With a final score of 142-105, the Grizzlies lost to the reigning champions the Denver Nuggets and broke their longest winning streak of the season.
Let’s get into it.
Due to illness, Memphis was missing Ja Morant and Santi Aldama, and the Grizzlies had no answer for Nikola Jokic’s 26 points, 14 rebound, and 10 assists for a perfect-from-the-floor triple-double.
It was a stark reminder that the team without Ja Morant looks entirely different than the one that just won four straight games.
The Grizzlies managed an eight point lead to start the first quarter, but quickly lost that and would struggle to find an offensive rhythm in the second. Memphis went into the second half down by 17, and that number continued to grow.
Shooting was a struggle throughout, particularly from three-point range, where the Grizzlies shot 37 percent compared to the Nuggets 48.8 percent. Their overall field goal shooting also suffered as Memphis finished the night at 41.6 percent compared to Denver’s 57.3 percent overall shooting.
Another area that was lacking for Memphis was their performance in the painted area, typically a strong point for the team. But the Grizzlies were outworked in the paint by the Nuggets 46 to 64. Denver also beat Memphis on the glass, with 53 rebounds compared to 36 for the Grizzlies, and in the assists department – 43 to 23.
By The Numbers:
Desmond Bane had a team-high 23 points and 2 assists.
Marcus Smart followed with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Jaren Jackson Jr. finished the night with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
From the second unit, David Roddy put up 15 points, and John Konchar contributed 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Who Got Next?
No rest for the weary; the Grizzlies will play their final road game of the year tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers. This is a late game for those watching in Memphis, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice. Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m.
