Author: Sharon Brown

Sharon Brown is a University of Memphis graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies with a concentration in Legal Studies. Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Sharon is one of the Memphis Grizzlies beat writers for the Memphis Flyer. She has created a niche in the industry by co-founding All Heart in Hoop City — a unique community of women sportswriters.

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Denver Too Much for Memphis in Season’s Final Game

GG Jackson #45 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball up the court during the first half against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum on April 14, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

In the last game of the season at FedExForum, the Denver Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 126-111. 

The Nuggets held the Grizzlies to just two points through the first five minutes of the third period and broke the game open to take a 19-point lead going into the final frame.

No one expected the Grizzlies to wen the game with 13 injured players and Denver starting some future Hall of Famers. The Nuggets swept the season series, 4-0.

Denver finished the regular season with a 57-25 record and clinched the No. 2 seed in the NBA Playoffs. The Grizzlies were 27-55 overall and 9-32 at home. 

The Grizzlies set NBA season records by using 33 different players and 51 different starting lineups.

GG Jackson II led the Grizzlies with a career-high 44 points and 12 rebounds to secure his second double-double of the season. At 19 years old, Jackson II became the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 44 points in a game. The rookie’s performance was a welcome relief from a season plagued by injuries.

“I think what he’s been doing on the court is an absolute reflection of what he’s been doing off the court,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the rookie’s development. “GG has been unbelievable since day one when he came in as a wide-eyed rookie, which he still is — a wide-eyed rookie. But coming in, trying to figure out his routine, what are the habits he’s got to develop to be a consistent pro. I think his work ethic has been phenomenal every single day. I’ve said it all throughout the season, how he learns within the game, tries to not repeat the same mistake. He’s got this care factor.”

“There will be times where I don’t have to be ball-dominant, and I can just knock down shots and stuff,” Jackson, II said. “Then, there’s other times when I catch fire that I can still affect the game defensively. This is going to be huge for me to serve. We’ve been working on a lot, and I started to notice, but it took the last game for me to notice. All of our lifts are lower body based, and, in my mind, I was like, ‘They’re trying to build the foundation before they build on top.’” 

“I’m really comfortable in a sense, with Coach [Jenkins] trusting me and my teammates having my back,” said the South Carolina native. “There will be times where I’m frustrated and I’m like, ‘You should’ve hit me on that one.’ And I come to the bench, and I don’t want to be that guy. I got a bad rap for doing that in college. Even in high school, someone told me they didn’t like me because I had that kind of attitude and stuff. So, that was huge for me to keep that toned down. That behavior doesn’t really lead to a great performance.” 

Jake LaRavia added 29 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his third straight game with 25+ points. LaRavia has averaged 29.7 points per game over the last three games, including a career-high 32 points April 10 at Cleveland.

“That was my biggest goal coming back from All-Star break, after I had that little ankle injury, just playing through whatever I had, trying to play as many games as I could, trying to stay healthy,”LaRavia on his play after injury. 

“I think I did a really good job of that. I ended up missing those two games, but I think for the most part, I did a good job of staying healthy and playing through. … When you talked about confidence, I think I’m a very confident player, regardless. It might be showing more because I’m in a higher role right now, but this was my goal, to get as much momentum as I could going into next season.” 

Strictly for the fans 

Jenkins’ closing message to the fans: 

“I also just wanted to shout out our fans. They’ve been phenomenal. I know this was probably a difficult season, but the love our fans have for us, I could feel it all season long. I could feel it the last couple days. We’re going to miss them tremendously over the next couple of months. There’s nothing like coming here to work and compete at the FedExForum with our great fans. And hopefully, we’re going to put the work in behind the scenes to come out and set a great tone, come October 2024, for the next campaign. So, I want to just thank all of our fans, thank all of you all for your commitment throughout the season.”

