The Grizzlies closed out a three-game homestand on Sunday with a wire-to-wire 128-101 win against the Sacramento Kings, their first such win this season. The victory also snaps a two-game Memphis losing streak.
A Morant-less Memphis team made a big statement against the Kings, leading by as many as 37 points. This is the kind of team-effort-oriented basketball that the Grizzlies need to play while their star point guard is on the injured list. Sharing the load becomes incredibly important now, and the better they manage to do it, the better they will fare during this stretch.
Every player that took the floor made a positive contribution of some sort. Several guys on the roster whose names you don’t often hear played hefty minutes in the second half, and all but one scored at least one basket. Jarrett Culver has the distinction of being the only Grizzlies player finishing the game scoreless.
More Is More:
The Grizzlies not only beat the Kings overall, but they also beat them in rebounds (68-49), they beat them in the paint (72-36), they beat them on fast-break points (20-10), they beat them from beyond the arc (13-9), and they beat them in assists (30-17).
By the Numbers:
Dillon Brooks finished with a game-high 21 points, 6 rebounds, and two steals, and Brandon Clarke closed out with 15 points, 6 rebounds. Shoutout Canada!
After dominating in the first quarter, Desmond Bane finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and two assists.
Jaren Jackson Jr. played big minutes and ended with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and two blocks.
De’Anthony Melton came off the bench and made his presence felt with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will go north of the border where they will face off against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, November 30. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. CST.