Tag: Desmond Bane

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Grind Time: Grizzlies Preview

Ja Morant (12) and Yuki Kawamura dance at the Memphis Grizzlies open practice on October 6th at FedExForum. (Photos: Wes Hale)

Injuries and frustrations plagued the Memphis Grizzlies for most of the 2023–2024 season, beginning with standout point guard Ja Morant’s 25-game ban. Even after making a triumphant return, Morant was sidelined with a season-ending shoulder surgery that limited him to playing just nine games.

Coming off two seasons when they were near the top of the Western Conference, this young club was humbled and finished near the bottom of the standings. 

By the time the regular season ended, Memphis had most of its roster on the injured list. They took on a record number of 10-day contracts to have the minimally allowed number of available players and relied heavily on the players on two-way contracts. No team in NBA history has employed more players and starting lineups than the Grizzlies last season.

The departure of Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets and the minimal playing time that backup Brandon Clarke had in the previous season after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery left the Grizzlies in dire need of a competent big man heading into the offseason.

With the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Grizzlies acquired 7’4” Purdue center Zach Edey, who addressed a gap in the team’s roster. The remainder of the league is in for some terrifying hours if Edey’s preseason dominance continues into the regular season and beyond.

Along with Edey, the Grizzlies selected small forward Jaylen Wells with the 39th pick in the draft. As the lone Grizzlies player to reach double digits in five preseason games, Wells was a shining example of the team’s potential on both ends of the floor.

After Derrick Rose asked to be waived and subsequently retired from the league, another roster spot became available. As a result, Scotty Pippen Jr.’s two-way contract was converted to a standard multi-year deal while Yuki Kawamura went from having an Exhibit 10 contract to having a two-way offer.

Scotty Pippen Jr. shoots the ball during warm-ups before the preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum on October 10th. 

New Beginnings 

Will both atonement and vengeance drive the Grizzlies’ efforts this year?

The Grizzlies will be considered underdogs to begin the season due to recency bias in the national media’s expected rankings. That being said, it’s for the best because that’s where this squad excels.

“We know who we are; we know what we’re capable of. It’s just about going out there and doing it now,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane said during media day.

The previous two seasons prove that Memphis can inflict havoc at the top of the Western Conference when healthy, so fans should see last season’s dismal record as more of an outlier than anything else. They have the ability to get back on track in the standings. It may not be returning to the second seed, but it definitely will be an improvement over the previous position in last year’s campaign. 

With former Defensive Players of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart plus defensive menace Vince Williams Jr., this organization has a strong defensive foundation. Memphis was 12th in the NBA in defensive rating last season, despite their entire season being a train wreck.

Solid role players, including three-point shooters and young, adaptable talent, complement the club’s depth that is already strong thanks to Bane, Jackson Jr., and its spark Morant.

Forward GG Jackson II, who made a meteoric rise to prominence last season at the tender age of 19, is someone the Grizzlies are keeping their fingers crossed for. He was the game-changer in a doomed season and earned himself a standard contract. With 6’9”, highly athletic Jackson II on the court, it provides the team dynamic options, particularly in half-court sets. Last season, fans didn’t get to witness Jackson II and Morant develop a connection on the court. 

Since Jackson II is still healing from foot surgery, we should expect to see him start the season sometime in December, so we will need to exercise patience till we witness his and Morant’s synergy.

The Grizzlies need to get back to their brand of basketball. When Memphis was the Western Conference runner-up in 2021–22 and 2022–23, they averaged more points in the paint than any other team in the league. They had the worst point differential and placed 13th in the Western Conference a season ago.

The squad now is looking to boast a more dynamic offensive game thanks to Taylor Jenkins and his reorganized coaching staff. Last year, Memphis’ offensive rating was the worst in the league.

Edey and Morant’s pick-and-rolls will feed families this season. Edey’s fit into the starting center position will allow Jackson Jr. to play at the four, where he excels.

Making a deep run in the playoffs is within reach if Memphis can avoid significant injuries this upcoming season. 

