Author: Aimee Stiegemeyer

In their next-to-last game of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies were defeated 117-109 by the Denver Nuggets.

The Grizzlies’ one remaining regular-season game, at home against Dallas on Sunday, will determine whether they finish the season as the seventh or eighth seed.

Either way, they will participate in the play-in tournament.

What a far cry from earlier this year when the Grizzlies were sitting comfortably in the second seed. But their overall record hides a deeper problem: they can’t beat good teams on a consistent basis.

Their record against teams over .500 is 14-25; for teams under .500, it is 33-9. They are better than last season, but not yet good enough against the teams they will need to defeat to win a championship.

This brings us back to Friday night’s game against the Nuggets in Denver. The Grizzlies were visibly fatigued, playing on the second night of back-to-back games in one of the toughest road arenas in the league. But that doesn’t excuse blowing a 15-point lead in a must-win game. Good defense is only good if you can defend without fouling.

Memphis allowed Denver to get in the bonus early in the third quarter, giving them six more free-throw attempts. Overall, the Nuggets had 31 free throw attempts to the Grizzlies’ 19. Giving your opponent 12 more opportunities to score with the clock stopped in a game you lost by eight is … less than ideal.

The Grizzlies got beaten at their own game: The Nuggets outscored them in the paint 72-52.

The Nuggets have a perennial MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, who made the Grizzlies pay, to the tune of 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists. Nuggets’ forward Aaron Gordon led all scorers with 33 points and 5 rebounds.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 24 points, and adding 6 rebounds, and 1 steal.

Ja Morant put up 21 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.

Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.

Luke Kennard led the second unit with 12 points, and added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 11 points, 1 rebound, and 7 assists.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will play their final game of the regular season at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks at FedExForum.

Tip-off is at 2:30 PM CDT.

The Memphis Grizzlies grabbed their third win in a row Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, coming away with a 124-100 victory.

The playoff race in the Western Conference is extremely tight, and final seeding won’t be determined until all the regular season games have been played.

The Grizzlies have fallen from the second seed, where they spent most of the season before the all-star break, to the seventh seed with this win.

There are four teams, including Memphis, with a 47-32 record: the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Golden State Warriors.

The teams in seventh through tenth place at the end of the season will compete in the So-Fi Play-In Tournament to determine who ultimately takes the seventh and eighth seeds in the actual playoffs.

The Grizzlies took ownership of the game in the first quarter, outscoring the Hornets 33-18, and set the tone for the rest of the game. Memphis forced Charlotte into giving up 13 points off 7 turnovers in the opening stanza.

Turnovers again had a huge impact on a Grizzlies game, but this time in Memphis’ favor, as they cored 25 points off the Hornets’ 15 turnovers while only giving up 16 points off their own 14 turnovers.

The second quarter was marked by one of the scariest moments I have seen in a game. Rookie Jaylen Wells was driving to the basket for a dunk when he was crashed into from behind by Charlotte guard KJ Simpson, knocking him to the ground and forcing him to land on his head and neck.

Wells was immediately surrounded by medical personnel from both teams and was taken away via stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital.

Scary moment as the stretcher is out for Jaylen Wells. Went down hard after getting fouled on a dunk and didn't move very much. Very quiet in the arena. pic.twitter.com/AvzQdcTn9U

— Rod Boone (@rodboone) April 9, 2025

Per league policy, the game was delayed for roughly 25 minutes until another ambulance and paramedic crew arrived on site.

Simpson was ejected from the game for a flagrant foul, penalty 2, which is described as unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.

It was later announced that Wells had a broken wrist and would miss the remainder of the season. Prior to this injury, he played in every game this season and has been invaluable for this Memphis team.

The Grizzlies continued to dominate for the rest of the game, led by their big three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane.

TOUCH THE CLOUDS JA 😱💥@JaMorant | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/3WzocXo2Th

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) April 8, 2025

They led by as many as 29 points and outscored the Hornets 61-56 in the second half.

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant led all scorers with 28 points, and added 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 block.

Desmond Bane scored 19 points, plus 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Zach Edey put up 17 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and had 3 steals and 1 block.

big dawg. big dunk. @zach_edey | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/aR3N64mhya

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) April 9, 2025

Edey has had 40 rebounds in the past two games, a feat only achieved by a rookie one other time in league history: Shaquille O’Neal.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished the night with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals.

Santi Aldama led the bench with 11 points, adding 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Scotty Pippen Jr. put up 10 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are returning home on Thursday to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game is a must-win for the Grizzlies as they fight for playoff position. Tip-off is at 8:30 PM CDT.

