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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‘Chemistry is Everything’

Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

The Memphis Grizzlies opened their season with a 111-104 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, primarily due to being beaten on the boards and a poor shooting performance.

Season openers have traditionally been like kryptonite for the Beale Street bullies — and rebounding is their Achilles heel right now. The Grizzlies were without Ja Morant (league suspension), Steven Adams (season-ending knee surgery), Brandon Clarke (Achilles tendon repair), and Santi Aldama (ankle sprain). 

It wasn’t all bad. Opening night saw the return of favorite sons, Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. Accompanied by The Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Allen and Randolph introduced the starting lineup for the young cubs. 

Newly signed Derrick Rose, who played college ball at the University of Memphis, also made his return to the Grindhouse with the loudest pop of the night. 

Rose contributed eight points and three assists in 15 minutes as a reserve. 

It was a frustrating night. Every time an attack was mounted by the Grizzlies, the Pelicans countered. It could to be a long season without Adams on the boards. 

Three-point shooting hurt the Grizzlies (27.9%) while it was solid for New Orleans (43.8%). 

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said, “Obviously, we’re going to feel out our lineups and stuff, but I’m very confident this group can get going once we get our chemistry up and running”

Desmond Bane had an All-star performance, leading the way with 31 points, five rebounds, and five assists. “Chemistry is everything and building that takes time,” said the TCU alum on the different rotations.

Xavier Tillman, Sr. held his own against the Pelicans front line. He secured his first double double of the season with 17 points, 12 rebounds, plus four assists, and three steals.

Newcomer Marcus Smart added 17 points, three assists, and two steals. After the loss, Smart said, “It definitely wasn’t the result we wanted, but I’ve never seen a championship won in the first game. We have 81 games left.”

Smart also chimed in about building chemistry: “For us and for me personally, it’s important to continue to find these guys and continue to build confidence in my guys. We had a lot of shots there that just didn’t go in for us, both in the paint and outside the paint. And for me, we have a bunch of young guys who continue working, and every day I’m in the gym and seeing them work, I have to continue to find them and give them the confidence that they need to keep going because we’re going to need everybody.”

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Jaren Jackson, Jr., had a poor shooting night, going 2 of 9 from the field, but made up for it with dogged defense. blocking five shots, and doing the little things down low defensively; fighting for position against Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson is a tall task. Jackson finished with eight points and five rebounds.

Except for David Roddy (9 points) and Rose, the bench hardly contributed. There are still things to figure out with new teammates and new lineups this season. As Smart said, no championship is won in the first game. 

Up Next:

The reigning NBA Champions, Denver Nuggets come to town Friday night, with an early 6 pm tip-off at FedExForum. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Déjà Vu for Ja Morant

Ja Morant (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

On Mother’s Day, we woke up to the news that Ja Morant was playing with a gun on Instagram Live. This was not the incident that happened in March. It was something new. 

Just over two months after being suspended for similar behavior, the Memphis Grizzlies guard was suspended from team activities on Sunday for displaying a handgun on IG Live once again.

Hasn’t he learned a lesson? We all pondered. Why is he fascinated with displaying firearms? He served an 8-game suspension for the first incident and took steps to curtail that behavior. 

His ill-advised actions have made him the topic of conversation throughout the world. His destructive and immature behaviors sparked discussions about a wide range of social issues.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was somber speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Tuesday night about Morant. Silver was disappointed because he took Morant’s word that he understood the severity of his actions and was contrite. 

Silver said he and Morant had talked “directly about the consequences” after the March incident that showed Morant at a Denver-area nightclub briefly holding up a gun in a video that was recorded and shared on various social media platforms. 

“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw that video this weekend,” Silver told Andrews. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened as best we can. Again, the video’s a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst. But we’ll figure out exactly what happened there.”

The entire interview can be watched here: 

“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” the 23-year-old said in a statement Tuesday night shortly after Silver’s interview. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”

Yes, it is disappointing, and the stakes are high. It not only affects Morant but his family, his friends, his teammates, the Grizzlies organization, and the NBA too. He has everything to lose.