12 Is Back

Given that the NBA is known as a “what have you done for me lately” league, some may have forgotten about Morant’s presence on the court.

“A happy Ja is a scary Ja,” according to Morant, who made the bold proclamation during last month’s media day. 

Morant showed flashes of his dominance in the last preseason game this past Friday. In 25 minutes of play, Morant ended with 17 points and six assists in the preseason finale. He called his performance light and implied a secret weapon will be seen in the season opener in Utah.

The South Carolina native was thrilled to return to FedExForum after injury, citing fans as his driving force and motivation to perform. It was his first time playing before the home crowd since January 3, 2024. 

In 2022–23, his last complete season (61 games), he played 31.9 minutes per game and averaged 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.

He understands that his availability is crucial to the Grizzlies’ success, so he’s been making an effort to avoid injuries and off-the-court issues like those that nearly derailed his career. 

The two-time All-Star is still one of the league’s most exciting players, and he will make sure the league remembers who he is. 

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Nuggets Dismantle Grizzlies, 128-103

Lamar Steven shoots a jumper against the Denver Nuggets on March 25, 2024. (Photo by: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies finished off a four-game road trip with a 128-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets (51-21) at Ball Arena on Monday night. 

Denver improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break and currently are in first place in the Western Conference and is one game ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies have lost five of their last six games to fall to 24-48 on the season. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins is 5-11 against Denver in his coaching career.

“Obviously, we’ve fallen quite a bit throughout this season, but the spirit of this group has been great,” Jenkins said. “I just lean into that. What are the opportunities for us as a coaching staff to get better and the players individually and collectively? The dialogue has been great on what we can build on for the rest of the season and going into next year.”

After sitting out six games due to a left adductor strain, Lamar Stevens returned to lead the team with 19 points as a reserve. In his 13 games with the Grizzlies since coming over from Boston, Stevens is averaging 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds off the bench. 

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 17 points and four assists in his 6th start of the season. Pippen Jr. is shooting 51 percent from the field, 55 percent from beyond the and averaging 1.3 steals in 11 games with Memphis. 

Both Desmond Bane and GG Jackson II ended up with 15 points apiece. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 11 points, five assists, four rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. 

The Grizzlies return to FedExForum to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday March 27, at 7 p.m. CT.

Jenkins said his team has to play better Wednesday and “it’s as simple as that.” 

Injury news

Brandon Clarke continues to rehab an Achilles injury that has sidelined him since last March 3, 2023. Clarke was upgraded to doubtful on the injury report against Denver and prior to the contest Jenkins said he would likely return in the next game or two.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to Clippers, 128-119

Jaren Jackson Jr. drives in the lane against Kawhi Leonard on Friday, January 12, 2024. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

An bad omen appears to be hanging over the Memphis Grizzlies this season. Just days after Ja Morant’s season-ending arm injury, Marcus Smart suffered a hand injury that will keep him out for six weeks. The team was already without Steven Adams, who was lost for the season due to right knee surgery, and Brandon Clarke, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon repair.

How could things get worse? Here’s how: On Friday night, in the first game of a three-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers, star forward Desmond Bane went down with a left ankle sprain. The severity of the injury is not yet known. The Clippers went on to win, 128-119. Fans are now calling this the “Season from hell,” and it appears they are correct.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had an interesting way of describing the gut-wrenching injuries. “It’s unique,” he said. “But we have to look past that. Our guys have been unbelievable through all of this. I always talk about the spirit and how they just continue to fight.”

“Our circumstances are pretty heavy right now for sure,” Jenkins added. “But the attitude has been phenomenal. We’re going to go out there. We’re going to lay it on the line every single day.”

Jenkins concluded: “I love how that group that finished the game came in and took advantage of the opportunity. Obviously, you absolutely wish the circumstances were different, but our guys have been fully together throughout this. They keep fighting. We’re going to need more of that and to keep doubling down on that because that’s how we’re built.”

