Coming into the Pyramid on Sunday afternoon, the New Jersey Nets had the right to one of the Eastern Conferences best records, and also one of the worst road winning streaks in the NBA at 0-7.
After the Nets 87-76 win over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Sunday afternoon, the first claim remains the same. The second statement is only slightly modified. And New Jersey head coach Byron Scott says that’s how things ought to be. “We should have beaten them,” he said after the game. “We have the best record, and we should have beaten them.”
The Nets scored early and often, and defensively held the Grizzlies to poor shooting throughout the game. Memphis had multiple chances for baskets in the paint but could not convert against the Nets interior defense who redirected or pressured multiple misses.
“We didn’t click at all,” Grizzlies head coach Sidney Lowe said. “We didn’t rotate, we didn’t communicate.” On the Nets’ defense, Lowe said “They are a very good defensive team. They are long. They are athletic. You can go down the line, and they don’t have to double anyone [defensively]. They never have to double the post. They have guys who can flat-out defend.”
For the Grizzlies, forward Pau Gasol scored 18 points, and pulled down nine rebounds. Back-up guard Will Solomon provided the only other offensive spark with 14 points of his own. Guard Jason Williams threw out nine assists in the game, and forward Lorenzen Wright pulled down 11 rebounds.
For the Nets, guard Kerry Kittles used hot three point shooting to tally 19 points. Forward Keith Van Horn followed with 13 points, and also pulled down 13 rebounds. Guard Jason Kidd scored yet another double-double with his 12 points and 11 assists. Center Aaron Williams rounded out the Nets scoring with 11 points of his own.
The Grizzles continue one of their longest home stands of the season on Tuesday night when they play the New York Knicks at the Pyramid at 7 p.m.
Of note:
Current University of Memphis coach and former New Jersey Nets head coach and general manager John Calipari was present for the first half of Sunday’s game.