But was he ready for the spotlight that he has been given? Is the pressure too much for him?

Morant lost about $668,000 in compensation during his first ban, and since he didn’t make an All-NBA team, he lost $39 million.

Morant sought counseling after his incident in March because he believed his “stress level had been becoming a problem” before the nightclub incident. “I had considered [seeking help], but I was back and forth,” he said. “I was pretty much afraid to leave the team. I felt that it was needed, and it helped me out a lot.”

He says it’s an ongoing process. Two months ago he talked about his off the court behavior, and we are at a crossroads again. He has work to do. 

Morant has been reckless, true enough, and he has so many things to work on. But the one thing that is most concerning is that he keeps putting the gun to his head on both videos. Why? Only Morant can answer that question. 

We are a country that loves guns. Tennessee is an open carry state; it is legal to carry a weapon without a permit as of July 1, 2021. Tennesseans who have been convicted of driving under the influence, domestic violence, or stalking are not eligible. Neither are felons or individuals who have been committed by the court to a mental institution.

Morant can legally be in possession of a firearm. If it’s legal, why are people so mad about it? Martenzie Johnson eloquently wrote, “Morant is a representation of this country’s infatuation with guns, but because of his celebrity … and recklessness … and defiance … and skin color, he’s not the visual representation of gun ownership that this country seeks out. He’s not the All-American white boy who likes to hunt or protect his family or whatever other excuse there is to own weapons in this country. He’s viewed as just another ghetto boy from the inner city who brings back memories of the crime-ridden 1980s and 1990s.”

He is viewed as a criminal who has little kids looking up to him and that will somehow make them criminals. That is the optics. Memphis is riddled with gun violence. We see it daily on the news, EVERY DAY! Morant has accountability, but is this viewed differently than when we see assault rifles displayed in photos or videos or carried in your local Wal-Mart? What’s the difference? This is not excusing Morant’s behavior, we just want to know why one is accepted and the other is not. 

The NBA is going to protect its brand, and Morant will serve another suspension again. The question is how long. He will be judged by his past incidents, and the suspension may be severe due to conduct detrimental to the NBA, and for lying to Adam Silver’s face. He may be punished harshly for hypothetical violence instead of actual violence. Miles Bridges was suspended for 30 games without pay (with 20 already served even though he wasn’t signed to an NBA team last season) after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence. Bridges’ incident was far worse than Morant’s however, the Grizzlies guard might be made an example of. 

We can be all disappointed in Morant’s behavior but still show him some grace. We don’t know when we will need such grace. It’s all up to him to take care of his well-being. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Lakers Win Game 4; Put Grizzlies On the Brink of Elimination

Desmond Bane dribbling in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 24, 2023 (Credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Although they entered the season as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies find themselves down 3-1 to the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in their first round matchup. That puts Memphis on the brink of elimination, after losing to the Lakers in OT, 117-111, on Monday night.

After falling behind by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Grizzlies rallied to take a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers came back and tied the game with 0.8 seconds remaining with a driving layup from LeBron James. The Grizzlies were outscored by six in the extra period, and that was the ballgame.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 36 points and seven rebounds. Jaren Jackson, Jr. ended with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocked shots. 

Ja Morant had 19 points and seven assists. Morant and Dillon Brooks declined to speak with the media after the disappointing loss. 

Shy’s Point of View 

A one game at a time. It is difficult to overcome a 3-1 deficit when facing the a legendary franchise led by one of the best players in NBA history. It will be challenging, but not impossible, to make up the difference. But there is still basketball to be played.

Bane is confident. After the loss he said, “We would have liked to get that one, but I’m feeling good. We get a chance to go back home. We had the best record at home this season — go protect the home floor. We got two opportunities there. And in order to win a series, you’re gonna have to win one game on the road. So when we come back here for Game 6, we’ll come with the right edge, right mentality and steal one on the road and see what happens in Game 7.” 

To be honest, I have no idea. The Grizzlies were in fact competitive in Game 4. At the end, in overtime, they were unable to execute in key moments that cost them the game. It has been clear in this series that the Lakers have taken advantage of that lack of execution. 