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Grizzlies Fall in Last Road Game of the Season

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MARCH 27: Grizz, mascot of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum on March 27, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

The Memphis Grizzlies played and lost their last away game of the season Wednesday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, where they were defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 110-98. The Grizzlies dropped their third consecutive game and the Cavaliers ended a three-game losing streak.

The Grizzlies fell to 27-53 with two games remaining in the season, while Cleveland improved to 47-33, with postseason aspirations. 

Memphis held a 51-48 advantage in the first half, then the Cavs woke up, outscoring the undermanned Grizzlies 30-16 in the third quarter to go up 78-67 entering the fourth. 

With only eight players dressed, there were only three players available for the Grizzlies off the bench. They were outscored 29-6 by the Cavs reserves. 

Memphis finished 18-23 on the road, slightly better than last season’s 16-25. By comparison, the team has a record of 9-30 at FedExForum, with two games remaining. Last season the franchise had one of the best home records in the association at 35-6. 

The Grizzlies were paced by forward Jake LaRavia, who scored a career-high 32 points, with 21 of those coming in a blazing first half. 

LaRavia went 8-11 from the three-point line, while grabbing seven rebounds, adding two steals and a block. 

Rookie sensation GG Jackson II finished with 22 points, two rebounds and two assists. For the season, Jackson II is averaging 13.6 points and four rebounds. 

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 18 points on 46.7 percent shooting, with six assists and four rebounds. 

Former Cavalier Lamar Stevens ended with 16 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. The Grizzlies picked up Stevens in a deal that sent Xavier Tillman, Sr. to Boston before the trade deadline. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will host the Los Angeles Lakers, who are still hunting for postseason position, on Friday night, April 12th at 7pm CT.

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Sports Sports Feature

Marc Gasol’s Jersey is Retired in a Night of Appreciation

Marc Gasol reacts during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

It wasn’t the basketball game that drew over 17,000 spectators to the FedExForum on Saturday and caused all the excitement. The extremely short-handed Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 116-96. 

The reason the fans were there was for a more joyous occasion as the franchise retired Marc Gasol’s No. 33 jersey. Just two players in team history have had their jersey numbers retired: Zach Randolph on December 11, 2021, and Gasol, who now joins him.

Marc Gasol’s jersey is risen during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

As the lights went out inside the arena, the music blared, DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia began rapping, “Now ever since I can remember, I’ve been poppin’ my collar. Poppin’-poppin’ my collar, poppin’-poppin’ my collar,” and there stood the “Core Four” together again in one place for the first time since the spring of 2017: Gasol, Randolph, Tony Allen, and Mike Conley. They were met with a standing ovation. 

When it came to doing things the right way as a team, Gasol wasn’t really concerned about individual accolades. Appropriately, he chose to share the night alongside the three men who had been instrumental in his — and the franchise’s — greatest success. These men spent seven seasons together, won the very first playoff game in franchise history in 2011, and went on to make it to the 2013 Western Conference finals. 

All four players reflected on their shared memories of playing in the Grindhouse.

Gasol thanked his Memphis coaches and teammates, with his family by his side. The All-Star big man also thanked the fans and the city of Memphis for their unwavering support throughout his stay in the Bluff City. 

Marc Gasol and his family look on during the Marc Gasol jersey retirement on April 6, 2024 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Wes Hale)

His brother (and former Grizzlies star) Pau Gasol spoke to the media prior to the game: “I am very proud of what we’ve be able to accomplish, and what Marc has been able to accomplish, and how he came here as a 16-year old, had to leave school and everything back home, to the kind of follow the big brother’s dream and just brought about what he has been able to do.”

Hall of Famer, Pau Gasol speaking to the media prior to the jersey retirement ceremony (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

The two-time NBA champion continued: “How we approach everything is his character, his determination, the mark he left, the legacy, what he was able to do here and throughout his career, representing the city of Memphis the way he did for so many years with all  those guys, Mike [Conley] Zach [Randolph] Tony [Allen] and many others. Tonight is a special night for our family that brings back a lot of memories.”

