After a disappointing loss in Houston on Friday, the Memphis Grizzlies came home Saturday night to open their season by handily defeating the Orlando Magic, 124-111.
With a sell-out crowd at FedEx Forum, the energy in the Grindhouse was electric. Only two seasons ago, Memphis held the best home record in the league, and if Saturday night was any indication, the squad appears ready to get back to that standard.
The game was also the season debut of Jaren Jackson Jr., after being sidelined briefly with hamstring soreness during the preseason.
The game was the Grizzliesā first wire-to-wire win of the season. They led by as many as 29 points, but had to stave off a 21-0 run by the Magic in the third quarter that cut the lead down to 8. Orlando guard Jalen Suggs took over the period, scoring 16 of his 21 points on 4 of 5 shooting from beyond the arc. Memphis responded with a 14-4 run of its own during the last 4:38 in the period.
Memphis had struggled in the third quarter of the season’s first two games, scoring just 18 in the third against Houston and only 21 against Orlando. It would be the only sub-30-point quarter for the Grizzlies onĀ Saturday night, with Memphis scoring 34, 35, and 34 in the first, second, and fourth quarters respectively.
The offensive strategy has looked a little different this season, with head coach Taylor Jenkins using a 12-man roster in the past two games. This has allowed some of the bench players to shine, while lightening the minutes’ load for the starting five. No one on the roster played more than 28 minutes.
When asked postgame if they were setting an offensive standard for the season, Coach Jenkins responded, āWell, I hope we did. ā¦ Weāve got to prioritizeā our pace, principles, control, and possessions.
Memphis struggled again with turning the ball over, giving up 17 points off 18 turnovers, while converting Orlandoās 19 turnovers into 30 points.
The bench unit accounted for 66 of the Grizzliesā 124 points, with Spanish forward Santi Aldama leading the second unit and scoring a team-high 22 points, with seven rebounds, and five assists.
Aldama has been the Grizzliesā leading scorer in two of the first three regular-season games.
Two-way center Jay Huff had a career-high scoring night, scoring 18 points on 7 of 9 overall and 3 of 5 three-pointers. Huff has been a tremendous asset thus far for the Grizzlies, adding a spark off the bench.
He moves down the court with speed and helps with spacing the floor, and āheās fitting into what weāre trying to do as a team,ā according to Jenkins. Donāt be surprised if Huff plays himself into the 15th roster spot later in the season. And how can you not love his signature reverse dunk?
Guard Scotty Pippen Jr. finished the night with 11 points, a career-high 12 assists, and his first career double-double.
Among the starters, Ja Morant led with 16 points and 10 assists. Morant is now tied with Mike Conley for the franchiseās most point-assist double-doubles.
Desmond Bane added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 13 points and four rebounds in his season debut.
Please enjoy this clip of Jaren bullying Franz Wagner all the way to the bucket:
And not included on the scoreboard but definitely in the hearts of Grizzliesā fans is two-way guard Yuki Kawamura, who inspired a āWe want Yukiā chant throughout FedExForum in the game’s final minutes.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies kicked off a four-game homestand and will return to the court on Monday to face off against the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off will be at 7 PM CDT.