Depending on what we learn about Bane’s injury, it appears that Jaren Jackson Jr. will be the only regular starter left in the rotation. As the offensive focal point and the player defenses will work hardest to contain, Jackson Jr. will be under intense pressure.

After the game he said, “I gotta be way better, because I was just jacking at this point. I gotta see the open man, I gotta pass the ball, because that’s what’s gonna get everybody going. I think our best run was in the fourth quarter, when I was out of the game. That was just because everybody was feeding off energy. If I’m coming down, bringing it up seeing three and doing what I was doing, we’re not going to win doing that. It’s just up to me to be a little bit better of a decision maker.”

Should Memphis sit Jackson Jr. for the rest of the season to try to prevent injury? There are 44 games left in the Grizzlies regular season. I think the Grizzlies should put a limit on his minutes, if the organization believes the season is essentially over.

Whatever is decided, Memphis has to regroup quickly. The New York Knicks are in town Saturday night on the second night of a back-to-back at FedExForum at 7 pm CT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Rally in the Valley against the Suns

Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a shot during the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 7, 2024. (Photo by: Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies were down 11 points going into the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns, 97-86.

Memphis rallied in the final period to outscore the Suns 35-18 to secure the victory, 121-115. The Grizzlies are now 2-0 on the three-game road trip.

Phoenix is ranked 30th in 4th quarter scoring while the Grizzlies are ranked 18th in the association. The 4th quarter has been Memphis’ best period all season long.

According to NBA.com, the Grizzlies have the second best defensive rating in the 4th quarter. They are first in opponent point per game allowed in the final period, second in point differential, and have one of the best net rating in the 4th quarter.

The second quarter has been a problem for the Grizzlies most of the season. However, in two straight games, Memphis has won the second quarter. A thing to look at, and it may be a key to winning more games going forward.

The Grizzlies are now 10-10 on the road and an abysmal 3-13 at home.

Memphis was without Ja Morant, who sat out due to shoulder soreness. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said soreness crept up on the road and that further evaluations are needed. He said that they will know more in a day or two.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 28 points, ten rebounds, six assists with a team-high +/- 25.

Kevin Durant gave praise to Jackson Jr. after the game: “He can shoot it, he can go left well, he’s got good floaters, strong. Just think he’s extending his game and it’s making it tough for people to guard him out there one-on-one, especially big players. He’s shooting the three well, you got to give him credit for expanding his game.”

“The first half looked pretty good but obviously we let it get away from us a little bit,” said Jackson Jr. “Momentum stayed on point going into the half and again that third quarter, they were just able to get separation. We never really found ourselves in solid footing on the offensive end. We got a lot of great shots, got to those places we wanted to be at, got downhill, we got to the rim, we got really good open shots, we got stops in transitions, but we just couldn’t convert the way we wanted too.”

Marcus Smart finished with 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals. “It is the formula [for] winning without him,” Smart said on playing without Morant. “It is the formula for winning with him. Ja is such a great player and he inspires a lot of guys to go out there to play. When he is out, that just means there are opportunities for other guys.”

Smart continued, “Big shoutout to Vince Williams [Jr.]. Big night for him. He has been going under the radar. He has been doing that for this organization, for us, and his teammates for a very long time. We appreciate it. Ziaire Williams coming off of the bench. He has been asked to play different roles and he is just excelling. Being able to just play and not worry about it has really helped us.”

The 10-year guard/forward has improved on three-point shooting after his hand injury.“It is healing,” he said. “I am starting to get into a rhythm. Guys do a good job of finding me and trusting me to take those shots. For me, sometimes I don’t want to take them, but they are screaming at me to do so. I just have to continue to believe in myself and continue to make those shots.”

Desmond Bane added 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists while reserve Williams Jr. finished with a career-high 19 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.