A host of former Grizzlies were in attendance, including Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, Quincy Pondexter, Beno Udrih, Darrell Arthur, Jon Leuer and Tayshaun Prince. Former Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger was also there, and former Grizzly Kyle Lowry, who stayed after the game. 

Fellow Spaniard, and Grizzlies forward, Santi Aldama, spoke about the Gasol brothers: “I think since day one, obviously making it to the NBA is a child’s dream,” Aldama said. “But getting drafted by Memphis and being here and seeing what [the Gasols] have done for the franchise and the city has been awesome. Just being able to talk to them and kind of see their life here and now me kind of experiencing that is incredible.”

Elizabeth Smith has been a season ticket holder since 2011. “Marc Gasol isn’t just a player who played for my favorite basketball team; he is an integral part of the fabric of the city of Memphis and the Grizzlies,” Smith said. “Marc’s impact on the court speaks for itself, but it’s more than just his basketball accomplishments that make him special. He was the center of the Grizzlies for over a decade in more ways than the obvious.”

“Big Spain embodies everything I love about the Grizzlies and what I expect from my favorite team: a passion for the game, a heart for the community, and a refusal to accept defeat without fighting til the bitter end. Marc, along with TA, ZBo, and Mike, were the catalysts for my casual appreciation for basketball evolving into a deep love of the game. I have said many times that those four will forever be my favorites. That wouldn’t be possible without Marc, one of the cornerstones of that era of Grizzlies basketball, for fans like me.”

“My favorite moment of the night that brought tears to my eyes was the showing of his Toronto championship ring that had “GRIT N GRIND” engraved in it,” said longtime fan Sheri Dunlap Hensley.  

“We were able to celebrate with the Gasols after the ceremony,” Hensley explained. “It was nice speaking with his parents. I asked them when they would be traveling back home and I said “I am sure you are ready to get back home.”  His mom said “Oh no! We love Memphis! The city embraced us and Memphis put smiles on my son’s faces!”  She went on about how thankful she will forever be to Memphis and the fans.”

Hensley even had a chance to reminisce with Gasol, himself. 

Sheri Hensley chatting with Marc Gasol.

Adrian Shavers has been a Grizzlies season ticket holder for a long time. The night was very special for him. Shavers said, “It was awesome — felt like a family reunion. It felt really good seeing and chatting with old friends. One thing about our players, they love us fans and remember us. It was a real family feel, and that’s what I felt that night.”

Grizzlies fan Adrian Shavers posing in front Gasol’s banner. (Photo by: Adrian Shavers)

One of the most talented players to ever suit up for Memphis, Marc Gasol’s legacy is now sealed with his jersey hanging from the rafters. It has been a pleasure, Big Spain. GNG Forever.

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Grizzlies Smash Pistons, 108-90

Maozinha Pereira drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons on Friday, April 5, 2024 at FedExForum (Photo by: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

At FedExForum on Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies (27-50) dominated in a 108-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons (13-64). The Grizzlies won the season series 3-0. 

Memphis is now on a three-game winning streak. That hasn’t happened since January 22–26.

There were a whopping 12 players for Memphis on the injury list, leaving only eight who could play. Only three of those players available were on standard contracts; the other five were either on two-way deals or 10-day contracts. 

Scotty Pippen Jr., Jordan Goodwin, GG Jackson II, Jake LaRavia, and Trey Jemison got the start for Memphis. Lamar Stevens, Maozinha Pereira, and Zavier Simpson came off the bench. 

Seven of the eight Grizzlies players available scored in double digits, including all five starters. The last time all five starters scored in double figures was October 27, 2023. 

“Just their effort overall — I thought the ball was moving really well,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on what impressed him about the game. “The conversations throughout the game. … The guys were like, ‘Keep sharing it, keep running, keep finding the open teammate, keep touching the paint’. Some of those made buckets were unassisted because we were able to get right downhill and finish at the rim.”  