Thursday night, the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing streak with a 110-108 victory over the Miami Heat.

Itwas the Grizzlies’ first win since longtime head coach Taylor Jenkins was fired and replaced in the interim by lead assistant Tuomas Iisalo.

This might be one of the most important wins of the season for this Grizzlies team, which has been in a tailspin for the past few weeks. After spending most of the season in second place in the Western Conference, Memphis is now trying to avoid falling past the sixth seed and the play-in tournament.

This brings us to Thursday night’s game in Miami. The game started out with Heat big man, Bam Adebayo, torching the Grizzlies for 12 points in the first period, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Memphis was able to cut Miami’s nine-point lead to one by midway but did themselves no favors by giving up 10 points off 12 turnovers in the first half. It was not a great matchup for Jaren Jackson Jr., as evidenced by his game-high five fouls and five turnovers.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle that saw Memphis barely snaring out a win, thanks to a pullup at the buzzer by Ja Morant.

PICK UP THE PHONE 📞

SEND EM HOME ‼️@JaMorant | @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/03BTO2u9lf

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) April 4, 2025

But there is an elephant in the room: the ongoing controversy regarding what the league calls a “finger-gun” gesture made between Ja Morant and Golden State guard Buddy Hield during Tuesday’s game against the Warriors.

The league issued a warning yesterday afternoon to Morant and Hield regarding the gesture: It was determined “not intended to be violent in nature” but still inappropriate. It was a warning Morant opted not to heed.

Now the league is issuing a $75,000 fine to Morant after he made the same gesture during last night’s game.

Hopefully, he will heed that warning going forward because the Grizzlies desperately need him on the court.

By The Numbers:

Morant led the team in scoring with 30 points on 11 of 22 overall shooting and 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. He added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

Desmond Bane finished with 17 points on 6 of 23 overall shooting and 1 of 9 from three-point range, plus 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.

Jaylen Wells added 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 13 points, and added 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.

tap out for the offensive rebound
bucket thru the contact

pip on one 💪@spippenjr | @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/yOxGD1jaA5

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) April 4, 2025

Scotty Pippen Jr. led the bench with 17 points on 6 of 9 overall shooting and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, plus 1 rebound, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will be in Detroit Saturday night to take on the Pistons. Tip-off is at 6 PM CDT.

The Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Boston Celtics on Monday night and were defeated 117-103.

The Grizzlies’ downhill slide continues. They have now lost three games in a row, and they look like an entirely different team than the one that spent most of the season in second place in the Western Conference.

Certainly, it is different from the team that beat the reigning NBA champions on their home court back in December.

Father time was on the Celtics’ side as 17-year veteran Al Horford led Boston with a season-high 26 points off the bench on 9 of 18 overall shooting and 6 of 13 from beyond the arc, and Jayson Tatum put up 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Memphis came out strong in the first quarter, outscoring Boston 32-25 overall and 5-12 from three-point range. Memphis also picked up nine points off turnovers.

The Celtics responded in the second quarter when their three-point shooting heated up – 24 of their 41 points in the quarter came from beyond the arc. Boston leads the league in three-point attempts and makes, and their 32 attempted three-pointers in the first half set a franchise record from any Grizzlies opponent.

The Grizzlies entered the second half with a five-point deficit, which they briefly closed in the third quarter, only to be shut down offensively in the fourth quarter.

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies in scoring with 26 points, and added 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.

Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 20 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, plus 1 assist, and 1 block.

Desmond Bane finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

Jaylen Wells added 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Santi Aldama led the second unit with 21 points, adding 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will close out their three-game homestand tonight against the Golden State Warriors. This is a must-win game for Memphis. Tip-off is at 7 PM CDT.

Shortly before noon on Friday, the Grizzlies announced that they were firing head coach Taylor Jenkins and assistant coaches Noah LaRoche and Patrick St. Andrews.

It comes on the heels of Thursday night’s brutal 125-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here is the official release:

With only nine games left in the regular season, while your team is fighting for its life to stay out of the play-in tournament, it would not seem to be the optimal time to make a move such as firing your head coach, but here we are.

No interim coach has been officially named, but current Grizzlies’ lead assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo is the most likely choice.

Fans and critics of the team have called for Jenkins’ ouster at various points this season, and while this news might be unexpected for some, it really doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

The team has been in a noticeable slump since the all-star break, as evidenced by its 8-11 record. Jenkins appears to have lost the locker room’s confidence, and once the players lose faith in a coach, the relationship is nearly impossible to recover.

