Tag: Desmond Bane

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Beat Milwaukee; Secure Second Seed in Western Conference

Jaren Jackson, Jr. goes up for a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 7, 2023. (Credit: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

With their 137-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the West’s second seed for the second consecutive season. The Bucks sat key players, including former league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Despite shooting 65 percent in the first two quarters, the Grizzlies entered halftime trailing Milwaukee by a single point. However, Memphis outscored the Bucks 37-15 in the third quarter to pull ahead for good. The Grizzlies also had a season-high in assists, with 39.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 36 points, grabbed four boards, and made three blocks while shooting 12 of 18 from the field and 5 of 6 from beyond the arc to help the Grizzlies sweep the season series with the Bucks for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

The 12 to 13 connection is getting better right before our eyes.

Plus The Block Panther was on the prowl defensively. 

Luke Kennard finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting and made 5-of-7 from the 3-point line after being inserted into the starting lineup. As Kennard is getting more comfortable, it appears he may be the missing piece that the team has lacked. 

Desmond Bane put up 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. 

John Konchar had 13 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high five steals as a reserve. Jitty had a good game. 

Ja Morant added 12 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. “It’s very important,” Morant said after the game, about securing the second seed. “We’re a very good team at home, so we obviously want that home-court advantage. Definitely big time for us.”

While trying to contest a shot from former teammate Jae Crowder, Morant got his fingers caught in Crowder’s uniform and had to head to the locker room with a hand injury in the first quarter. He returned to the game in the second quarter with two fingers taped together on his right hand. 

And he did this with one hand …

Morant eventually told reporters he was good when asked about the injury.  

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game it wasn’t a significant injury. “We shouldn’t have any concerns – they did X-rays in the first half,” Jenkins said. “He [Morant] obviously had a little collision there in front of our bench. The X-rays were negative. Our medical team cleared him to come back and then we were just precautionary in that second half. Ice it up and hopefully we are good to go.”

Up Next 

Regular season play for the Grizzlies will end on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 9th. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Home Win Caps Record-Setting Season

Ja Morant going up for a dunk between two defenders on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their FedExForum season finale on Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-109, sealing the best home record in the NBA for the first time in franchise history. 

Memphis had a record 35 wins at home, the most by any NBA club since the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors went 36-5. The Grizzlies set a new benchmark for home victories and home winning percentage for the organization (.854). It is also the sixth 50-win season in team history, and the second in a row, with a record of 50-29 with three regular-season games remaining.

“They are not frequent throughout the NBA – not many teams get 50 (wins) in a season,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins on the team’s back-to-back 50 win seasons. “Proud of our group – still got three more (games) to focus on, but anytime you can clip that 50-win mark, that’s pretty special.”

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Ja Morant tallied 23 points, nine assists, six rebounds and more highlight dunks to his resume. 

Luke Kennard chipped in 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 6-of-10 from three.  

After the game, Kennard spoke about how he feels about playing alongside Bane and Morant. 

He said, “Me and [Desmond Bane] out there is just going to open it up for Ja [Morant] to do his thing. It’s my job to be out there and be ready to shoot because the ball is going to find me. There’s still some things we can clean up here and there. Trusting each other, trusting the pass, and making the right play. We’re confident in what each other can do, just continuing to gel together and me continuing to be with them more to continue to grow, and hopefully it helps us out in the long run.”

“It’s great — I feel the love from everybody in the crowd every time I touch the ball,” Kennard said about the “Luke” chants. “It’s definitely something that just makes me feel good being out there, knowing the crowd has faith in what I do and what I can bring. I just want to continue to grow here and give the fans what they want. It’s been really cool.”

Jaren Jackson, Jr. added 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists while 

David Roddy chipped in 16 points off the bench. 

Jenkins was emphatic about his belief that Jackson, Jr. should be Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s making improvements but you can see it when he’s on the floor. I’ve obviously been asked about the impact he’s made, his net rating is like number one in the league,” Jenkins said. “Defensive Player of the Year, it’s a no brainer, in my opinion. You see what we do when he’s on the floor and off the floor. His ability to be on the floor and be available for us and be that impact player and not just defensively but offensively. You see what he’s done offensively during this last month and a half. It’s powerful. But when he sets a tone as a Defensive Player of the Year guy and then can back it up with offensive play this is the special two-way player, we talk about all the time.”

Up Next

The Grizzlies head to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans tonight at 7 p.m. CT.  

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Bane, Kennard Help Grizzlies Storm Back to Victory

Desmond Bane going up for a layup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Friday night’s bad weather didn’t stop the Memphis Grizzlies from beating the Los Angeles Clippers, 108-94. The Grizzlies overcame a 20-point deficit in the first quarter to secure their 34th home victory of the season. 

