Category: Beyond the Arc

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Ja Morant Puts Up Season-High in Loss to Cavs

Ja Morant shoots the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images.)

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.  

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.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Power Through to Beat Suns

Ja Morant on defense against Tyus Jones. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images.)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Morant, Bane Propel Grizzlies to Win Over Pelicans

Ja Morant goes up for a shot during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 9, 2025. (Photo by: Layne Murdock Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies edged out the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans 107-104 in a closely contested matchup Sunday night.

The Grizzlies are gaining momentum, having won two consecutive games after a dismal 1-4 performance on their recent 5-game homestand. The slump caused them to drop from second to fourth seed in the Western Conference.

Memphis dominated on the glass against New Orleans, grabbing 57 rebounds and scoring 24 second-chance points versus New Orleans’ 39 rebounds and 11 second-chance points.

The Grizzlies faced a 65-57 halftime deficit after surrendering 37 points in the second quarter. However, they regrouped and limited the Pelicans to just 15 points in the third quarter, seizing an 89-79 advantage heading into the final period.

Ja Morant had a standout performance, leading Memphis with 32 points to go along with six assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Morant has now scored 30-plus points in his last two games. His season average is 21.2 points per game.

In a post-game interview with FanDuel Sports Network’s Rob Fischer, Ja Morant noted that despite the win, there are still areas where his team needs to improve.

 “Just came out with more energy,” Morant said of the third quarter difference. “We just once again man — our first half, we just be giving up easy baskets, not really engaged, locked in defensively, and then it takes a little wake up call, which is unacceptable for us. We got to be locked in as soon as the ball goes up in the air and so we won’t be in situations like this.”

Morant also acknowledged a slight improvement in the team’s defense, but emphasized that there is still significant room for growth and that they cannot be satisfied with their defensive performance over the last two games.

Desmond Bane put on a show, falling just shy of a triple-double with 30 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals, as Memphis improved  to 40-24 on the season. 

Morant sang the praises of his backcourt partner, Bane.

“Very impressive — but I know the work he put in. I know the situations and the talks we have with each other. He’s built for it. And he’s showing it, night in and night out, as you saw tonight. 

Morant continued, “He filled up the stat sheet. I think it was a couple off, triple-double again and that’s big-time play for us, a will to win. We have a guy like that.part of leading the charge and everybody else follows. So we just got to continue to keep grinding, keep going, keep getting better and just play hard.”

Off the bench Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

The Grizzlies will host the Phoenix Suns Monday night at FedExForum, kicking off a four-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Snap Four-Game Losing Streak

Ja Morant takes the ball to the basket against the Dallas Mavericks. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.)

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 3rd 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.

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.

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 9th. Tip-off is at 6 PM CDT.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Ja Morant Has to Be Unapologetically Ja

Ja Morant drives the ball past Jordan Clarkson. Credit: Rob Gray/AP Photo

The Memphis Grizzlies are on a four-game losing streak after falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-103 on Wednesday night. This loss comes after a tough home stand, where they went 1-4.

The Grizzlies have lost seven of their last nine games, dropping them to fourth place in the Western Conference with a 38-24 record.

Ja Morant candidly expressed his frustration with his performance in his return game against the Thunder, conceding that he probably shouldn’t have played due to health concerns. However, he also seemed resigned to the fact that his injuries have been an ongoing issue all season, and his focus remains on securing wins despite these challenges. Morant’s lack of availability has been a persistent concern, and his inability to play more than five consecutive games remains an issue.

Every statement made by the 25-year-old will be subject to intense examination and analysis. 

However, the message conveyed in response to adversity is crucial.

“Just stay strong, stay with it,” Morant said in the locker room after the loss against OKC. “It’s a long season — we’ve got a couple more games left. Just lock in. Get guys back healthy and go back to playing our basketball.”

He went on to say, “We’ve been through the whole season together. Ups and downs, hard practices, traveling on the road, fatigue. But, we always seem to respond. So it’s no different from here.”