Jenkins was hired as part of the guard-change during the 2019 offseason, when longtime general manager Chris Wallace was replaced with Zach Kleiman. It was otherwise known as the end of the Grit and Grind era — marked by the trades of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, the last two remaining members of the Core Four that lifted the team to relevance.

Jenkins’ tenure has been mostly positive, but it’s been bolstered by the arrival of star-caliber talent and the drafting and development of solid, dependable role players — areas that are largely outside his control.

Would a Taylor Jenkins-coached team without the Grizzlies’ big three of Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, and Desmond Bane be as successful, or has his ability been masked by Kleiman’s prowess in drafting players?

Spoiler alert: probably not.

Keeping a head coach who appears to have reached his ceiling would hinder the team now and in the long run. Given all the injuries they have been dealing with, the Grizzlies were never going to win the championship this year. So, while the timing is inconvenient, making such a major personnel change so close to the playoffs won’t necessarily prevent the team from hanging a championship banner in the rafters of FedExForum in the future.

In the third game of a five-game road trip, the Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Clippers Friday Night, 128-108.

It’s the Grizzlies’ third loss in a row and their third loss to the Clippers this season, with Los Angeles sweeping the season series.

The Grizzlies are playing their worst basketball of the season at the worst possible time. They are hanging on in a stacked Western Conference as the fifth seed, with the Warriors one and a half games behind them as the sixth seed and the Lakers and the Nuggets one game ahead of them as the third and fourth seeds.

Ja Morant was sidelined for the fourth game in a row. Scotty Pippen Jr. took over the starting point guard role in his absence.

It is concerning that Morant was listed as out due to a left hamstring strain when two games back he was listed as being out due to right shoulder soreness.

Even more concerning is the medical update on Brandon Clarke, which was just released by the Grizzlies front office.

Per Grizzlies PR:

Brandon Clarke has been diagnosed with a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee, which he sustained during a fall to the floor in the first quarter of the Grizzlies’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 19.

Clarke is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season, and further updates will be provided after a treatment plan and timeline are set.

This is bad news for Memphis.

As for this game, despite being shorthanded, the Grizzlies got off to a strong start in the first half, outscoreing the Clippers 66-60 through the first two quarters. The game broke an ongoing season trend for Memphis — they are now 29-6 when they lead at halftime.

It was the third quarter where everything fell apart for Memphis, with Los Angeles outscoring them 36-16 in the period and sealing their fate. The Clippers used the fourth quarter to push the lead to 20, their largest lead of the game.

This game was an aberration of sorts, with the Grizzlies outperforming their opponent in an area they typically struggle in. Turnovers have cost them multiple games this season, but in this matchup, they only gave up 10 points off 10 turnovers, and they picked up 30 points off 15 turnovers by the Clippers.

The Clippers had twice as many free-throw attempts as the Grizzlies, 26 to 13, easily outscoring Memphis 21-9 from the free-throw line.

James Harden led all scorers with 30 points on 8 of 14 overall shooting, 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, and 9 of 10 from the free throw line. Harden was responsible for most of the disparity in free throws.

With only 11 games left in the regular season, it is do-or-die time for this Memphis Grizzlies team, and they may not have enough left in the tank to avoid a first-round exit in the postseason, provided they make it there.

By The Numbers:

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 23 points on 9 of 24 overall shooting and 3 of 9 from beyond the arc, adding 10 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Santi Aldama scored 16 points on 5 of 11 overall shooting and 3 of 8 from three-point range, to go with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.

santi with some SPICE 🌶️@santialdama | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/BDVAAVdB96

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 22, 2025

Scotty Pippen Jr. finished with 15 points on 6 of 9 overall shooting and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, and added 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Desmond Bane added 10 points on 3 of 7 overall shooting and 2 of 5 from three-point range, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

Luke Kennard led the bench with 15 points on 6 of 9 overall shooting and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

Jay Huff added 13 points on 5 of 7 overall shooting and 3 of 5 from three-point range, and 1 rebound.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 25^th, giving them a few much-needed rest days. Tip-off is at 8 PM CDT.

The luck of the Irish was not with the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night, as they were defeated by the Sacramento Kings 132-122. With the loss, the Grizzlies drop to the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings.

The Grizzlies battled hard, and despite a breakout night from Desmond Bane, they were not able to overcome their poor defense and the Kings’ three-point shooting.

No point guard? That’s a problem, or it was Monday night. All three of the Grizzlies’ point guards were either injured or unavailable – Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. were both sidelined with injuries. Yuki Kawamura was on assignment with the Memphis Hustle.