Jenkins continued, “So, I thought the ball movement set that up. Defensive effort. We knew the paint was a big priority tonight. Transition defense was a big priority. We did a great job limiting to under 40 points in the paint against a team like this that thrives on getting downhill. I thought our on-ball defense was good; our guards. Jaden [Ivey] had a heck of a game scoring and shooting the three. Limiting their paint points and second-chance points was a big factor. Our guys came up with a good effort there.”

For Memphis, Jemison and Pereira tied for leading scorer with 17 points apiece. Jemison recorded the first double-double of his career with 13 rebounds, a career high. Coming off the bench, Pereira not only scored a career-high in points but also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.

“I’m just glad I had the opportunity to be here for 10 days, and now 20 days,” Pereira said after the game. “I’m building the trust of my coach, and the assistant coaches. My teammates believe in me and have given me confidence. It was very easy to show what I’ve got because of them. I blame it all on them.”

Pippen Jr. finished with 16 points, seven assists, and four steals.

He compared his time with the Lakers to now with the Grizzlies: “It’s been way different. Last year, I pretty much spent my whole time in the G League, except garbage time in games I played. It’s kind of like my rookie year. It’s my first-time getting NBA minutes. I would say it’s night and day, being over here.”

“I would say just the speed of the game (is) slowing down for me,” said Pippen on his personal growth.  I’m still trying to get comfortable. Like I said, it’s my rookie year, so I’m still making reads and stuff like that but trying to adjust to the whole game and get a feel for it.” 

To close it out, GG Jackson II and Lamar Stevens each added 15 points. Goodwin chipped in 14 points, six assists, and six rebounds while LaRavia ended with 12 points and five rebounds. 

Although Simpson didn’t score in double digits, his presence on the floor helped Memphis in ways that went beyond the box score. 

Up Next 

On the second night of back-to-back games, the Grizzlies will host the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 6th. Following the game, there will be a ceremony to retire Marc Gasol’s number 33 jersey. Bally Sports Southeast will air the game as well as the jersey retirement ceremony. Gasol played 11 seasons with the Grizzlies (2008-19) and helped guide the franchise to seven straight playoff appearances, including the franchise’s first postseason victory in 2011 (as a No. 8 seed against the No. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs and a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2013. He was a three-time All-Star, was named the 2012-13 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and selected to the 2014-15 All-NBA First Team.

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Grizzlies Topple Bucks to Sweep Season Series

Jaren Jackson Jr. dribbles the ball against Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Grizzlies faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

On the road in Milwaukee, the Grizzlies topped the Bucks, 111-101, Wednesday night. The Grizzlies have won five in a row over the Bucks, and they also swept the season series.

Milwaukee made 18 three-pointers, while the Grizzlies made just seven. That is generally not a recipe for a win. However, Memphis dominated in the paint, outscoring the Bucks 76-36 and shot 50.5% from the field.

It was the JJJ show in Milwaukee. Jaren Jackson Jr. was by far the best player on the floor Wednesday night. In the final minute of the game, Jackson Jr. gave Memphis a 10-point advantage with a baseline fadeaway 3-pointer over two defenders. 

Jackson Jr. scored a game-high 35 points on 14-for-26 shooting, along with four assists and three steals.

“I was taking what the defense gives me,” the 24-year-old said after the game. “I’ve been working on my game a lot and I was glad to get the opportunity to get out there and show it a little bit.”

Rookie GG Jackson II finished with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his first career double-double.

Jackson II has been on fire ever since he was moved to the starting lineup, with respectable stats overall and 10 straight starts in which he scored 10 or more.

Brandon Clarke keeps impressing. in just his fourth game of the season as he makes his way back from an Achilles injury suffered in March 2023. He finished with 14 points off of 7-for-10 shooting, and added seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. 

“It means a lot; everybody here wants to win. We don’t really want to lose,” said Clarke about Memphis winning two in a row, after the struggles the team has faced. “I think it’s about pride, really. It’s about just finding ways to win for next year too; finding ways to get better even when you know it’s tough in the season.”