The Grizzlies look to prolong their win streak against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, January 9th, inside American Airline Center at 7:30 p.m.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Dominate Lakers With Record Three-Point Shooting Display

Desmond Bane takes the ball to the basket against Anthony Davis.
Desmond Bane takes the ball to the basket against Anthony Davis. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images

With a final score of 127-113, the Grizzlies handed the Lakers their fourth consecutive loss. But more than that, they did it under the power of historic three-point shooting with a franchise record 23 made threes on the road, also the most three-pointers allowed by the Lakers this season.

It was a wild Friday night in the National Basketball Association. Those of us who stayed up late to watch the Grizzlies take on the Lakers in Los Angeles were rewarded with some of the best basketball Memphis has played this season.

Not even a 32-point performance from LeBron James and a 31-point one from Anthony Davis could stop the Grizzlies.

There was something for everyone in this win, including big performances from Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Ziaire Williams.

And an All-NBA-worthy defensive move from head coach Taylor Jenkins that rightfully earned him a technical foul, because coaches cannot enter the court during gameplay.

Let’s break that moment down and what led up to it.

You can watch the video for yourself here:

Marcus Smart directed a pass to Jaren Jackson Jr., who briefly had possession of the ball but could not keep a hold of it. That led to a tie-up with LeBron James during which James elbowed Jackson in the chin (seemingly unseen by the referees) followed by an irate Taylor Jenkins stepping onto the court and in the path of Taurean Prince, protesting the lack of a call. Jenkins had to be physically restrained by one of his assistant coaches.

To keep it a buck, three fouls could have been called in that exchange: James committing a loose ball foul when forcing Jackson to the ground, Jackson committing a common foul when hooking James’ arm, and a flagrant 1 for James elbowing Jackson in the face in retaliation.

But since there was no review of the play, the only foul assessed for the whole mess was the technical Jenkins earned.

The messiness of that whole situation should not detract from the Grizzlies’ play and the exceptional shooting that propelled them to a resounding victory over the Lakers.

Heading into last night’s game, Marcus Smart had the lowest three-point shooting percentage of any player attempting five or more threes a game this season.

Apparently, he took that personally.

Marcus Smart finished the night with a season-high 29 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and one steal on 8 of 14 three-point shooting. Smart put up 19 of his 29 points in the first half while shooting 5 of 8 from three-point range.

His teammates had a pretty good night as well.

Jaren Jackson Jr put up a team-high 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Desmond Bane closed out with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and a career-high 13 assists, also while shooting 5 of 8 from long range.

Ja Morant added 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Bismack Biyombo finished with 6 points and 10 rebounds on a perfect 3 of 3 field goal shooting.

From the second unit, Ziaire Williams added 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

All in all, it was a soothing balm to ease the sting of a nasty loss to the Toronto Raptors two days prior.

Whether this success can be replicated remains to be seen.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will continue their three-game road trip, heading to Phoenix on Sunday to face off against the Suns. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Poor Play Leads to Another Grizzlies Home Loss

Ja Morant goes up for a layup against the Toronto Raptors inside FedExForum on December 3, 2023 (Photo credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Historically, when an NBA club has played at FedExForum in Memphis, they knew they were in for a fierce battle. That’s no longer the case. Last season, the Grizzlies dominated on the home floor, this season they have struggled mightily.

The squad dropped to 3-13 at home after a fourth quarter rally fell short against the Toronto Raptors, 116-111. Memphis just can’t seem to put together a complete game for 48 minutes.

The second quarter is the biggest culprit. According to NBA.com, Memphis ranks dead last (30th) in the league in scoring during the second period, with 24.7 points, while shooting 41.3 percent from the field.

Something has to change with the rotations in the second period if Memphis wants to start winning consistently after falling to 11-23 on the season.

After the game, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins took responsibility for the loss. “I’ve got to get this team better prepared,” Jenkins acknowledged. “We were flat tonight — that’s on me.”

Did that really come out of his mouth about getting the team better prepared after a whopping 34 games. In the words of WWE legend Booker T, “Tell me, he didn’t just say that!”

Former Grizzlies assistant and first-year head coach of the Raptors, Darko Rajakovic, certainly had his team prepared to take down his former team.

