With 8:13 left in the fourth period, the Memphis Grizzlies were down 12 points to the Portland Blazers, 98-86. The Grizzlies, mired in a season-opening six-game losing streak, didn’t give up. When it mattered most, their best players closed it out for them.
Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson, Jr. went to work offensively while the defense shut the water off for the Blazers.
Memphis took the lead for good with 3:10 left in the final frame to secure its first win of the season 112-100. The Grizzlies closed out Portland on a 26-2 run.
Bane’s 30 points, eight rebounds, and five assists led the way as Memphis snapped its 0-6 skid. The TCU alum scored 30+ for the 4th time in 7 games. Through seven games, Bane is averaging 26.6 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.
“Every night we’re laying it all on the line,” Bane told Bally Sports sideline reporter Rob Fischer after the game. “I’m proud of these guys — the way that we stuck together in the locker room and stayed positive through it all.”
“Phenomenal — I think he’s had a really good stretch here,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins about Bane. “The last week or so, [he’s] just taking over games. He and I’ve talked about it; so it’s no surprise that everyone’s going to throw the defensive gameplan at him, trying to take him away, be physical with him.”
Jenkins continued, “We need him to initiate the offense at times, play off the ball, and he’s just doing a great job adapting to what defenses are throwing at him. Just making an impact on both sides. And when there was slippage from the team, you know, I challenge the team, but I challenged him in particular to step up on the defensive side and he did a phenomenal job in the fourth quarter, especially late in the game when it came to execution time.”
Jackson, Jr. added 27 points and seven rebounds. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game for the season.
Luke Kennard finished with 15 points and five rebounds as a reserve. Kennard hit 4-of-6 from the three-point line and the Grizzlies bench stepped up big for 31 combined points.
Marcus Smart chipped in 10 points, five assists, and two steals while new Grizzly Bismack Biyombo ended with eight points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in just his second game in Beale Street Blue.
“It’s great,” Jenkins said about the first win of the season. Got to celebrate — you know how hard it is to win in this league. We’re going to enjoy this one for sure. It’s it’s been a difficult first couple of weeks. “Our guys are resilient; they respond. We’ve been competitive every single night sometimes it hasn’t gone our way.”
Tid-bits
Ja Morant has 18 games to go until he can return from his 25-game suspension.
Up Next
Memphis will head back to Memphis to host the Miami Heat on Wednesday, November 8, at 7pm CT at FedExForum.