His parting message amidst the team’s current challenges, “Just continue to play with that energy and effort and continue to have your brothers’ back and trust in each other. That’s pretty much it.”

A pivotal moment from the iconic movie Remember the Titans features a tense confrontation between team captain Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell, both standout players. Gerry criticizes Julius for having the worst attitude he’s ever encountered. Julius retaliates with a sharp and piercing remark, “Attitude reflects leadership, captain,” implying that Gerry’s lack of accountability as a leader was the root cause of the team’s problems.

Memphis will be without Jaren Jackson Jr. due to a Grade 2 ankle sprain that could have him out weeks. But the odds are in the Grizzlies’ favor with a focused Morant. 

Through 38 appearances, Morant is averaging 20.9 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. 

Make no mistake about it, Morant is still viewed as one of the NBA’s elite players, showcasing extraordinary skill and ability.

His presence on the court greatly improves the team’s performance, making them a more formidable team when he plays.

At this stage in the season, he just has to remind us who he is. Recently, Morant said his coach and teammates remind them to have positive body language, even when things are tough, which can be hard for a competitor like him.

After the overtime against the Phoenix on February 23rd, Morant disclosed that Desmond Bane’s vocal encouragement reminded him that his performance is the catalyst for the team’s energy and momentum, and urged him to simply be himself and play his natural game.

With 20 games remaining in the regular season, the Grizzlies face a critical stretch that will determine their playoff fate. To achieve a deep postseason run, as many fans relish, that leadership starts with Ja Morant. So the team needs Ja to be Ja.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Lose Third in a Row

Desmond Bane shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images.)

The Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Atlanta Hawks 132-130 on a last-second turnover Sunday night, giving them their first three-game losing streak of the season.

This marks the third consecutive game that Memphis has lost in the final seconds: On February 28th, OG Anunoby made a three-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining to put the Knicks up 114-113; On March 1st, D’Aaron Fox sunk a 20-foot shot with 2.6 seconds remaining to put the Spurs up 130-128; and then last night’s buzzer-beater from Caris LeVert gave the Hawks their 132-130 victory.

One common denominator across all three games is that the Grizzlies have given up double-digit points off double-digit turnovers. At some point, a real conversation needs to be had about their impact on the team’s record this season.

The game started out on a sour note for the Grizzlies after Jaren Jackson Jr. left the court 1:39 seconds into the first quarter after turning an ankle. Memphis finished the first quarter up by six points, thanks to Atlanta’s shooting of zero percent from beyond the arc.

The Grizzlies gave up 42 points in the second quarter and headed into the second half down by five. The third quarter was the opposite, with the Hawks giving up 42 points in the period.

Memphis’ six-point lead heading into the final period was not enough, as they scored only 23 points to Atlanta’s 31.

They were tied at 130-130 when Desmond Bane turned the ball over in the final seconds. Caris LeVert scored the final seven points for the Hawks, including his game-winning shot at the buzzer.

This was one of the most disappointing losses of the season, and it highlights the Grizzlies’ turnover issues. After spending most of the season grappling for the second seed, Memphis has dropped to fourth in the Western Conference.

If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Grizzlies would face Houston in the first round, and if their regular season matchup were any indication, the Rockets would give the Grizzlies a painful first-round exit.

Memphis needs to correct the course, and soon, in this final stretch. The fate of their season depends on it.

By The Numbers:

Desmond Bane recorded his first career triple-double, scoring a game-high 35 points, to go along with 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Luke Kennard finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.

Zach Edey added 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.

Jaylen Wells closed out with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.

Vince Williams Jr. led the bench with 15 points, and added 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

GG Jackson chipped in with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block.

Brandon Clarke finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will finish their five-game homestand on Wednesday, March 5th, when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Tip-off will be at 8:30 PM CST, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Big Three Lead Grizzlies to Victory Over Suns in Overtime

Brandon Clarke dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images.)

The Memphis Grizzlies narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns 151-148 in their first overtime game of the season, Tuesday night, moving to 3-0 in the season series.

