In their next-to-last game of the season, the Memphis Grizzlies were defeated 117-109 by the Denver Nuggets.
The Grizzlies’ one remaining regular-season game, at home against Dallas on Sunday, will determine whether they finish the season as the seventh or eighth seed.
Either way, they will participate in the play-in tournament.
What a far cry from earlier this year when the Grizzlies were sitting comfortably in the second seed. But their overall record hides a deeper problem: they can’t beat good teams on a consistent basis.
Their record against teams over .500 is 14-25; for teams under .500, it is 33-9. They are better than last season, but not yet good enough against the teams they will need to defeat to win a championship.
This brings us back to Friday night’s game against the Nuggets in Denver. The Grizzlies were visibly fatigued, playing on the second night of back-to-back games in one of the toughest road arenas in the league. But that doesn’t excuse blowing a 15-point lead in a must-win game. Good defense is only good if you can defend without fouling.
Memphis allowed Denver to get in the bonus early in the third quarter, giving them six more free-throw attempts. Overall, the Nuggets had 31 free throw attempts to the Grizzlies’ 19. Giving your opponent 12 more opportunities to score with the clock stopped in a game you lost by eight is … less than ideal.
The Grizzlies got beaten at their own game: The Nuggets outscored them in the paint 72-52.
The Nuggets have a perennial MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, who made the Grizzlies pay, to the tune of 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 13 assists. Nuggets’ forward Aaron Gordon led all scorers with 33 points and 5 rebounds.
Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 24 points, and adding 6 rebounds, and 1 steal.
Ja Morant put up 21 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.
Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.
Luke Kennard led the second unit with 12 points, and added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
Scotty Pippen Jr. added 11 points, 1 rebound, and 7 assists.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will play their final game of the regular season at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks at FedExForum.
Tip-off is at 2:30 PM CDT.
