhere:\u00a0Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs Grizzlies game starts at 6 p.m. CT Saturday from Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n

More: OKC Thunder NBA free agency 2025: Tracking latest trade rumors, updates around NBA<\/a><\/p>\n

Where to watch Thunder vs Grizzlies in NBA Summer League<\/p>\n

The Thunder vs Grizzlies game will be broadcast on ESPNU and Fan Duel Sports Network Oklahoma. It can be streamed on Fubo and ESPN+.<\/p>\n

NBA Summer League games are comprised of four 10-minute quarters instead of usual 12-minute quarters.<\/p>\n

More: Thunder mailbag: Will Nikola Jokic, Nuggets be OKC’s biggest threat in the West?<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder 2025 NBA Summer League roster\u00a0<\/p>\n

Player, No., Pos., Ht., Wt., College\/Previous team<\/p>\n

Zack Austin<\/a>: No. 52, F, 6-5, 216, PittsburghBrooks Barnhizer<\/a>: No. 23, F, 6-5, 227, NorthwesternTy Brewer:\u00a0No. 27, F, 6-5, 210, Mittel Deutscher BCCameron Brown<\/a>:\u00a0No. 16, F, 6-5, 218, St. Joseph’sBranden Carlson<\/a>:\u00a0No. 15, C, 7-0, 227, UtahAlex Ducas<\/a>:\u00a0No. 88, F, 6-6, 215, St. Mary’sCesare Edwards<\/a>:\u00a0No. 45, F\/C, 6-7, 224, Georgia StateJazian Gortman:\u00a0No. 26, G, 6-1, 175, Overtime EliteViktor Lahkin<\/a>:\u00a0No. 50, C, 6-11, 247, ClemsonMalevy Leons<\/a>:\u00a0No. 17, F, 6-9, 196, BradleyAjay Mitchell<\/a>:\u00a0No. 25, G, 6-4, 204, UC Santa BarbaraErik Reynolds II<\/a>:\u00a0No. 41, G, 6-2, 183, St. Joseph’sPayton Sandfort<\/a>:\u00a0No. 30, F, 6-6, 214, IowaMady Sissoko<\/a>:\u00a0No. 42, C, 6-7, 240, UC BerkeleyThomas Sorber<\/a>:\u00a0No. 12, C, 6-9, 270, GeorgetownNikola Topic<\/a>:\u00a0No. 44, G, 6-6, 216, Crvena zvezdaKerwin Walton<\/a>:\u00a0No. 28, F, 6-4, 209, Texas TechHason Ward<\/a>:\u00a0No. 31, C, 6-8, 214, Iowa StateChris Youngblood<\/a>:\u00a0No. 40, G, 6-4, 223, Alabama<\/p>\n

More: OKC Thunder signs 2025 NBA Draft picks Thomas Sorber, Brooks Barnhizer<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder 2025 NBA Summer League schedule<\/p>\n

All times Central<\/p>\n

Salt Lake City Summer LeagueSaturday, July 5:\u00a0OKC vs. Memphis at 6 p.m. (ESPNU)Monday, July 7:\u00a0OKC vs. Philadelphia at 6 p.m. (ESPN)Tuesday, July 8:\u00a0OKC vs. Utah at 8 p.m. (NBA TV)Las Vegas Summer LeagueThursday, July 10:\u00a0OKC vs. Brooklyn at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)Saturday, July 12:\u00a0OKC vs. Indiana at 4:30 p.m. (NBA TV)Tuesday, July 15:\u00a0OKC vs. Orlando at 5:30 p.m. (NBA TV)Wednesday, July 16:\u00a0OKC vs. New Orleans at 8:30 p.m. (NBA TV)<\/p>\n

More: Could OKC Thunder be put up for sale ‘soon’? Answering key questions about NBA ownership<\/a><\/p>\n

Thunder vs Grizzlies highlights in NBA Summer League<\/p>\n

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn\u2019t influence our coverage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Nikola Topi\u0107\u00a0era of Thunder basketball is almost here. After sitting out last season due to a knee…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":150763,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3795],"tags":[5572,5577,7,265,311,98,267,284,268,294,119,270,293,177,4070,2256,54,79,70,85,6,12,67,310,179,61,134,269,132,66,83,55,271,312,264,282],"class_list":{"0":"post-150762","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-memphis-grizzlies","8":"tag-ajay","9":"tag-ajay-mitchell","10":"tag-basketball","11":"tag-blog","12":"tag-city","13":"tag-draft","14":"tag-exclude","15":"tag-exclude-from-paywall-logic-testing","16":"tag-from","17":"tag-grizzlies","18":"tag-live","19":"tag-logic","20":"tag-memphis","21":"tag-memphis-grizzlies","22":"tag-memphisgrizzlies","23":"tag-mitchell","24":"tag-modular","25":"tag-modular-story","26":"tag-national","27":"tag-national-sports","28":"tag-nba","29":"tag-nba-draft","30":"tag-news","31":"tag-oklahoma","32":"tag-oklahoma-city-thunder","33":"tag-overall","34":"tag-overall-positive","35":"tag-paywall","36":"tag-positive","37":"tag-sports","38":"tag-sports-news","39":"tag-story","40":"tag-testing","41":"tag-thunder","42":"tag-ttp","43":"tag-ttp-live-blog"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/114805144948625155","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150762\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}