Phoenix controlled the game for most of the first half, thanks to big offensive contributions from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

Memphis fought back in the second half with a vengeance. After being down by as many as 10 in the third period, the Grizzlies went on a 13-1 scoring run to give themselves a 99-97 lead, outscoring the Suns 43-41 in the quarter.

Former Memphis Grizzly Grayson Allen had a hot hand in the fourth quarter off the bench for Phoenix, shooting 4 of 4 from beyond the arc and 3 of 5 from the free throw line for a total of 15 points in the quarter.

Ja Morant also scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, with Desmond Bane adding 11 points. Jaren Jackson Jr.’s night ended by fouling out late in the final moments of regulation play, but not before putting together an impressive stat sheet for the night.

Morant’s floater with 1.9 on the clock tied the game at 137-137 and sent the game to overtime.

The Grizzlies trio of Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant combined for 82 points out of 151, but it was a team effort that secured the win.

During the extra period, Santi Aldama hit a well-timed three-pointer to pull Memphis within one with 1:10 remaining.

Brandon Clarke tipped in a second-chance bucket to give Memphis the lead with 37 seconds on the game clock, and rookie Jaylen Wells hammered home the victory, scoring the final points with 9.1 seconds left.

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies in scoring with 29 points, and added 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 points, shooting 11 of 13 overall and 3 of 3 from beyond the arc. He added 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 2 blocks

Desmond Bane finished with 25 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals.

Jaylen Wells closed out with 19 points on 7 of 12 overall shooting and 5 of 7 from three-point range. He added 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Wells scored the final points for Memphis during overtime.

Santi Aldama led the second unit with 17 points on 6 of 9 overall shooting and 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, tying his season-high five made three-pointers. He also contributed 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Brandon Clarke added 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, including tipping in the basket that gave the Grizzlies the lead in overtime.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will continue their five-game homestand Friday night against the New York Knicks. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Rebounding Woes Haunt Memphis in ‘The Land’

Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, February 23, 2025. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The stage was set for a thrilling showdown on Sunday night, and the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies delivered, engaging in a back-and-forth battle that ultimately saw the Cavaliers emerge victorious, 129-123.

The Cavaliers dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Grizzlies 57-37, including a staggering 22 offensive rebounds. This significant advantage led to 31 second-chance points, with 12 of those coming in the pivotal fourth quarter. To date, Cleveland has only lost four games at home this season. 

The game saw 11 lead changes and was tied up eight times, highlighting the intense competitive nature of the matchup.

Grizzlies Coach Taylor Jenkins said that the team’s inability to limit Cleveland’s 22 offensive rebounds was a crucial factor in the loss. He noted that while Jarrett Allen had a few, it was a collective effort by the Cavaliers’ guards that hurt them. Jenkins added that he was proud of his team’s overall performance, acknowledging that they played exceptionally well in many areas against a top-ranked opponent: “Going against one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the league, and have that offensive performance. We scored 123 against the elite defense that they are.”

“You can’t give a team 31 freebies, second-chance points,” Jenkins continued. “We just didn’t have it, and that’s gonna be something we absolutely have to address. We have to own even more, because that can’t be an Achilles heel thing for us if we want to get where we want to get to.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. kept the Grizzlies in contention, pouring in a team-high 22 points in just 25 minutes of action. Foul trouble may have limited his playing time, but it couldn’t contain his fourth quarter dominance as evidenced by his 12-point outburst. Jackson Jr. also had four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot. 

Ja Morant turned in a strong  performance, contributing 21 points and 10 assists, although ultimately his team fell short, dropping to a 37-20 record. 

On the season, Morant is averaging 20.5 points, 7.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. 

Luke Kennard made the most of his limited court time off the bench, delivering a productive 24-minute outing in which he scored 19 points on impressive 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range.

“I think the biggest thing for us was physicality, giving up a lot of offensive rebounds,” said Kennard after the game. “When you give up that many offensive rebounds to a really good team, they’ll make you pay for it. So we know that was the game for us. But yeah, we battled. We fought to the very end, and we gave ourselves a chance, just missed a couple shots, but we could definitely learn a lot from this.”