The squad has faced a lot of challenges recently, and this loss is only the latest blow. Do they have what it takes to band together and upset a King who seems determined to retain his dominance? We will see how they perform Wednesday night in Game 5 at 6:30pm CT at FedExForum — maybe for the last time in this unforgettable season. 

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Tillman, Jackson Help Grizzlies Even Series, 1-1

Jaren Jackson, Jr. and Dillon Brooks in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum on March 19, 2023 (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

After losing Game 1 at home to the Lakers on Sunday, the Memphis Grizzlies had something to prove. And since Ja Morant’s availability for Wednesday night’s Game 2 was in doubt, many prematurely declared the series over. The Grizzlies were written off by some pundits and fans. 

Morant had been a game-time decision due to a right hand injury re-aggravated in Game 1; however, it was announced an hour before tip-off that he was out. Despite it all, the Grizzlies went on to beat the Lakers, 103-93, to even the best-of-seven series, 1-1.

X Gave It to Them 

Xavier Tillman, Sr. had himself a game on Wednesday night. He led his team to victory by dropping a career-high 22 points and grabbed a season-high 13 boards off of 10-of-13 shooting.

“I think it’s a true sign of a winner,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said of Tillman. “It’s a true sign of a pro, and that’s why we love X, a guy who always stays ready. He wants to impact winning in whatever his role is going to be.”

“[He] comes out in the second half of the regular season and makes a tremendous impact. Does it tonight in the biggest game of the season for us. True testament to him for keeping his body ready, his mind ready. For him, it’s just, ‘Let me get ready for the next challenge, the next day.’”

Jenkins added, “Obviously, this is a big win for us and a great performance by him and other guys as well. No highs, no lows. We just have to keep focusing ahead, and that’s what he’s been a prime example of: a guy, when he’s played well, when he’s gotten his opportunities, he’s just focused on the next challenge ahead.”

“I’m just trying to assert myself, watch the film,” Tillman said after his breakout performance. “The first game, I didn’t really assert myself. I was kind of going through the motions. Coach had mentioned it in the couple meetings we had about the urgency that we need to play with. I just felt like I need to turn that up and turn on my energy level and be more assertive and more aggressive early on.”

Tillman is the epitome of the next-man-up mentality. Due to injuries to Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke, Tillman’s playing time has increased. 

Tillman, who has had stints in the Summer League, the G League, and several DNPs, has now come full circle. Right now, he’s on the biggest stage after leading his team to a playoff victory over LeBron James and the Lakers. 

“You couldn’t write this, bro — it’s humbling, it’s humbling,” Tillman said with a laugh when asked about his journey this season. “It lets me know that no matter what I’m going through, it will always pass. I just saw a video about it yesterday. Life is like a wave. Like, you’re on your wave feeling good, and then it might crash. You might be down for a little bit, waiting for your next wave to come, but it’ll come. That’s just how life works. As long as you keep working and keep trusting, everything that you’ve been putting in, it will come to fruition, and it is crazy though. I’ll tell you that.”

Observers often say he’s undersized against other bigs, but the Michigan State alum is confident in his abilities. He said, “It’s probably my ability to rebound with the best of them. I accredit that to my God-given length. I got a 7’2” wing-span. Shoutout to my mom and my dad. I got a 7’2” wing-span. I know how to use my body before the ball hits the rim, so I have an advantage to get offensive or defensive rebounds. That’s probably what they mean about me playing big, it’s just me being able to rebound with the best of them.”

They call him Jitty

John Konchar didn’t see the floor in Game 1 but came up huge for his team defensively in Game 2. People will be talking about his block against Anthony Davis for years to come. 

Luke Kennard said the dunk was insane. “Jitty [Konchar] is a guy who is selfless and he will do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Kennard said.

Konchar told reporters after the game: “I went up for it and I got it —that’s about it.”

DPOY 

Prior to the game, Jaren Jackson, Jr. was given the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of Year award before the home crowd. 

Jackson finished the game with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in 40 minutes of play.  Jackson also had a huge highlight block of his own against Davis. 