That’s an indictment of Jenkins’ coaching, if he doesn’t have the team better prepared after nearly half of the season is gone. There have been key injuries, and a 25-game suspension, but that’s the card that has been dealt. Some of the losses have been on Jenkins, even though his players wholeheartedly disagree with that sentiment.

“At the end of the day, he’s not the one out there playing — it’s us,” said Ziaire Williams. We should already be self-motivated, he shouldn’t have to yell at us or scream at us when we’re down by 15 or 10, or playing lazy and lackadaisical on the defensive end, not sharing the ball. That should already be a given.”

He concluded, “We got to find ways to do that for 48 minutes straight. That was cool for coach taking the blame, but, it’s not much he could do about that. It’s on us to come out and do what we need to do. Be professionals, do what we are paid to do.”

Williams had a great game off the bench, with 18 points, putting up 12 in the final period by converting on 5-of-8 from the field.

Desmond Bane who finished with 22 points, eight assists, and four rebounds put the onus on the players to take responsibility and accountability. He said, “As a coach you can only do so much. You don’t put a jersey on, you don’t run up and down the court. It has nothing to do with him honestly. We are all grown men. It’s on us, we have to be better.”

Ja Morant led the team with a near triple double with 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Morant on the team coming out flat: “I don’t want to make excuses. You just got to be better, come out with more energy to be able to get a win on a home floor.”

Jaren Jackson, Jr. had a slow start but ended with 13 of his 24 points in the final period. Jackson Jr. also grabbed four rebounds and blocked four shots.

With the loss, Memphis is now 7-1 when Bane, Jackson Jr., and Morant all score 20 plus points.

Where does Memphis go from here

The blame lies with the players, the coach’s decision-making, and the front office for the roster construction at this point in the season.

The time for excuses is over. There has to be energy and effort from the players in all facets of the game. Jenkins has to make better coaching decisions, and the front office needs to make moves at the deadline in order to right the ship.

Things don’t get easier. The Grizzlies head to California to start a three-game game road trip beginning Friday, January 5, against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena at 9 p.m. CT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to Kings to Ring In the New Year

Ja Morant takes the ball to the basket against Domantas Sabonis.
Ja Morant takes the ball to the basket against Domantas Sabonis. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images.

Defensive struggles continue as the third Grizzlies opponent in as many games shot 50 percent or better overall. With a final score of 123-92, the Sacramento Kings thumped the Grizzlies at FedExForum in the last game of the year. The return of Luke Kennard and his shooting 5 of 8 from three-point range could not put the Grizzlies over the hump.

Let’s get into it.

Woof. That is the first word that comes to mind to describe how the Kings outworked Memphis on both ends of the floor. Sacramento put up a season-high 59 rebounds to the Grizzlies 34. In no universe was it acceptable for the Grizzlies to only have one offensive rebound in the entire game, but the fact that the Kings could grab 25 more rebounds than Memphis adds insult to injury. The Grizzlies also recorded just one block for the game.

 Combine that with beating the Grizzlies in made threes (16 to 12), made field goals (47 to 30), and points in the paint (58 to 32), and Sacramento handed them one of their worst losses of the season.

The Kings’ bench unit outscored the Grizzlies’ bench 58 to 28, with Malik Monk scoring a game-high 27 points in 21 minutes on 4 of 5 three-point shooting and 10 of 13 overall. One player nearly outscoring the entire second unit is nasty and overshadows the return of Luke Kennard in his first game since November 17.

When head coach Taylor Jenkins was asked postgame about the defense allowing opponents to shoot 50 percent in the past three games, he had this to say:

“We’ve got to look at the trends that we’ve seen all season long. Obviously small sample size, looking more at the last two games, it’s definitely things we’ve been talking about, pick-and-roll coverages, what we can do a little bit better there, our shifting obviously, teams are really hurting us in the high quad, how we can clean that up. That’s something that we got to talk about, some of the second chance kick outs as well, pickup points, discipline there. It’s definitely something that we’re seeing a lot and obviously we’ve regressed the last couple of games.”