The 14-point victory was the largest margin of victory in team history in a game where the Grizzlies trailed by 20 or more points, according to Sportradar.

“We kind of just settled down towards the end of the first. I just reminded them to just keep staying the course,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “It’s a long game. We’re starting to feel out what this game is going to need from us. Then we battle back, have a great second quarter.”

Jenkins continued, “We take a lead and build a 20-point lead in the second half. Proud of the guys. It’s a 48-minute game, and we had these looks in our eyes like ‘Hey, what’s going on right now?’ in the first quarter. Luckily, we were able to turn the corner before it got too late.”

Desmond Bane was in his bag, scoring 22 points and tying a career-high nine assists, plus three steals to lead the Grizzlies to 49-28 on the season. 

Luke Kennard tallied 17 points and six rebounds off the bench while connecting on 5-of-10 from the 3-point line. 

Ja Morant praised Kennard’s shooting after the game. “He could shoot then [with the Clippers] and he can shoot now,” Morant said about Kennard as an opponent, and now a teammate. “He’s on our side now. We believe in him 100 percent.” Morant finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. 

Xavier Tillman Sr. had a solid 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Santi Aldama got 13 points and eight rebounds as a reserve. 

Surprising highlight dunk

David Roddy absolutely destroyed Ivica Zubac.

“That definitely surprised me, I say that respectfully,” said Jenkins on Roddy’s emphatic dunk. “I know he’s got some bounce, and he’s got some force, but that was a pretty epic dunk for sure. Once he gets a runway, you watch out.”

Tibits

Kenny Lofton, Jr. was named Kia G League Rookie of the Year. Lofton Jr. averaged 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 17 games during the regular season.

Jaren Jackson Jr. improved on his previous personal best in blocks, and set a franchise record in the process. The All-Star forward added three blocks in last night’s game to reach 180 and set a new franchise record for most blocks in a season, which he achieved last year with 177 in 78 games. This year, Jackson Jr. only needed 59 games to set the new mark. He leads the NBA with a career-high 3.1 blocks per game.  

Jackson Jr. also had nine points and two steals against the Clippers. “It’s cool – glad we could do it at home,” said Jackson Jr. on setting the single season franchise record in blocks. “Glad we could get a win; glad all my teammates signed the basketball, kept the jersey. I mean, it all fits. It’s a cool feeling.”

For the Grizzlies, unsung heroes emerged to give them a victory before a happy home crowd. For those fans, it was fitting to get revenge on the Clippers. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will travel to Chicago to play the Bulls at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 2. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Set New Home Victory Mark Against Magic

Desmond Bane goes up for a layup against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic, the Memphis Grizzlies set a new franchise mark for most home victories in a single season (33-5) and improved to 48-27 on the season.

Desmond Bane led all scorers with 31 points, five assists, and three steals.

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins spoke about Bane’s improved play. “Obviously, he’s improved so much over the season with his decision making, his playmaking, his downhill attack,” Jenkins said. “He wasn’t getting it going from the three-point line early, but he knocked down a three in the second half, which was big, obviously free throws.

“There’s just a lot of trust that, with all the development he’s shown in the offseason, and this season, just our attention.”

Xavier Tillman Sr. posted a career-high 20 points and nine rebounds. “The way I play, the way I get my baskets, is all off creating for my teammates,” Tillman said after his career night. “I get a lot of my stuff off the pick-and-roll versus me ISOing and stuff like that. If I am aggressive, it is because you see guys throwing pocket passes, and they’re able to find me a lot of times. If I’m not scoring or whatever, it’s because the defense is doing a pretty good job of being active, so my teammates don’t really like that pocket all the time, but if you do see I’m aggressive, it’s because they’re able to find that tight pocket when I’m open.”

“Well, first off, we got the win – that constitutes a good game if we win, first and foremost,” said Tillman about his individual performance. “Then, secondly, for me individually, just doing my role to a T, if I get some offensive rebounds, I’m really proud of that. If I’m getting guys open on my screens, I’m really proud of that. Then, if I’m finishing like today, if I’m finishing those drop-off passes, that’s my teammates trusting me to make the play. If I’m finishing those, I’m really proud of that as well. So those three things are the main thing, as well as defense too, making sure that I’m guarding my matchup, and I’m limiting their tendencies and all that good stuff.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 16 points, 10 boards, and 3 blocks, and Luke Kennard added 16 points, 5 assists, and 5 boards off the bench. Dillon Brooks scored 13 points and provided 3 assists and 3 boards.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will host the Los Angeles Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back tonight at 7 p.m. CT. Luke Kennard looks to get revenge on his former team. 