Up Next 

The series shifts to Los Angeles on Saturday night for Game 3 at 9 p.m. CST. Local broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast and on ESPN nationally. 

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Lakers Take Game 1 Over Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson, Jr. goes up for a layup in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, April 16, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

After Sunday’s 128-112 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Memphis, the Grizzlies find themselves down 1-0 in the best-of-7 series. 

The Lakers won the battle on the boards and in second-chance scoring (22 points) and scored 26 points off of fast breaks. Los Angeles shot 27-of-40 from the field (.675) and 11-of-19 from 3-point range (.579) in the second half and outscored Memphis 69-47. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the reasons for the loss: “We didn’t execute the priorities of the game plan. Get back, execute half court defense and get rebounds.”

But he did have a positive message for his team after the disappointment. “I told the guys, ‘Hey, we talked about this before the playoffs started at the beginning of the week, it’s first to four. It’s one game at a time.’ We’ve shown a lot of resiliency in previous playoffs and throughout the season. We’ve just got to focus on that. Come out, just continue to put our work in each day. We did some good things tonight. We did some not so good things tonight. We’ve just got to clean it up, and we’ve just got to keep taking it one game at a time. Guys were in really good spirits. Obviously, disappointing. You’re definitely pissed off after a game when you take a loss to start off a series, but we’ve been in this position before. We’ve just got to focus on tomorrow’s day.”

More Injuries 

After landing hard on his right hand, Ja Morant missed the final five minutes of the game. It appeared that Morant landed on his wrist after colliding with Los Angeles’ Anthony Davis on a drive to the basket. The 23-year-old frantically hurried to the locker room as he grasped his right hand. He returned to the bench with his hand and wrist covered but did not return to the game.

Jenkins told reporters that X-rays for Morant’s hand were negative and that more evaluations would occur over the next two days before Game 2. However after the game, Morant acknowledged that his status for Game 2 might be in jeopardy and that his pain level was about a 10. 

“It’s tough, man,” Morant said somberly. “Especially with everything I’ve been through, pretty much this season. My main focus is to be out there for my guys. Now another incident where that’s pretty much in jeopardy. It’s pretty much how much I can tolerate. If I feel like I can go out there, be somewhat myself, I’ll probably play. But I don’t want to do anything to hurt the team. [It’s] very tough, stressful. I’m pretty much taking in what happened. I don’t know, man, I’m pretty much numb. Not even surprised. It’s one thing after another.”

The Unicorn

Jaren Jackson, Jr. had a good game. He put up a game-high 31 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.

“I thought he played extremely well, aggressive,” said Jenkins. “Obviously, they’re going to probably start throwing double-teams at him, so we’re kind of figuring that out. But I thought when he got to his spots on the floor, he found the angles to get separation, have a nice finishing game, obviously knocking down threes, free throws, doing what he does on the defensive side. I mean, he was huge for us. Just trying to find him different ways to be aggressive, whether it’s on the perimeter or on the inside. I thought he did a really good job tonight, and it’s going to be interesting to see what their game plan is and adjustments we’ve got to be ready for.”

 Shy’s Point of View

The team is not in panic mode. Desmond Bane said after the game, “We won Game 1 my rookie year, but last year we lost Game 1 in both series. We went on to win against Minnesota, of course. We’re obviously in good spirits. We felt like we played well; we could definitely play a whole lot better. We still felt like we had our chances; it’s definitely encouraging.” Bane ended the night with 22 points but shot just 6-of-18 from the floor and 3-of-10 from beyond the 3-point arc. He also added five rebounds and six assists.

Missing Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke in this series might be the difference between advancing and a first-round exit. But all is not lost. The series is not over. It has to be one game at a time. Nw the team has to put their focus on Game 2. 

A different storyline would be unfolding right now if Memphis had been able to execute better in the last minutes. If Morant can’t play, Tyus Jones will be up for the challenge to start in his place. Jackson, Jr. must remain dominant on both ends of the court. And Memphis needed more offense from Luke Kennard, who went 2 for 5 from the field and connected on just one three-pointer. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will have a chance to even the series on Wednesday inside of FedExForum at 6:30 pm CT. Fans can watch locally on Bally Sports Southeast or nationally on TNT. 