With 13 points, 12 boards, and seven assists, bench player Jordan Goodwin nearly recorded a triple-double. He has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in each of his last three games.

The Grizzlies will host the Detroit Pistons on Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m. CT, in their return to FedExForum.

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Sports Sports Feature

Orlando Gives the Grizzlies a Magic Beatdown

Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic on March 30, 2024. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

On Saturday night at KIA Center, the Orlando Magic thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies 118-88.

The first quarter came to a close with Memphis already down 20 points. Orlando put up 33 points, while the Grizzlies managed just 13, shooting a dismal 21.7 percent from the field.

The victory snapped the Magic’s three-game losing streak. Earlier in the week, they lost close games against the Sacramento Kings, the Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Orlando ended a five-game losing streak against the Grizzlies. The previous meeting ended in a nail-biter at FedExForum, 107-106, with a Grizzlies win on January 26th. 

Memphis dropped to 24-50 for the season, with eight games remaining, a mark they’ll want to forget. It appeared early on in Saturday night’s contest that Memphis’ players were focused on something other than basketball, and it showed. 

Reserve Jordan Goodwin led the Grizzlies with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double.

In his second game back from injury, Brandon Clarke had a solid showing, with 13 points and four rebounds off the bench. 

“It was already out of hand — they won every single quarter,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins after the game. “You have to give the Magic tons of credit. They played with a lot of physicality; their defense was phenomenal tonight. Couldn’t get in the paint — couldn’t knock down an open shot. They played beautiful basketball, shared the rock.” 

Jenkins added, “So you know we just kept trying to fight. I thought we had a chance to win that second quarter — have some momentum, but the Magic had an answer for everything; so many different guys stepped up and played well.” 

“I thought BC [Clarke] did a really good job; liked seeing Jordan [Goodwin] have kind of a bounce-back game. I thought he did some good things. Well, obviously Luke [Kennard]’s been out for a couple of weeks now, just seeing him have some pop with his conditioning and stuff. And we’re just trying to find every way possible to have some positives and move forward. And obviously we’ve got to respond on Monday against Detroit.”

“Keep fighting, keep making something out of each every day,” Jenkins said about his message to his players as the season is winding down. “That’s what we’ve done all season long. Every year that I’ve been here we got different guys that are gonna hear that message for the very first time. Over and over again. Obviously we haven’t been in this situation since I’ve been here, but you gotta make the most of every day. That’s what we stand for.” 

Memphis travels to Detroit to take on the Pistons, Monday, April 1st, at Little Caesars Arena at 6 p.m. CT. 

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Nuggets Dismantle Grizzlies, 128-103

Lamar Steven shoots a jumper against the Denver Nuggets on March 25, 2024. (Photo by: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies finished off a four-game road trip with a 128-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets (51-21) at Ball Arena on Monday night. 

Denver improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break and currently are in first place in the Western Conference and is one game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies have lost five of their last six games to fall to 24-48 on the season. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins is 5-11 against Denver in his coaching career.

“Obviously, we’ve fallen quite a bit throughout this season, but the spirit of this group has been great,” Jenkins said. “I just lean into that. What are the opportunities for us as a coaching staff to get better and the players individually and collectively? The dialogue has been great on what we can build on for the rest of the season and going into next year.”

After sitting out six games due to a left adductor strain, Lamar Stevens returned to lead the team with 19 points as a reserve. In his 13 games with the Grizzlies since coming over from Boston, Stevens is averaging 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds off the bench. 

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 17 points and four assists in his 6th start of the season. Pippen Jr. is shooting 51 percent from the field, 55 percent from beyond the and averaging 1.3 steals in 11 games with Memphis. 

Both Desmond Bane and GG Jackson II ended up with 15 points apiece. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 11 points, five assists, four rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. 

The Grizzlies return to FedExForum to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday March 27, at 7 p.m. CT.