Ja Morant sat out against Orlando due to right thigh soreness, but is expected to be available tonight against the Clippers. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Morant, Bane Lift Grizzlies to Sixth-Straight Win

Ja Morant goes up for a layup against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Credit: Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

After coming off the bench in the first two games after serving an eight-game ban, Ja Morant was reinstated in the starting lineup against Atlanta Sunday night for the Grizzlies. He took advantage of the opportunity.

Morant put up 27 points, six assists, and three rebounds as Memphis defeated the Hawks 123-119, and clinched a top-4 seed and home court advantage in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The Grizzlies previously clinched a playoff berth on Friday night with a win against the Houston Rockets.

Morant said he’s not quite himself just yet. “I’m getting there,” he said after the win. “I’m getting a lot more comfortable. Getting my legs under me a little bit. My staff is preparing me the right way, having me ready for games each and every night. I believe in them 100 percent in how they’re managing me and ramping me back up.”

Morant said he studied film while he was away from the team. He said, “Obviously I watched pretty much all the games – how they were moving the ball and playing no-point-five basketball, sharing the ball, being very unselfish and that’s one of the reasons I decided to come off the bench early on to get that feel of that playing style. 

Morant went on to say, “I feel like we [have] to keep continuing to play like that. We have a lot more guys that can contribute and be in rhythm playing with confidence and we’re tough to guard.” 

The 23-year-old said it was nice to hear the young fans cheer for him. However, he knows he has a responsibility as a role model to the younger generation. “I got to set better examples,” said the All-Star guard. “Mistakes I made in the past [are] not examples they need to see. It’s only right, I correct them and show them the right way. Having them still behind me brings joy to me, makes me happy.”

Morant didn’t have any issues in the opposing arena since he said it was home for him. He was born in Georgia and spent time there growing up. 

Morant also said he can’t wait to get back to Memphis in front of the home crowd in the playoffs. Like Dillon Brooks, he’s ready to hear, “Whoop That Trick,” the Grizzlies playoff rallying cry. 

The Grizzlies are now 47-27 on the season and hold the longest active winning streak in the NBA with six consecutive victories.

Desmond Bane added 25 points, five assists, three rebounds while going 11-of-18 from the field. 

Jaren Jackson, Jr. finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and three steals in 34 minutes of play. 

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had this to say about Jackson, Jr.’s defensive impact: 

Xavier Tillman, Sr. had an all-round complete game. In 30 minutes, he chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Tillman has been doing an excellent job holding it down for the Grizzlies in the absence of Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke.

Luke Kennard scored 14 points while shooting four-of-nine from three and grabbed seven boards off the bench. As a reserve Tyus Jones had 13 points and five assists. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies return to FedExForum for a three-game homestand starting Tuesday, March 28, against the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. CT. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Roddy ‘Big Bodied’ the Dallas Mavericks

David Roddy against the Dallas Mavericks on March 11, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies, in desperate need of a late-game boost, found it in rookie David Roddy. 

Roddy scored 17 points (7-8 FG, 3-4 3P) in the final period as the Grizzlies knocked off the Dallas Mavericks, 112-108 Saturday night, at FedExForum. The rookie finished with a career-high 24 points off the bench. 

With the win, Memphis improved to 40-26 on the season and maintained the league’s second-best home record this season at 28-5. 

“I think the biggest thing is he’s got ultimate confidence,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said of Roddy’s performance. “It’s channeled in the right way, in my opinion, in that he’s hard on himself, he’s been learning since summer league, early in the season, as I mentioned, G league opportunities.” 

Jenkins continued, “He’s got this great poise about him as a rookie. You see how hard he plays, how competitive he is. He misses a shot, he kind of beats himself up real quick and then he immediately gets to the next play. That’s tons of credit, for a guy to kind of have that next play mentality.” 

“When you’re playing that hard and you’re playing the right way, the ball finds you, and you get rewarded for it, and he made the plays down the stretch,” Jenkins added. “We were switching a lot, and I thought he did a really good job on the ball with his on-ball defense, keeping guys in front, but his confidence is channeled in a really good way to stay prepared for moments like that. Obviously, first moment in his rookie season to do that, especially in a very pivotal game and fourth quarter, and the way it was going, we needed all that, but not a surprise at how he stays ready that he was able to have a game like that….”

Tony Allen, former Grizzlies legend, used to say, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” And that’s what the 21-year-old rookie did. He stayed ready.