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Grizzlies Beat Milwaukee; Secure Second Seed in Western Conference

Jaren Jackson, Jr. goes up for a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 7, 2023. (Credit: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

With their 137-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the West’s second seed for the second consecutive season. The Bucks sat key players, including former league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Despite shooting 65 percent in the first two quarters, the Grizzlies entered halftime trailing Milwaukee by a single point. However, Memphis outscored the Bucks 37-15 in the third quarter to pull ahead for good. The Grizzlies also had a season-high in assists, with 39.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 36 points, grabbed four boards, and made three blocks while shooting 12 of 18 from the field and 5 of 6 from beyond the arc to help the Grizzlies sweep the season series with the Bucks for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

The 12 to 13 connection is getting better right before our eyes.

Plus The Block Panther was on the prowl defensively. 

Luke Kennard finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting and made 5-of-7 from the 3-point line after being inserted into the starting lineup. As Kennard is getting more comfortable, it appears he may be the missing piece that the team has lacked. 

Desmond Bane put up 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. 

John Konchar had 13 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high five steals as a reserve. Jitty had a good game. 

Ja Morant added 12 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. “It’s very important,” Morant said after the game, about securing the second seed. “We’re a very good team at home, so we obviously want that home-court advantage. Definitely big time for us.”

While trying to contest a shot from former teammate Jae Crowder, Morant got his fingers caught in Crowder’s uniform and had to head to the locker room with a hand injury in the first quarter. He returned to the game in the second quarter with two fingers taped together on his right hand. 

And he did this with one hand …

Morant eventually told reporters he was good when asked about the injury.  

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game it wasn’t a significant injury. “We shouldn’t have any concerns – they did X-rays in the first half,” Jenkins said. “He [Morant] obviously had a little collision there in front of our bench. The X-rays were negative. Our medical team cleared him to come back and then we were just precautionary in that second half. Ice it up and hopefully we are good to go.”

Up Next 

Regular season play for the Grizzlies will end on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 9th. 

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Grizzlies Home Win Caps Record-Setting Season

Ja Morant going up for a dunk between two defenders on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their FedExForum season finale on Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-109, sealing the best home record in the NBA for the first time in franchise history. 

Memphis had a record 35 wins at home, the most by any NBA club since the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors went 36-5. The Grizzlies set a new benchmark for home victories and home winning percentage for the organization (.854). It is also the sixth 50-win season in team history, and the second in a row, with a record of 50-29 with three regular-season games remaining.

“They are not frequent throughout the NBA – not many teams get 50 (wins) in a season,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the team’s back-to-back 50 win seasons. “Proud of our group – still got three more (games) to focus on, but anytime you can clip that 50-win mark, that’s pretty special.”

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Ja Morant tallied 23 points, nine assists, six rebounds and more highlight dunks to his resume. 

Luke Kennard chipped in 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 6-of-10 from three.  

After the game, Kennard spoke about how he feels about playing alongside Bane and Morant. 

He said, “Me and [Desmond Bane] out there is just going to open it up for Ja [Morant] to do his thing. It’s my job to be out there and be ready to shoot because the ball is going to find me. There’s still some things we can clean up here and there. Trusting each other, trusting the pass, and making the right play. We’re confident in what each other can do, just continuing to gel together and me continuing to be with them more to continue to grow, and hopefully it helps us out in the long run.”

“It’s great — I feel the love from everybody in the crowd every time I touch the ball,” Kennard said about the “Luke” chants. “It’s definitely something that just makes me feel good being out there, knowing the crowd has faith in what I do and what I can bring. I just want to continue to grow here and give the fans what they want. It’s been really cool.”

Jaren Jackson, Jr. added 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists while 

David Roddy chipped in 16 points off the bench. 