Jenkins said his team has to play better Wednesday and “it’s as simple as that.” 

Injury news

Brandon Clarke continues to rehab an Achilles injury that has sidelined him since last March 3, 2023. Clarke was upgraded to doubtful on the injury report against Denver and prior to the contest Jenkins said he would likely return in the next game or two.

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Warriors Demolish Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr. drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Photo by: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Golden State Warriors defeated  the Memphis Grizzlies, 137-116, on Wednesday night. The Warriors won the season series against the Grizzlies 2-1. Golden State improved to 18-18 at home, snapping a three-game home losing streak.

With the score tied at 58 in the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 22-0 run for an 80-58 lead. Memphis lost its fourth-consecutive game, fell to 23-47 on the season, and has been officially eliminated from playoff contention. 

Golden State is still fighting for postseason position, at 10th in the Western Conference, to be eligible for the Play-In Tournament.  

The Jacksons and Aldama led the way for Memphis. GG Jackson II scored a career high 35 points, and added five rebounds and three assists. Jackson also converted on a career-high seven 3-pointers and became the youngest player in the NBA history (19 years, 94 days) to do so.

With six consecutive games in which he has scored 19 points or more, Jackson II is now enjoying his best scoring performances of the season. The South Carolina rookie has solidified his position as a starter for the remaining weeks of the regular season. 

Warrior’s Chris Paul had good things to say about the 19-year-old after the game. 

Ja Morant also chimed in regarding Jackson II.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 28 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

This marks the fifth game in nine games since the All-Star break that the 24-year-old center has scored 25 points or more. Jackson Jr. has now appeared in 60 games for the season, averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals. 

Santi Aldama added 27 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. 

Tidbits 

Freaky Deeky, Dejon Jarreau who signed his second 10-day contract with Memphis before the game had a remarkable put-back. 

By the numbers 

The Warriors bench outscored the Memphis reserves, 63-20. 

Golden State had 20 fast-break points while the Grizzlies only had 3.

The Warriors outscored Memphis 62-46 with points in the paint. 

Golden State had a season-high 43 assists while the Grizzlies had 29.

The Warriors shot 58 percent from the field and 48 percent from 3-point range and held Memphis to 43 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc.

Up Next

The Grizzlies travel to San Antonio to take on the 15-54 Spurs on March 22 at 7 p.m. CT.

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Hornets Were too Much for the Grizzlies

Mar 13, 2024 - Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson (45) handles the ball as Charlotte Hornets guard Vasilije Micic (22) guards during the first half at FedEx Forum. (Wes Hale Photo)

The Memphis Grizzlies (23-44) were defeated 110-98 by the Charlotte Hornets (17-49) at FedExForum on Wednesday night. Despite not having done so since the 2018–2019 season, the Hornets cruised to a 2-0 series victory. 

For the game, Memphis extended their franchise record for most starting lineups in a season with 40 different lineups deployed. 

There were stretches when the Grizzlies cut the lead to single digits, but Charlotte always had a counter. 

In this game, turnovers were the deciding factor. In all, 41 turnovers were committed by both squads. The Hornets finished with 20 turnovers, while Memphis finished with 21. The Grizzlies scored 24 points off of turnovers, while Charlotte scored 31. 

“We were flat to start,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the team’s performance. “[The Hornets] definitely took advantage of that in the first half. Too many miscommunication breakdowns, transition, rotations, definitely pick-and-rolls. Not our best effort tonight.

“Obviously, we have a bunch of guys out there that have never really played together, so the chemistry is going to take some time,” said Jenkins on the costly turnovers.

“We tried to force the issue a little bit. We fumbled the ball at times. Guys trying to get some game reps as guys are in and out, but overall, I was still impressed that we were trying to move the ball. Our spacing was off. We didn’t really bounce the floor really well, so that made it tough to find those passes.”

With the Grizzlies, GG Jackson II is firmly establishing a long-term significant role. With Memphis battling a number of injuries, the 19-year-old got the nod to start for the third time in his career. 

