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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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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Defeated by Timberwolves’ Late-Game Comeback

Jaren Jackson Jr takes the ball to the basket against Rudy Gobert.
Jaren Jackson Jr takes the ball to the basket against Rudy Gobert. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images

With a final score of 118-103, the Memphis Grizzlies were defeated by the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night, in the first game of a four-game road trip, with a little help from an old friend.

Let’s get into it.

This is one game where the final score doesn’t tell the whole story, as much as a 15-point loss can. Memphis played three excellent quarters of basketball. Unfortunately, it was still a four-quarter game, and a 20-point deficit in the 4th was too much for the Grizzlies to overcome.

The first quarter was going well for Memphis until Naz Reid checked in for Minnesota and ruined it by scoring 13 points on 5 of 5 field goal shooting (3 of 3 from three-point range), as the Timberwolves ended the quarter on a 13-3 run and overshadowed a 15-point quarter from Jaren Jackson Jr.

The teams were tied at 30 points apiece going into the second quarter, and the Grizzlies took a 5-point lead into halftime. In the second half, Luke Kennard put up 15 of his 18 points in the third quarter, shooting 5 of 6 overall and 4 of 4 from beyond the arc. Anthony Edwards scored 14 of his 28 points in the third quarter, keeping the Timberwolves in the game.

The fourth quarter is where the wheels fell off for Memphis, starting with Jaren Jackson Jr picking up his 5th foul with 10 minutes remaining. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins not challenging any of Jackson’s fouls was an ill-advised decision.

Mike Conley added insult to injury in the final frame, shooting a perfect 3 of 3 overall and 2 of 2 from three. Conley’s 17 points for the game matched the Grizzlies’ 17 points for the fourth quarter.

By The Numbers:

Jaren Jackson Jr finished the night with a game-high 36 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block.

Please enjoy this clip of Jackson Jr knocking down a three in the face of Rudy Gobert:

Kennard took advantage of his appearance in the starting lineup, closing out the night with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Vince Williams Jr added 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, Xavier Tillman Sr closed out with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

From the second unit:

Santi Aldama put up 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. David Roddy added 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are heading to the Windy City Saturday night to face off against the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Short-Handed Grizzlies Fall to Knicks

G.G. Jackson II drives the ball against Isaiah Hartenstein.
G.G. Jackson II drives the ball against Isaiah Hartenstein. Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE for Getty Images.

With a final score of 106-94, the Memphis Grizzlies were defeated by the New York Knicks, making it their second loss in as many nights. Injuries continue to plague the Grizzlies as they have all season, but adding Jaren Jackson Jr and Desmond Bane to the injured list made this a hard game to watch.

Let’s get into it.

Memphis began the season with a starting lineup that while missing its star point guard and center, still included two all-star caliber players. They entered Saturday night’s matchup with eight players who were more fitting as G-league all-stars and then lost one of those players after just 1:19 of playing time.

Here is a visualization of the Grizzlies’ current roster situation.

All of the players listed in orange are unavailable due to injury.

Keeping in mind that two of the eight players shown are on two-way contracts, that leaves the Grizzlies with six available active roster players.

It’s hard to be positive about how this season has gone for Memphis, who now have more of their active roster on the injured list than off it. But one bright spot in Saturday night’s game was seeing rookie and two-way player G. G. Jackson II put up a career-high 20 points in his seventh career NBA game. Jackson was drafted by the Grizzlies as the 45th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

Head coach Taylor Jenkins had nothing but praise for Jackson postgame, remarking that “he took advantage of the opportunity” and that “it was a good step in the right direction getting his first true NBA minutes.”

After last season’s ill-advised focus on rookies David Roddy, Jake LaRavia, Kennedy Chandler, and Kenneth Lofton Jr, the Grizzlies have had no choice but to lean on Roddy and to some extent LaRavia this season.

Jake LaRavia, who has spent most of the season with the Memphis Hustle, was called up for the game against the Knicks but was checked out with a sprained left ankle after less than two minutes of action.

In the first half, the Grizzlies outscored the Knicks 57-53, but that small lead was obliterated in short order after the Knicks outscored the Grizzlies 30-15 in the third quarter.

The team accumulated a season-high 14 steals, led by Xavier Tillman Sr.’s six steals, a career-high.

Even after taking advantage of 23 New York turnovers and converting them to 23 Memphis points, shooting struggles and lack of depth prevented the Grizzlies from clawing out a victory.

The team’s 19-game streak of 10 or more made three-pointers came to an end as Memphis struggled from long-range, shooting a collective 23.7% (9 of 38) from beyond the arc.

In an unusual showing, the Grizzlies highest scoring player of the night came from their second unit. G.G. Jackson II led the team with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. He was followed by Vince Williams Jr., who closed out the night with 17 points, 8 rebounds, a career-high 8 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

David Roddy finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. Luke Kennard also put up 14 points, along with 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Tillman added 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and a career-high 6 steals.