Up Next 

The Grizzlies are set to kick off a crucial five-game homestand, with their first challenge coming against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:00 pm CT. Memphis is 21-6 on its home floor. 

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Mount Second-Half Comeback to Defeat Magic

Ja Morant celebrates during the game against the Orlando Magic. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.)

The Memphis Grizzlies snapped their two-game losing streak Friday night in a hard-fought win against the Orlando Magic, with a final score of 105-104.

This was not the Grizzlies’ finest offensive performance — it was their second-lowest-scoring game of the season. Neither team shot the ball particularly well from beyond the arc, with the Magic shooting 29% from three and the Grizzlies shooting 21.2% in Memphis’s lowest three-point shooting game of the season.

In the first half, the Grizzlies had a 12-point lead, but by the midway point, the Magic had eliminated it, and they headed into the second half tied at 53-53.

Orlando dominated for most of the third quarter, building up a 19-point lead thanks to an explosive performance by Franz Wagner, who scored 15 of his 25 points in the period.

In the final minutes of the third quarter, the Grizzlies took over offensively, going on a 19-0 run fueled by three consecutive three-pointers from GG Jackson.

Until Jackson’s hot streak, Memphis was 2 of 17 from beyond the arc.

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. led the charge in the fourth quarter, combining for 17 of the Grizzlies’ 25 fourth-quarter points.

A layup by Morant with 1:50 remaining tied the game at 104-104, followed by Desmond Bane splitting a pair of free throws to give the Grizzlies a one-point lead. Jaren Jackson Jr. blocked Orlando’s final shot attempt with 8 seconds left on the game clock to secure the win.

Turnovers remain a problem for Memphis, as they have all season. The Grizzlies gave up 21 points off 15 turnovers, which could have easily cost them the game.

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies in scoring with 23 points on 10 of 24 overall shooting and 1 of 7 from three-point range. He added 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. Morant scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.

Desmond Bane put up 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 5 of 13 overall and 2 of 6 from three-point range.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks on 3 of 13 overall shooting and 0 of 6 from three. Jackson was 10 of 11 at the line, however.

Brandon Clarke led the bench in scoring with 13 points on 6 of 10 overall shooting. He added 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.

GG Jackson added 12 points on 4 of 5 overall shooting and 3 of 3 from beyond the arc.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will be in Cleveland Sunday night to face off against the Cavaliers. The broadcast has been moved from the FanDuel Sports Network to ESPN. Tip-off is at 6 PM CST.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Indiana Hands Grizzlies Second Straight Loss

Desmond Bane dribbles the ball in a game against the Indiana Pacers on February 20, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by: Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies stumbled in their post-All-Star break debut, falling 127-113 to the Indiana Pacers. 

Memphis dominated early, opening Thursday’s game with a 12-2 surge and leading by as many as 13 points in the first quarter. 

However, their strong start was undone by a disastrous second quarter, where they gave up a franchise-record 50 points. The deficit proved insurmountable, ultimately leading to the Grizzlies’ second straight loss. 

The Pacers surged to their largest advantage of the game, 85-59, by opening the third quarter with seven consecutive points. However, Memphis countered with a 28-6 burst to narrow the deficit to four, 91-87. Indiana regained control with a decisive 14-4 run, re-establishing a comfortable lead with 11:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with a well-rounded performance, scoring 23 points, and adding seven assists, five rebounds, and two blocks.

Jaren Jackson Jr. compiled an impressive stat line, tallying 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in a strong all-around showing. Yet, foul trouble hindered him in the final period. 

Jaylen Wells added 17 points and four rebounds as the Grizzlies fell to 36-18 on the season. 

The Grizzlies take on the Orlando Magic on the second night of a back-to-back at Kia Center on Friday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. CT.

Tid-bits 

Memphis signed forward Lamar Stevens to a 10-day contract. Stevens averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19 games with the Grizzlies last season. Meanwhile, Memphis waived Johnny Davis who was acquired in a trade that sent Marcus Smart to the Washington Wizards.