Jenkins was emphatic about his belief that Jackson, Jr. should be Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s making improvements but you can see it when he’s on the floor. I’ve obviously been asked about the impact he’s made, his net rating is like number one in the league,” Jenkins said. “Defensive Player of the Year, it’s a no brainer, in my opinion. You see what we do when he’s on the floor and off the floor. His ability to be on the floor and be available for us and be that impact player and not just defensively but offensively. You see what he’s done offensively during this last month and a half. It’s powerful. But when he sets a tone as a Defensive Player of the Year guy and then can back it up with offensive play this is the special two-way player, we talk about all the time.”

Up Next

The Grizzlies head to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans tonight at 7 p.m. CT.  

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Bane, Kennard Help Grizzlies Storm Back to Victory

Desmond Bane going up for a layup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Friday night’s bad weather didn’t stop the Memphis Grizzlies from beating the Los Angeles Clippers, 108-94. The Grizzlies overcame a 20-point deficit in the first quarter to secure their 34th home victory of the season. 

The 14-point victory was the largest margin of victory in team history in a game where the Grizzlies trailed by 20 or more points, according to Sportradar.

“We kind of just settled down towards the end of the first. I just reminded them to just keep staying the course,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “It’s a long game. We’re starting to feel out what this game is going to need from us. Then we battle back, have a great second quarter.”

Jenkins continued, “We take a lead and build a 20-point lead in the second half. Proud of the guys. It’s a 48-minute game, and we had these looks in our eyes like ‘Hey, what’s going on right now?’ in the first quarter. Luckily, we were able to turn the corner before it got too late.”

Desmond Bane was in his bag, scoring 22 points and tying a career-high nine assists, plus three steals to lead the Grizzlies to 49-28 on the season. 

Luke Kennard tallied 17 points and six rebounds off the bench while connecting on 5-of-10 from the 3-point line. 

Ja Morant praised Kennard’s shooting after the game. “He could shoot then [with the Clippers] and he can shoot now,” Morant said about Kennard as an opponent, and now a teammate. “He’s on our side now. We believe in him 100 percent.” Morant finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. 

Xavier Tillman Sr. had a solid 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Santi Aldama got 13 points and eight rebounds as a reserve. 

Surprising highlight dunk

David Roddy absolutely destroyed Ivica Zubac.

“That definitely surprised me, I say that respectfully,” said Jenkins on Roddy’s emphatic dunk. “I know he’s got some bounce, and he’s got some force, but that was a pretty epic dunk for sure. Once he gets a runway, you watch out.”

Tibits

Kenny Lofton, Jr. was named Kia G League Rookie of the Year. Lofton Jr. averaged 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 17 games during the regular season.

Jaren Jackson Jr. improved on his previous personal best in blocks, and set a franchise record in the process. The All-Star forward added three blocks in last night’s game to reach 180 and set a new franchise record for most blocks in a season, which he achieved last year with 177 in 78 games. This year, Jackson Jr. only needed 59 games to set the new mark. He leads the NBA with a career-high 3.1 blocks per game.  

Jackson Jr. also had nine points and two steals against the Clippers. “It’s cool – glad we could do it at home,” said Jackson Jr. on setting the single season franchise record in blocks. “Glad we could get a win; glad all my teammates signed the basketball, kept the jersey. I mean, it all fits. It’s a cool feeling.”

For the Grizzlies, unsung heroes emerged to give them a victory before a happy home crowd. For those fans, it was fitting to get revenge on the Clippers. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will travel to Chicago to play the Bulls at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 2. 

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Grizzlies Set New Home Victory Mark Against Magic

Desmond Bane goes up for a layup against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic, the Memphis Grizzlies set a new franchise mark for most home victories in a single season (33-5) and improved to 48-27 on the season.

Desmond Bane led all scorers with 31 points, five assists, and three steals.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins spoke about Bane’s improved play. “Obviously, he’s improved so much over the season with his decision making, his playmaking, his downhill attack,” Jenkins said. “He wasn’t getting it going from the three-point line early, but he knocked down a three in the second half, which was big, obviously free throws.

“There’s just a lot of trust that, with all the development he’s shown in the offseason, and this season, just our attention.”