Backup big man Santi Aldama was also on the injured list for the fifth game in a row. He is currently recovering from a right calf strain.

As mentioned, Desmond Bane had a breakout game, delivering a new season-high of 44 points and shooting a perfect 7 of 7 from beyond the arc. Bane tried to put the team on his back in the second half, to no avail.

Sacramento dominated throughout the game, and aside from a two-point lead in the first quarter, the Grizzlies trailed the rest of the way.

The Kings lost all-star Domantas Sabonis for the night after rolling an ankle in the third quarter, but they got a firepower boost from a familiar face: former Grizzly Jake LaRavia, who led Sacramento’s second unit to the tune of 12 points and a couple of well-timed three-point makes.

The elephant in the room is once again that the Grizzlies committed double-digit turnovers — they gave up 21 points off 18 turnovers. Even though the Kings gave up a similar amount (20 points off 14 turnovers), the Grizzlies giving up 21 points in turnovers in a game they lost by 10 points is, to put it mildly, less than ideal.

With only 13 games remaining in the season, this Memphis team is running out of time to right the ship, and turnovers may well cost them in the postseason.

By The Numbers:

Desmond Bane led all scorers and set a new season-high with 44 points on 15 of 25 overall shooting and 7 of 7 from beyond the arc. He added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

Jaylen Wells scored 14 points on 4 of 11 overall shooting and 3 of 8 from three, to go along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.

Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal.

Zach Edey added 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 blocks.

Brandon Clarke led the second unit with 15 points, and had 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies’ west coast road trip continues. Wednesday night, they will be in Portland to face the Trailblazers. Tip-off is at 9 PM CDT.

The Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night and were defeated 133-124. 

Cleveland has been having a breakout year, starting with a franchise record of 15 straight wins to start the season. With this win, they have set a new record 16-game winning streak. They are the first team with multiple 15-game winning streaks in the same season since the 2006-2007 Phoenix Suns. 

I expected Memphis to lose this game. However, how they lost and how Cleveland outmatched them is worth mentioning, as it highlights an issue with three-point shooting that has plagued the Grizzlies this season.

The Cavs dominated from beyond the arc from the start, and the Grizzlies struggled to hit shots from three-point range. 

Cleveland outscored Memphis 57-33 from beyond the arc, while Memphis outscored Cleveland 66-44 in the painted area.

Luke Kennard, the Grizzlies’ best three-point shooter and one of the best outside shooters in the league, finished the night with zero points and shot 0 of 4 from three, just one game after putting up his career-high against the Utah Jazz.

Cleveland was missing its best player, all-star Donovan Mitchell, but that didn’t slow them down — seven players scored in double figures.

The Cavs came out shooting hot, and the Grizzlies very much did not — that was the theme of the first half. The Cavs opened the second quarter on a 20-9 run, and by the midway point, they had built a 75-58 lead over the Grizzlies.

Memphis did attempt to come back in the second half and managed to cut the lead to single digits briefly in the fourth quarter, outscoring Cleveland 32-21 in the final period. But this was an instance of being outmatched by a team that just flat-out played better. 

Despite the loss, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Grizzlies fans.  

14-2 run 😤

12 got 42 pts on 21 shots 🔥@JaMorant | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/tgAw79wIeo

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 15, 2025

Ja Morant scored a new season-high of 44 points and has been on fire throughout March, averaging 31.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.

Friday night also saw the return of Jaren Jackson Jr., who has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle. He was expected to miss 3-4 weeks but returned to the court after just five games.

The Grizzlies need him on the court if they are to have any chance at a decent postseason run.

By The Numbers:

Morant put up a season-high 44 points on 17 of 22 overall shooting, and added 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal.

Jackson Jr. put up 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in his return while shooting a team-best 3 of 5 from three-point range.

Desmond Bane finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Brandon Clarke led the bench with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal while shooting 5 of 7 overall.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are back at it again Saturday. They face the Miami Heat to finish their five-game homestand. Tip-off is at 7 PM CDT.

Postgame, the team will honor Grizzlies legend Tony Allen as they retire his number 9 jersey.

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Phoenix Suns Monday night 120-118 and swept the season series.

Missing players due to injury is nothing new for the Grizzlies this season. The depth of their roster has been a key factor in maintaining a position near the top of the Western Conference, and it was their depth that allowed them to beat a Phoenix team led by Kevin Durant, one of the best big men in the league.

With Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, and Zach Edey all sidelined, Jay Huff went from DNP-CD in seven of the past ten games to the starting lineup, and to his credit, he rose to meet the moment.

