Verified: November 6, 2026, 1:04 PM CST (UTC-06:00); 19:04 UTC. The Memphis Grizzlies host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Memphis, Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-06:00), at FedExForum. It is an Emirates NBA Cup West Group B matchup, not simply an ordinary home date: the result counts in group play and in the NBA regular-season standings. The same tipoff is 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-05:00) on Friday and 1:00 a.m. UTC on Saturday, November 7. The NBA's official listings continue to show that venue, time, and group designation.
Memphis is looking to respond after two narrow home losses, while Oklahoma City arrives with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in scoring form and several significant injuries on its roster. The Grizzlies have also scheduled HBCU Night, with an outdoor celebration ahead of the game. Fans should separate the confirmed tipoff and arena information from lineup choices and ticket inventory, which can still change before the opening jump ball.
| Detail | Official game information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies |
| Date in Memphis | Friday, November 6, 2026 |
| Memphis tipoff | 7:00 p.m. CST (UTC-06:00) |
| Eastern time | 8:00 p.m. EST (UTC-05:00) |
| Coordinated Universal Time | Saturday, November 7, 2026, 01:00 UTC |
| Competition | Emirates NBA Cup, West Group B |
| Arena | FedExForum, 191 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103 |
| NBA game ID | 0022600029 |
The official Memphis game listing, the Thunder game listing and the NBA game center identify this fixture. Daylight saving time ended in Tennessee on November 1, so the November 6 game is in CST, not Central Daylight Time. International schedule pages can display Saturday, November 7 because the UTC date changes after midnight.
The Grizzlies won their first six games of the season before losing consecutive home contests. Their official schedule shows a 135-134 overtime loss to New Orleans on November 2 and a 107-103 loss to Indiana on November 4. Ball security is a particular concern: the NBA-hosted matchup preview says Memphis committed 53 turnovers over its preceding three games, giving opponents 66 points off those mistakes. Those figures describe the stretch before this game, not a statistic from the Thunder matchup itself.
The Thunder also entered Friday on two straight wins, both against Cleveland. Their official team schedule lists a 117-112 victory on November 2 and a 124-116 win on November 4. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 43 and 42 points in those games, respectively, according to the NBA preview. That raises the stakes for a Memphis defense seeking to limit clean drives and avoid handing Oklahoma City extra possessions.
The matchup also falls on the Grizzlies' HBCU Night. In its official October 28 announcement, the club scheduled HBCU Yard Fest on the Big River Steel Plaza beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST (UTC-06:00) on November 6, or 22:00 UTC. The program celebrates Historically Black Colleges and Universities and includes college representatives and entertainment. The special ticket-package deadline described in that announcement was November 4; its associated merchandise and food voucher should not be assumed to remain available on game day.
Oklahoma City's injury situation is a central factor, but an injury announcement is not the same thing as a final active roster. On October 30, the Thunder's official medical update said Chet Holmgren had undergone treatment for a small right patellar tendon tear and was expected to return in eight to ten weeks. The team also said Cason Wallace had undergone shoulder surgery and would be reevaluated before the end of the regular season. The NBA's November 6 briefing additionally identified a serious leg and ankle injury to Jalen Williams.
These reports explain why Oklahoma City has relied heavily on Gilgeous-Alexander, but they do not establish every player who will dress or start in Memphis. Additional short-term designations can be updated during the day. For confirmed participation labels such as out, doubtful, questionable, or available, consult the NBA's official 2026-27 injury reports and the game's active roster close to tipoff. No unverified starting five is presented here.
It is an early opportunity to build a group-play record rather than a standalone exhibition. Under the NBA Cup format, the six group winners and one wild-card team from each conference progress to the knockout rounds. Group-play results can therefore determine whether the Grizzlies or Thunder have a path to the quarterfinals, while also affecting their regular-season win-loss records.
Memphis' most obvious swing factor is whether its guards and wings can lower the turnover total and manufacture enough shots against an Oklahoma City defense that is expected to challenge ballhandlers. For the Thunder, high-level creation from Gilgeous-Alexander could offset unavailable frontcourt and perimeter personnel, but that is a conditional basketball outlook, not a prediction of the result. The final score, team statistics and group standings should be taken from the official game center after the contest, not inferred from recent form.
The NBA's NBA Cup broadcast schedule lists the 8:00 p.m. EST game on NBA League Pass. The Thunder's team schedule also identifies Thunder+ and KSBI Oklahoma City for its local audience. Streaming availability and blackouts depend on the viewer's market, so a listed platform does not guarantee that every subscriber can watch without restrictions. The NBA game center is the safest starting point for location-specific watching options and official live scoring.
For in-person attendance, the FedExForum event calendar and the Grizzlies' matchup page have ticket-purchase links. Neither a visible “Buy Tickets” button nor a past offer confirms that a particular section or price is still in stock. FedExForum advises fans to use the Grizzlies, its box office or Ticketmaster rather than unverified third-party sellers. Check your seat, fees, entry method and any transfer restrictions before paying.
FedExForum is at 191 Beale Street in downtown Memphis. The Grizzlies' official game-day guide recommends arriving 60 minutes ahead of tipoff; for this game, that means planning to be there by around 6:00 p.m. CST on November 6. Save mobile tickets in a phone wallet before reaching security. The arena is cashless for concessions.
The venue's current entry rules allow clear bags no larger than 6 by 8 by 2 inches and small wallets no larger than 5 by 3.5 inches, with limited exceptions for medically necessary or diaper bags. Those rules apply regardless of which team a fan supports. Visitors needing accessibility arrangements should review the venue's guidance before traveling.
The attached Gossett Motors garage has 1,500 spaces, but FedExForum's parking page says Grizzlies-game parking there is sold on a season basis. Do not assume general-event drive-up parking is available for this basketball game. The venue lists a pickup/drop-off area on Fourth Street between Beale Street and Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue. Plan for downtown traffic and verify any parking reservation independently; no special game-night road closure was confirmed by the official sources reviewed for this article.
Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. CST (UTC-06:00) in Memphis. That is 8:00 p.m. EST on Friday and 01:00 UTC on Saturday, November 7.
Yes. The NBA lists the matchup as Emirates NBA Cup West Group B at FedExForum, and the result also counts in regular-season standings.
No. Official pages provide ticket links but not a guaranteed inventory. Team lineups and individual availability should be checked against the final NBA injury report and game-day roster shortly before the opening tip.
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