With a final score of 122-110, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night in an NBA Cup game.
Poor three-point shooting, turnovers, and missed free throws culminated in the Grizzlies’ first wire-to-wire loss of the season. Memphis is now 0-2 in NBA Cup games this season.
This loss comes after the Grizzlies beat the Nuggets 105-90 on Sunday. In both meetings, Denver was without former MVP Nikola Jokic. The two teams will meet again for a third and final time in Denver on April 11.
The Grizzlies struggled out of the gate, making eight turnovers in the first quarter. The Nuggets did a good job throughout the game, capitalizing on Memphis’ sloppy ball handling and converting 22 turnovers into 26 points.
In addition to Ja Morant’s ongoing injury absence, the Grizzlies were without Marcus Smart and rookie center Zach Edey. Smart was out due to an undisclosed illness, and Edey was sidelined by a left ankle sprain he suffered in Sunday’s game.
Santi Aldama led all scorers with 28 points and 11 rebounds on 12 of 19 overall shooting and 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Aldama’s 28 points are the most by any Grizzlies’ bench player this season.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the starting unit with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
Scotty Pippen Jr. finished the night with 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Brandon Clarke added 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies are back at it tonight at FedEx Forum, facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