Xavier Tillman Sr. posted a career-high 20 points and nine rebounds. “The way I play, the way I get my baskets, is all off creating for my teammates,” Tillman said after his career night. “I get a lot of my stuff off the pick-and-roll versus me ISOing and stuff like that. If I am aggressive, it is because you see guys throwing pocket passes, and they’re able to find me a lot of times. If I’m not scoring or whatever, it’s because the defense is doing a pretty good job of being active, so my teammates don’t really like that pocket all the time, but if you do see I’m aggressive, it’s because they’re able to find that tight pocket when I’m open.”

“Well, first off, we got the win – that constitutes a good game if we win, first and foremost,” said Tillman about his individual performance. “Then, secondly, for me individually, just doing my role to a T, if I get some offensive rebounds, I’m really proud of that. If I’m getting guys open on my screens, I’m really proud of that. Then, if I’m finishing like today, if I’m finishing those drop-off passes, that’s my teammates trusting me to make the play. If I’m finishing those, I’m really proud of that as well. So those three things are the main thing, as well as defense too, making sure that I’m guarding my matchup, and I’m limiting their tendencies and all that good stuff.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 16 points, 10 boards, and 3 blocks, and Luke Kennard added 16 points, 5 assists, and 5 boards off the bench. Dillon Brooks scored 13 points and provided 3 assists and 3 boards.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will host the Los Angeles Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back tonight at 7 p.m. CT. Luke Kennard looks to get revenge on his former team. 

Ja Morant sat out against Orlando due to right thigh soreness, but is expected to be available tonight against the Clippers. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Morant, Bane Lift Grizzlies to Sixth-Straight Win

Ja Morant goes up for a layup against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Credit: Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

After coming off the bench in the first two games after serving an eight-game ban, Ja Morant was reinstated in the starting lineup against Atlanta Sunday night for the Grizzlies. He took advantage of the opportunity.

Morant put up 27 points, six assists, and three rebounds as Memphis defeated the Hawks 123-119, and clinched a top-4 seed and home court advantage in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The Grizzlies previously clinched a playoff berth on Friday night with a win against the Houston Rockets.

Morant said he’s not quite himself just yet. “I’m getting there,” he said after the win. “I’m getting a lot more comfortable. Getting my legs under me a little bit. My staff is preparing me the right way, having me ready for games each and every night. I believe in them 100 percent in how they’re managing me and ramping me back up.”

Morant said he studied film while he was away from the team. He said, “Obviously I watched pretty much all the games – how they were moving the ball and playing no-point-five basketball, sharing the ball, being very unselfish and that’s one of the reasons I decided to come off the bench early on to get that feel of that playing style. 

Morant went on to say, “I feel like we [have] to keep continuing to play like that. We have a lot more guys that can contribute and be in rhythm playing with confidence and we’re tough to guard.” 

The 23-year-old said it was nice to hear the young fans cheer for him. However, he knows he has a responsibility as a role model to the younger generation. “I got to set better examples,” said the All-Star guard. “Mistakes I made in the past [are] not examples they need to see. It’s only right, I correct them and show them the right way. Having them still behind me brings joy to me, makes me happy.”

Morant didn’t have any issues in the opposing arena since he said it was home for him. He was born in Georgia and spent time there growing up. 

Morant also said he can’t wait to get back to Memphis in front of the home crowd in the playoffs. Like Dillon Brooks, he’s ready to hear, “Whoop That Trick,” the Grizzlies playoff rallying cry. 

The Grizzlies are now 47-27 on the season and hold the longest active winning streak in the NBA with six consecutive victories.

Desmond Bane added 25 points, five assists, three rebounds while going 11-of-18 from the field. 

Jaren Jackson, Jr. finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and three steals in 34 minutes of play. 

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had this to say about Jackson, Jr.’s defensive impact: 

Xavier Tillman, Sr. had an all-round complete game. In 30 minutes, he chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Tillman has been doing an excellent job holding it down for the Grizzlies in the absence of Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke.

Luke Kennard scored 14 points while shooting four-of-nine from three and grabbed seven boards off the bench. As a reserve Tyus Jones had 13 points and five assists. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies return to FedExForum for a three-game homestand starting Tuesday, March 28, against the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. CT.