“Really just relying on the vets, the coaching staff, the video guys as well,” Roddy said about staying patient and waiting his turn.

“Vets like Xavier Tillman [Sr.], who’s been in that position. Santi [Aldama] as well. Dillon [Brooks], [Desmond Bane], all those guys … really just leaning on them. Just understanding their experiences from when they were young. You don’t know all the answers, but you have to stick to the process and trust that your opportunity is going to come and just be ready for that. I really want to give kudos to those guys.”

Late in the fourth quarter after securing a game-saving steal, the 17,794 in attendance shouted, “RODDY, RODDY, RODDY!!!”

Roddy was appreciative of the moment, “It’s pretty cool. You’re still locked into the game, you don’t really understand, or you don’t really know, at one point, but I was walking away, and I was like, ‘Oh wait, that’s pretty cool.’ I appreciate all the fans coming out, making it a special night.”

Desmond Bane was the Grizzlies leading scorer with 25 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. He was excited by Roddy’s breakout performance. 

“I’m so happy for him,”Bane said. “He puts his best foot forward every day. Whether it’s G League, whether it’s with us, he deserves it. He puts the work in, has the right attitude, and you never know when your moment is going to come. He helped us win the game, and he’s a big part of the reason we won tonight. Tell him to stay confident, stay aggressive, and keep doing what he’s been doing.”

Up Next

The Grizzlies and the Mavericks will play again, in Dallas this time, Monday, March 13, at 6:30pm CT. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Depleted Grizzlies Run Clippers Close in Road Loss

Dillon Brooks guards LeBron James. (Credit: NBAE via Getty Images)

It has been tumultuous for the Memphis Grizzlies since Friday night’s loss to the Denver Nuggets. 

First, Brandon Clarke went down with injury with a torn Achilles (out for the season), Dillon Brooks received his 16th technical foul that caused an automatic one-game suspension, and then there’s Ja Morant, who is away from the team indefinitely after brandishing a gun on his IG Live. 

It was remarkable to see the Grizzlies put up a fight against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. 

“We have to step up because there are big shoes to fill,” said Jaren Jackson, Jr. after Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to the Clippers. “That’s been our motto for a long time. Whenever somebody goes down, everyone’s always ready, everyone’s always working. Come together and do it.”

The Grizzlies put up a 51 point third quarter against the Clippers and had a 15 point lead going into the final period. LA outscored Memphis 38-17 to win the game, 135-129. 

Memphis’ fourth quarter woes continue to rear its ugly head. 

Desmond Bane says that the team isn’t really too concerned about it. 

“We’ve had guys in and out you know pretty much all year, so I think that we’re still kind of figuring out our fourth quarter offense,” he said. “Once we get to half court, Jaren [Jackson, Jr.] is a focal point given his size. We slow the game down and play through him. So if he continues to make the right decisions, I think that is something that we’re gonna grow through for sure.” 

The Grizzlies are ranked 29th in fourth quarter scoring in the association. 

Tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT, Memphis will have Dillon Brooks back in the starting lineup. 

Memphis is still second place in the Western Conference yet only .5 games ahead of the soaring Sacramento Kings, who are in third. 

The Lakers are trying to make the play-in while LeBron James is out due to a foot injury. 

Tyus Jones isn’t worried about the team after all the adversity. He said Sunday, “I’m confident that the team will move forward. I’m confident we can continue to stay together, ride together. We still have a job to do – we are still striving to improve as a team.”

That next-man-up mentality must be ever present for the Grizzlies if they want to keep second place in the West. Other teams will not lie down for them. 

The secret to their success is giving a full effort for the full 48 minutes. Jenkins must take responsibility for the selection of his lineups and the players have to take responsibility for their play. 

I know it’s going to be a struggle. Can the team handle it with added pressure without Morant? 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Snap Road Losing Streak

Desmond Bane goes up for a jumper on March 1, 2023 against the Houston Rockets (Credit: Logan Riley/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Grizzlies ended their 8-game losing streak on the road with a 113-99 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center on the second night of a back-to-back. 

It was obvious in the first half that both the Grizzlies and the Rockets were playing the second night of a back-to-back. When it came to scoring early on, both teams struggled, but it was the Grizzlies who eventually pulled ahead. After leading by only three points at halftime, Memphis exploded to a 17-point advantage by the end of the third quarter.

After scoring just 47 points in the first half, Memphis scored 66 second-half points. 

The Grizzlies have now won three in a row to improve to 38-23 on the season while the Rockets have lost 11 straight and dropped to 13-49. 

Desmond Bane led the squad with 30 points while scoring 21 in the second half, nine rebounds, six assists and connecting on 6-of-9 from the 3-point stripe. 