Emphasis mine. Yes, thank you, Captain Obvious.

It was a low-scoring night for Memphis, being held under 100 points, and their usual big three struggled offensively.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with a team-high 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal.

Three players finished with 17 points: Ja Morant had 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists; Desmond Bane closed out with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists; and Luke Kennard put up 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists on 6 of 9 overall shooting and 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.

The only other Grizzlies player to end the night in double figures was Marcus Smart with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will play at home again Tuesday night, January 2nd, facing off against one of the few teams with a worse record in the West, the San Antonio Spurs. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Happy New Year, Grizz Nation. I hope everyone is eating their black-eyed peas and greens because we need all the luck we can get.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Like Deja Vu: Grizzlies Stun Pelicans, Again

Ja Morant dribbles down the court in the games as the Memphis took on the New Orleans Pelicans on December 26, 2023 at Smoothie King Center (Photo by Derick Hingle/NBAE via Getty Images)

With the ball in Ja Morant’s hands and seconds remaining for the game-winning basket after trailing by double digits, the Memphis Grizzlies faced the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, December 26, making it like a familiar situation from only seven days before.

Only this time, it took several reviews and overtime for the Grizzlies to walk out of New Orleans with a 116-115 win that stunned Pelicans fans again. 

With the return of its superstar, Memphis has won four games in a row, including a pair of victories against the Pelicans. This season, the Grizzlies lead the matchup against New Orleans, 2-1.  

Morant finished with a game-high 31 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Prior to the game, the NBA named the 24-year-old the Western Conference Player of the Week, who guided the Grizzlies to a 3-0 record averaging 28 points, 9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. 

“Obviously excited to be back,” Morant said after the game. “But being able to come back and win four games now and continue to take this momentum to the next game, and the next day, is big time for us.”

Desmond Bane continues to make his case for being selected to his first NBA All-Star appearance. Bane made his presence felt early for the Grizzlies with 17 first half points. He finished with 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded his second double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 boards. And he made NBA history in the process. 

Marcus Smart returned to the Grizzlies lineup after missing the past 17 games due to a left foot sprain. Smart was a big reason Memphis erased a 15-point second deficit to secure the victory.

Smart ended with 13 points, a season-high five steals, and three assists. 

In the walk-off with Grizzlies sideline reporter Rob Fischer, Smart mentioned the team’s never-give-up attitude. 

The tandem of Xavier Tillman Sr. and Vince Williams Jr. was a wrecking crew against New Orleans. The pair combined for 16 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Tillman Sr. had a career-high five blocks while Williams Jr. tied his career high with three blocks. 

Up Next 

Memphis heads to Denver to take on the Nuggets, Dec 28, at 8 p.m. inside Ball Arena. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Finally, 12 Returns to FedExForum

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. walking to the bench during a timeout on December 21, 2023 as the Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Indiana Pacers (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

Ja Morant hadn’t played at FedExForum since April 26, 2023, in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Should Memphis turn their season around, Morant’s comeback from a 25-game absence will likely be remembered as a historic achievement.

Joy and excitement had been missing from the FedExForum after the Morant-less Grizzlies went 1-11. 

That all changed on Tuesday night for the 24-year-old ‘s first home game of the season. 

From Derrick Rose’s introductory remarks to the introduction of Morant in the starting lineup, the energy in the arena was apparent.

“I can say it was tough, but I can’t at the same time because obviously the tough part was not being able to be out there and enjoy and have fun with my guys,” said Morant. “Now that I’m out there, I’m making sure that we’re all having fun, no matter what, so that was pretty much just my message.”

He went on to say, “You can just tell by the energy of the team. We catch a lob, you have the bench going crazy, you have the players screaming and yelling and dapping each other up. That’s our type of basketball. That’s how we are. That’s the team we are, people we are. We are very close knit. I just preach that man, regardless of what it is, we have to have fun and celebrate the opportunities we have day in and day out.”

