On Thursday night, the Memphis Grizzlies put a thrashing on the Milwaukee Bucks at FedExForum, 142-101. At one point, the Grizzlies were up by as many as 50 points.
Memphis has now won seven in a row and has the longest active winning streak in the association.
The Grizzlies climbed to 13-2 at home, 19-9 over-all for the season and now sit first place in the Western Conference, after the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Utah Jazz in overtime, 132-129.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins was impressed with his team’s discipline after the decisive win. “I thought we did a really good job just kind of taking them out of the paint. We held them to 38 points in the paint.”
At one point, [the lead] was in the teens late in the game, so that was a huge priority for us tonight. We knew we had to have multiple efforts showing crowds and getting out, but our guys’ communication … they were dialed in, in that first quarter. That really set a tone for us, and then our pace was just relentless.”
Jenkins added, “We did a really good job rebounding in rebounding. [They have] multiple guys that could hurt us on the boards but our guys kept building a wall early in possessions, late in possessions, and that just let us get out and just play Grizzlies basketball on offense.”
The Grizzlies put up 47 points in the third period, the team’s highest point total in any quarter this season.
Eight players scored in double figures, including five from the bench unit. The reserves scored a season-high 80 bench points.
Ja Morant recorded his seventh career triple-double (3rd of the season) with 25 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. He became the first player in the organization’s history to record a triple-double before the start of the fourth quarter.
“We’re playing some of our best basketball right now,” Morant said. “When teams face us, they have to be ready to come out and play. I feel like that’s the message we are sending to the league. Also, showing that we have multiple guys that go out there and score that ball is even better. You go to your scout and you have to name everybody on the list.
“We have a lot of guys playing with extreme confidence. I feel like everybody is in a rhythm. Me and [Desmond Bane] have been talking game-after-game on this homestretch that we felt like we’re about to get on our stride. We had last year, a couple of times, where we won 10 straight. As you can see, we’re flowing and playing pretty good right now. We just can’t let it get away from us. We’ve got to keep our hunger, but also continue to be humble and go out and know every game means something to us.”
Dillon Brooks scored 18 points and Tyus Jones chipped in 16. David Roddy scored 15 points, a career-high, and Santi Aldama added 14.
“Help my teammates, be in the shifts, just playing physical,” Brooks said of his defensive performance. [Khris Middleton] doesn’t like being physical. He caught me on one of those moves to get a foul call. I still wanted to put physicality on him, because I know he can change the game and just my willingness to be disciplined, contest shots, and make everything difficult for him.”
Brooks wanted to hold Middleton scoreless. He said, “Yeah, I wanted to. I honestly thought he already made a layup beforehand, until he hit that three, I looked up and he had three points. That’s just my competitive nature; if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it all the way.”
Brooks concluded, “Just try to continue to be that defensive presence every single night out, regardless of who I’m guarding — and work on my discipline without fouling. I feel like I’ve been doing a good job this year of not fouling, being able to contest, fight through screens, and get back in front. Put less pressure on my bigs at the rim.”
Brooks believes he should be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. He said, “One-hundred percent. I don’t get the steals or the big-time blocks, but I’m going to give fits to whoever I got that night. Whoever’s the ball handler or whatnot, or whoever’s going to be featured in that game with the offense. I’ve been doing it for four or five years now, guarding the best players, and I’m only getting better at it. So, for me to be in the recognition now, it’s only going to be more and more in the years (to) come.”
Meanwhile Brandon Clarke was perfect from the floor, going 6-6 with 12 points. Ziare Williams had his best game of the season with 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Steven Adams put up 10 points, 6 rebounds, and a game-high five blocks.
The Wave
The game got out of hand so bad the crowd and the Grizzlies bench participated in the Wave and Morant was excited about it.
“I’m a big fan of the wave,” the All-star guard said. “I felt like, early on, we all peeped that everybody wasn’t engaged. Once we did it that first time, they were like, ‘They did it!’ and then it went crazy.”
Morant continued, “I felt like obviously we deserved it, with how we played tonight. The fans have been here the whole time, rooting us on and helping us win games every time we needed them. A lot of credit goes to them. I know that’s a great feeling, for the players to actually be involved in the wave. I know they won’t forget it and it’ll make them respect us even more, love us even more, to start that.”
Morant Responds to Memphian of the Year honor
“Big time, that’s who we represent. That’s what’s across our chest when we’re out there on the floor. Being able to represent Memphis and win that award is an honor for us, and we’re going to continue to do whatever we can to represent the city in a good way and give back and show love to the city as well.”
Up Next
Grizzlies head to Oklahoma City to battle the Thunder on Saturday night.
