OKLAHOMA CITY -- After sitting out one game with a toe injury, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant returned to action with a vengeance.

However, instead of having his normal scoring bonanza, he decided to take over the game in other ways.

Durant racked up 26 points and a game-high 17 rebounds to lead the Thunder to an 112-94 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Durant shot only 9-for-18 from the field, but in his first game back from a strained big toe, he used his activity on the backboards to find a way to make an impression on the game. He finished one rebound away from tying his career high.

"I have said this many times about Kevin," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. "Even when he gets hurt, he always does something to push the limit when comes back and try and get better. He didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but over a period of time over the course of a game, more often than not, he will get himself going."

Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook scored 20 points to go along with seven assists and seven rebounds. Guard Dion Waiters added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting for the Thunder (25-11).

Guard Mario Chalmers came off the bench to pace Memphis (19-18) with 23 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Forward Matt Barnes scored 13 points, and forward Zach Randolph scored 12.

"They hit shots," Randolph said. "We were playing up hill. We didn't make shots. Give them credit. They played good."

Before the game, Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan was asked if Waiters would start to get fewer minutes due to the shooting slump he was in. Donovan said Waiters brought much more to the team than just scoring, and the coach didn't want him to forget that.

Waiters proved Donovan's point with an all-around first half. He compiled seven points and three assists and didn't miss a shot.

Not only did Memphis not have an answer for Waiters, but it could not slow down the entire Thunder squad. Eight Oklahoma City players scored to help the home team grab a 56-36 halftime lead.

However, it was the Thunder's defense that was the most impressive. The 36 points allowed were the fewest by an Oklahoma City opponent in the first half this season.

Memphis tried to grind away at the deficit. Without any one player shooting well from the field, the Grizzlies used hustle points and offensive rebounding to close a 23-point lead down to 18 heading into the fourth quarter.

"At some point I've got to make a stand," Memphis center Marc Gasol said. "No waiting for anybody to make a play for me or get an easy shot. I'm just going to break on plays and take it to the hole."

However, the Grizzlies didn't have the offensive horses to make much more of a dent as Durant continued to find his shot. He scored 17 points in the second half.

"I rebounded the ball, that's what I wanted to do coming into this game," Durant said. "I missed some good shots in the first half. I came back at halftime and told myself I have to focus on every shot now since I missed so many early on. It could have been 2-for-17. I tried to turn it into something good in the second half."

NOTES: Memphis G Mike Conley missed the game due to a hip pointer. "Mike Conley has so many things going on right now," Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said. "He is dinged up all over the place. It wasn't like it just happened the other night." ... In the seven games Oklahoma City played this season without F Kevin Durant, G Russell Westbrook's averages bump up from 25.3 points to 30.4, 7.3 assists to 10.1 and from 5.3 rebounds to 7.7. ... Since moving to the Memphis bench last month, 15-year veteran F Zach Randolph has grown into the role. "I'm a team-first guy," Randolph said. "It's not about me, it's about winning and whatever the coach thinks is best for the team. So that's how I'm approaching it."