The Grizzlies had plenty of reasons to celebrate and when the final buzzer sounded, it was Desmond Bane, Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. who pulled Memphis to a 116-103 win against the Indiana Pacers. 

Bane led the way with 31 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Jackson Jr. added 21 points while going 8-of-10 from the field and a team-high 8 rebounds. Morant finished with 20 points, a team-high 8 assists and five rebounds. 

The Grizzlies are 6-0 when Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. all score 20 or more points. 

It was Vince Williams Jr. shutting the water off on Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton. Halliburton went 3-of-8 from the field when Williams Jr. was his primary defender. 

“It’s great — he’s doing it every single night, and I’m happy for him, but we expect that out of him,” said Jackson Jr. of Williams Jr.’s defensive presence. “He relishes those things. He’s also a perfectionist. He wants to shut down every player on every point, and that’s not always going to happen, but the fact that he shoots for that is amazing. That’s the mentality you need going against these players to make it really hard on them. And he has all these key stops and key shots, and key ball moves and plays on stretches that we’re having that are super important.”

Ziaire Williams, Santi Aldama, and John Konchar were rejuvenated off the bench. Williams chipped in 16 points and 2 blocks, while Aldama had 13 points. Konchar ended with six points, six rebounds, and two outstanding blocked shots. 

Memphis held the number one offensive team in the association to a season-low 103 points. 

The addition of Morant improves many things for the Grizzlies, but they still recognize they have a long way to go before they can save the season.

Jackson Jr. shared his thoughts on the team’s newfound improvement with Morant in the lineup: 

Strictly From the Fans

Long-time Grizzlies fan Bailey McCormick: 

“It felt amazing! It felt like I was watching Memphis Basketball. The energy and support for Ja was off the charts. I could feel the vibe inside the forum from the fans, from his teammates, and it made for an amazing game! If I didn’t already know how the city felt about Ja Morant, last night would’ve made me believe that Ja is a superstar not only for the Grizzlies, but also for the city of Memphis as a whole!”

Season-ticket holder Frederique Worthy: 

“From the moment fans started walking into the Forum, the energy felt completely different, and in the best way. Seeing Ja return to complete our big three, just felt like a weight lifted from our collective shoulders. Smiles, high fives, and shouts of joy were shared all around.”

Up Next 

The Grizzlies head to Atlanta to take on Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, December 23, inside State Farm Arena at 7 p.m. CT. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports Uncategorized

Grizzlies Blasted by the Rockets, Again

Desmond Bane moves the ball against former Grizzly Dillon Brooks. Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer

What started as a promising game in the first half turned into a nightmare in the second. With a final score of 103-96, the Memphis Grizzlies have lost their fourth consecutive game and second in the home-and-home set against the Houston Rockets.

Let’s get into it.

It was the return of former Grizzly Dillon Brooks to FedExForum for the first time since he was signed by the Rockets over the summer. A little serendipitous for the Canadian forward, who was originally drafted by Houston and immediately traded to the Grizzlies in 2017.

And in true fitting Dillon the Villain fashion, Brooks was the one who slammed the door on the Grizzlies, first, with a clutch three-pointer with 40 seconds remaining, and then with a steal on the next trip down the floor. Brooks finished the night with a season-high 26 points on 10 of 20 shooting.

It was a tale of two halves, with the Grizzlies competing in the first half only to come out in the second and get dog-walked by the Rockets. Again. They did not help themselves by keeping the ball secure, finishing the night with 18 turnovers that were converted into 16 points for Houston.

A combined 50 points from Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr could not overcome the hole the Grizzlies dug themselves into in the second half. Bane closed out with a game-high 28 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Jackson Jr finished with 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks.

Vince Williams Jr put up 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.

Bismack Biyombo added 10 points and 9 rebounds.

From the second unit, Santi Aldama contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds, and David Roddy added 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.

These are trying times for Grizzlies fans. One more game until the return of Ja Morant.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are hitting the road for a two-game stretch and will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, December 18th. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.