Ja Morant added 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 26 minutes of action. The game was out of hand late in the third period, and Morant sat in the final quarter. 

Jaren Jackson, Jr. finished with 17 points, four rebounds, and five blocks. The Block Panther is now tied for second place with 145 total blocks this season; however, Jackson is the leader at blocks per game at 3.3. 

Dillon Brooks had his best game of the calendar year with 16 points while connecting on four 3-pointers. 

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will battle the Denver Nuggets on Friday at 9pm CT inside Ball Arena. It will be the third and final regular season meeting between the Western Conference top 2 seeded teams. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Win, Survive Late Jazz Rally

Jaren Jackson, Jr. at tip-off against the Utah Jazz on February 15, 2023. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the final game before the All-Star break, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Utah Jazz 117-111. The Jazz almost came all the way back, despite being down as many as 24 points. It wasn’t pretty but it sure was gritty. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said he wasn’t too concerned about losing a 24-point lead, adding he was pleased with a win going into the break in the midst of the team’s more recent struggles: “We shouldn’t want anything to be easy. We should want these struggles to make us better. It’s the nature of a long season. You’re going to have your ebbs and flows. We’ve had good moments recently. We’ve embraced some struggles. We’ve been able to put some good work in and start trending in a better direction.”

He added, “Now is an opportunity, for about six days, to get that rest and recuperation and to come back and continue to put in even more work. So, our guys have gained some momentum over the last week, despite having to grind through. But as I’ve always said, these struggles are going to make you better, and we’ve still got a lot of season left to make that happen.”

Jaren Jackson, Jr. put on an All-Star and All-Defensive performance to lead Memphis with 26 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and a career-high five steals to help the Grizzlies to improve to 35-22 on the season. 

With 40 games under his belt, the Block Panther can now be recognized as the NBA block leader at a career-high 3.3 per game. 

Desmond Bane tallied 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists while Ja Morant finished with a near triple double, 20 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds despite a poor shooting night (8-of-26).

Morant is a wizard with the rock! 

Up Next

It’s All-Star break!! The team has a week off for relaxation and recuperation, except for Kenneth Lofton, Jr, Jackson, Jr. and Morant, who will be in Utah for the All-Star festivities. 

Prior to the game, Morant and Jackson, Jr. were honored with their All-Star jerseys.

The Grizzlies will be back in action on February 23rd against the 76ers in Philadelphia. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to Celtics, 119-109 

Brandon Clarke doing Brandon Clarke things. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies headed to Boston for a Sunday afternoon game on national television, and it didn’t go well.  

Let’s get into it.  

How do you solve a problem like the Boston Celtics? I don’t know, and clearly the Grizzlies don’t either. 

Boston beat them on the boards, on the assists, and from three-point range. Getting cooked from outside is not a new phenomenon for this Grizzlies team, but the disparity in three-point shooting was on display and it was not a good look. Trading two-pointers for threes on the other end of the floor isn’t going to give the Grizzlies the outcome they want.  

Also, getting beat on the offensive glass, 14-3, highlighted just how much Memphis misses Steven Adams. Xavier Tillman Sr is a lot of things, but a 7-foot kiwi that feasts on rebounds is not one of them.   

The Celtics played nine players in Sunday’s matchup, and eight of them scored in double figures. In contrast, the Grizzlies played 10 players and only five of them scored in double figures. Jaren Jackson Jr getting into foul trouble was also a hindrance that hurts even more with Adams out.  

Ja Morant mentioned recently that he wasn’t stressing over any Western Conference teams, but the Celtics were on his mind. Sunday’s matchup shows that match-up remains a valid concern for Memphis.  

Grizzlies’ fans did get their first look at Luke Kennard, who put up 4 points and 3 rebounds in his Grizzlies debut. Kennard was a trade deadline move that is supposed to get more three-point shooting for Memphis. They are definitely going to need it for the stretch run after the All-Star break.  

By The Numbers: 

Ja Morant had a game-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Morant struggled from distance, shooting 0 of 4 from beyond the arc.  

Desmond Bane finished the night with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, while shooting 3 of 7 from beyond the arc.  

Jaren Jackson Jr closed out with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. Jackson fouled out in just over 20 minutes of playing time.  

Dillon Brooks ended up with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, while shooting 3 of 7 from three-point range.  

Brandon Clarke led the bench unit with 14 points and 2 rebounds, with a very efficient 7 of 8 field goal attempts.  

Who Got Next? 

The Grizzlies will be returning home to FedExForum for their final game before the All-Star break. They will host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, February 15th. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.