For Grizzlies fans, it was a Black Friday indeed.
With a final score of 101-89, the Memphis Grizzlies dropped their last game in the inaugural in-season tournament to Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns, pushing them to 0-4 in the IST and 0-7 at FedExForum for the season.
Nasty work from the team that held the best home record in the NBA last season — going from that to the dumpster fire we have been watching in real time this season.
Let’s get into it.
It was a familiar struggle for the Grizzlies — too many turnovers, poor shooting from three-point range, and a major disparity in free throw attempts between the teams.
Now throw in the lowest-scoring game of the season for Desmond Bane, only two of five starters scoring in double-digits, and the fewest field goal attempts, and you get the abomination of a game Memphis had.
Phoenix converted 15 Memphis turnovers into 24 points and grabbed 40 rebounds, while the Grizzlies could only manage nine points off 13 Phoenix turnovers and 35 rebounds.
This game against the Suns and Wednesday night’s game against the Rockets saw the Grizzlies taking 80 and 82 shots respectively and losing both games while scoring under 100 points.
There were a few bright spots, however.
Santi Aldama had his third 20-point performance of the season, finishing the night with a team-high of 21 points and 5 rebounds.
Jaren Jackson Jr put up 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Desmond Bane while only scoring 6 points made a season-high 10 assists.
From the second unit, David Roddy closed out the night with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and one block and Derrick Rose put up a season-high 17 points on 8 of 9 shooting.
But none of that can mitigate the sting of what this season is shaping up to be: Perhaps not quite a lost cause, but certainly humbling for a young team trying to establish a winning culture.
Memphis has been playing bad basketball all season, and even the return of Ja Morant in 10 games might not be enough for the Grizzlies to climb out of this hole and rise in the standings.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will take on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is at 5 PM CST.