Getting down in the first half and struggling to regain a lead in the second half has been an unfortunate, ongoing trend for this Grizzlies team; they now have a league-leading 16 double-digit comebacks.

Phoenix opened the game shooting 50% from beyond the arc, allowing the Suns to build an early lead. Kevin Durant led the charge, putting up 14 points in the first quarter on 4 of 5 shooting from three-point range alongside former Grizzly Tyus Jones’ 2 of 2 from beyond the arc.

Jones was not the only former player who tormented the Grizzlies from long range in the first half; Grayson Allen shot 2 of 2 from beyond the arc in the second quarter.

The Grizzlies looked a lot better offensively in the second quarter. They outscored the Suns 31-25 in the period, cutting Phoenix’s 16-point lead to two points at the half.

The Grizzlies’ bench was nearly as productive as their starters in the first half, outscoring the Suns’ second unit 28-13. Shoutout to rookie Cam Spencer’s 11-point second quarter.

Spencer scored a career-high 16 points, but his most entertaining contribution to the game was the double technical fouls between him and Kevin Durant after Spencer’s three-point buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter.

Cam Spencer hitting a 3 and immediately talking shit to Kevin Durant in a way that starts a scuffle is hilarious.pic.twitter.com/Hq3jtVLmnx

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 11, 2025

Real talk — Cam Spencer barking at Kevin Durant is kind of a whole mood, and I am very much here for it.

Cam Spencer is a level of crazy every team needs

(these pics are from 2 different games vs Suns this season) pic.twitter.com/onpaVcB9Wh

— Jon Roser (@Jon_Roser) March 11, 2025

The Suns never trailed in the first half, and the Grizzlies didn’t see their first lead until early in the third quarter after they scored six straight to open the period.

Ja Morant scoring double-digit points in the fourth quarter is becoming a regular occurrence, and his explosive playmaking has been a difference-maker down the stretch. The Grizzlies need Morant at his best as they close out the season.

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant led the team with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 9 of 13 overall and a perfect 10 of 10 from the free-throw line.

12 LOVES THE MOMENT 😤📞@JaMorant | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/mFUTbT7czl

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 11, 2025

GG Jackson and Jay Huff joined the starting lineup and made a big impact offensively:

Jackson finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals on 6 of 12 overall shooting.

Huff closed out with 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 5 of 11 overall shooting and 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.

bank stays open late on mondays for jay huff 🤷‍♂️

📺 @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/J4gFKHLpaq

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 11, 2025

Desmond Bane put up 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block.

Cam Spencer led the second unit with a career-high 16 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals while shooting 5 of 9 overall and 4 of 7 from three-point range.

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Lamar Stevens closed out with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block while shooting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will play at home for their next three games, starting with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. Tip-off is at 7 PM CDT.

The Memphis Grizzlies mounted a fourth-quarter comeback Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks and came away with a 122-111 victory.

After four consecutive losses, the Grizzlies were finally able to put another notch in the win column. It took considerable effort from Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, who combined for 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The absence of Jaren Jackson Jr. was keenly felt. He’s been Memphis’ leading scorer this season, averaging 22.7 points per game. The two-time all-star is sidelined with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain, and his status is listed as week-to-week after being injured early in the first quarter of the Grizzlies’ March 3^rd loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Dallas came out strong in the first period, while Memphis struggled to find their offensive footing. The Grizzlies had a better showing in the second period but still headed into the second half down by three points.

The Mavericks outscored the Grizzlies 41-39 in the third quarter thanks to superior three-point shooting. Both teams shot 53.8% (14 of 56) overall during the third quarter, but Dallas shot 66.7% (6 of 9) to Memphis’ 40% (2 of 5) from beyond the arc.

The Grizzlies finally managed to get both their offense and defense going in the fourth quarter, and they outscored the Mavericks 33-17.

Bane led the charge offensively, alongside Morant, but it was Morant’s pull-up three-pointer with 29 seconds left on the clock that sealed the deal for Memphis. Morant had gone 0 of 4 from beyond the arc through the first three quarters.

FLEX ON EM JA 💪@JaMorant | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/8Yxha5FK4K

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 8, 2025

By The Numbers:

Morant led the Grizzlies in scoring with 31 points, and added 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal.

Desmond Bane finished with 27 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

BIG TIME BANE 🔥@DBane0625 | @FDSN_Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/IeMUWvHnpj

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) March 8, 2025

Brandon Clarke led the bench in scoring with 17 points to go along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks.

Vince Williams Jr. added 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are heading to Big Easy, where they will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, March 9^th. Tip-off is at 6 PM CDT.