Jackson II led the Grizzlies with 26 points while connecting on six 3-pointers. The rookie is averaging 25 points in his last three games. 

“With guys in the locker room like Des [Desmond Bane] — I talk to him a lot — he tells me when everybody’s out, much of the load may be on me to shoot those shots,” said Jackson II on his increased production with consistency. 

“You just have to take everything day by day, watch film and study where you can get better at. Because I’ve been watching film, I feel like I’ve been passing a lot recently, and if I continue to do that, the sky’s the limit.” 

Scotty Pippen Jr. was back in action after missing the Grizzlies’ previous 12 games with a lumbar disc bulge and joined the Grizzlies starting lineup and came through with a top-notch performance. Pippen Jr. had a near double double with nine points, 10 assists, two steals plus a highlight dunk. 

His father, six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen, was in attendance to watch his performance and had an awesome reaction to the dunk. 

Jenkins had complimentary things to say about Pippen Jr. after the game: “What we’ve learned from Scotty in his few weeks with us is just his ability to get to the paint, touch the paint, come off the pick-and-rolls, close out situations.” 

“He had 10 assists and got a couple of turnovers,” Jenkins added. “It’s his first game in a long time playing, so he was just kind of finding his rhythm, but just him being able to get down, low center of gravity, get blows, defend and create advantages for us by touching the paint, and then his ability to distribute, I thought was really on point tonight. That’s what we love about him — his ability to kind of play that playmaking role. He’s got some scoring ability, of course, with the fact that he’s embracing that playmaker role is impressive.”  

Injury Update

Grizzlies star guard Desmond Bane is a step closer to returning to action after spending the last two months out with an ankle sprain. Bane, Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tendon repair), and Yuta Wabanabe (right wrist sprain) were assigned to the G League’s Memphis Hustle for practice earlier on Wednesday. 

Prior to the game, Jenkins said Bane is on course to return in the next game or two while Clarke will hopefully return later in the month. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies will have two days off before returning to action on Saturday inside FedExForum to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7 p.m. CT.

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Grizzlies Blasted by Thunder, 124-93

Wes Hale Photography

The Oklahoma City Thunder gave the Memphis Grizzlies an old-fashioned beatdown on Sunday evening, 124-93. 

It wasn’t surprising for the number-one team in the Western Conference to embarrass a team that has been without key players. The Thunder also recalls the 152-79 humiliation they suffered at the hands of the Grizzlies in December 2021, the largest winning margin in NBA history. 

The Grizzlies had a total of 10 players on the injured list, as the team has been short-handed much of the season. Desmond Bane remains out with a sprained left ankle. Marcus Smart is still out with an injured finger on his right hand. Plus Ja Morant is out for the season due to shoulder surgery, among other injuries for Memphis.

The Thunder were up by as many as 38 points in the second half. OKC converted 21 three-point shots compared to the Grizzlies with just 11 threes. 

As a starter, Rookie GG Jackson II led the Grizzlies with a career-high 30 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Jackson II is emerging as a longterm asset for Memphis as the youngest player in the NBA at 19 years old. In 31 games this season, he is averaging 11.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 21.2 minutes. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. added 16 for Memphis. Jackson Jr. has played in 57 games this season, the most by any current player on the roster. The 24-year-old is averaging 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on the season. 

Jake LaRavia continues to show improvement during his extended play. LaRavia finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting, four assists, and two steals with his first career start for Memphis. Over his last eight outings, LaRavia is averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 24.7 minutes of play. 

Newcomer DeJon Jarreau who signed a 10-day contract with Memphis on Saturday chipped in seven points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 28 minutes of action. 

On Tuesday night, the Grizzlies will host the Washington Wizards at 7 p.m. CT. Tyus Jones, who was traded from the Grizzlies last summer, will be making his first visit to Memphis. The Grizzlies look to even the series after a 113-106 loss back in October 2023.