From the second unit, Ziaire Williams added 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will complete their three-game homestand Monday, facing off against the Golden State Warriors in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Game. Tip-off is at 5 PM CST.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Undermanned Grizzlies Rise to the Occasion Against Mavericks

Desmond Bane dribbles the ball against the Mavericks.
Desmond Bane dribbles the ball against the Mavericks. Credit: NBAE/Getty Images

The final score was 120-103, a respectable win in a game that most expected the Grizzlies to lose. A short-handed Memphis team put the clamps on a healthy Dallas squad, on their home floor no less, and snapped the Mavericks’ three-game winning streak. 


It was the first game Memphis played since the news about Ja Morant’s season-ending torn labrum, and while this Grizzlies team was certainly feeling down, they didn’t show it on the court. Jaren Jackson Jr and Santi Aldama were also sidelined for Tuesday night’s game, both with knee soreness. 

Let’s get into it.

Try as they might have, not even 30-point games from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic could lift the Mavericks to a victory, nor could Dallas’s 21 points off of 17 Memphis turnovers.

In the absence of Morant and Jackson Jr, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart stepped up. Bane scored a team-high 32 points and Smart shot a team-high 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.

The outcome of the rebounding battle has been a fairly accurate predictor of success for the Grizzlies this season and this game was no exception– the Grizzlies outrebounded the Mavericks 54-33.

For reference, Memphis is 0-21 when they have fewer rebounds than their opponent, and 13-1 when they have more.

In addition to winning the battle of the boards, the Grizzlies beat the Mavericks in three-point shooting (37.8% vs 33.3%), overall shooting (48.4% vs 43.9%), and assists (27 to 20).

Bane led the way with a team-high 32 points, plus 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

Marcus Smart closed out the night with 23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals while shooting 4 of 8 from three-point range.

Luke Kennard put up 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 3 of 4 from long range.

From the second unit:

Vince Williams Jr added 14 points and 4 rebounds.

Xavier Tillman Sr added 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.

David Roddy contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

-manned, outnumbered, out-planned. That has been the story of the Memphis Grizzlies this season, and while a deep postseason run is likely not in the cards, neither is this team just lying down and admitting defeat.

Who Got Next?

After going 3-0 on their three-game road trip, the Grizzlies will return home for a three-game homestand starting with the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, January 12th. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.

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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

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

Déjà Vu for Ja Morant

Ja Morant (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

On Mother’s Day, we woke up to the news that Ja Morant was playing with a gun on Instagram Live. This was not the incident that happened in March. It was something new. 

Just over two months after being suspended for similar behavior, the Memphis Grizzlies guard was suspended from team activities on Sunday for displaying a handgun on IG Live once again.

Hasn’t he learned a lesson? We all pondered. Why is he fascinated with displaying firearms? He served an 8-game suspension for the first incident and took steps to curtail that behavior. 

His ill-advised actions have made him the topic of conversation throughout the world. His destructive and immature behaviors sparked discussions about a wide range of social issues.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was somber speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Tuesday night about Morant. Silver was disappointed because he took Morant’s word that he understood the severity of his actions and was contrite. 

Silver said he and Morant had talked “directly about the consequences” after the March incident that showed Morant at a Denver-area nightclub briefly holding up a gun in a video that was recorded and shared on various social media platforms. 

“Honestly, I was shocked when I saw that video this weekend,” Silver told Andrews. “Now, we’re in the process of investigating it, and we’ll figure out exactly what happened as best we can. Again, the video’s a bit grainy and all that, but I’m assuming the worst. But we’ll figure out exactly what happened there.”

The entire interview can be watched here: 

“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me,” the 23-year-old said in a statement Tuesday night shortly after Silver’s interview. “This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”

Yes, it is disappointing, and the stakes are high. It not only affects Morant but his family, his friends, his teammates, the Grizzlies organization, and the NBA too. He has everything to lose.

But was he ready for the spotlight that he has been given? Is the pressure too much for him?

Morant lost about $668,000 in compensation during his first ban, and since he didn’t make an All-NBA team, he lost $39 million.

Morant sought counseling after his incident in March because he believed his “stress level had been becoming a problem” before the nightclub incident. “I had considered [seeking help], but I was back and forth,” he said. “I was pretty much afraid to leave the team. I felt that it was needed, and it helped me out a lot.”

He says it’s an ongoing process. Two months ago he talked about his off the court behavior, and we are at a crossroads again. He has work to do. 

Morant has been reckless, true enough, and he has so many things to work on. But the one thing that is most concerning is that he keeps putting the gun to his head on both videos. Why? Only Morant can answer that question. 

We are a country that loves guns. Tennessee is an open carry state; it is legal to carry a weapon without a permit as of July 1, 2021. Tennesseans who have been convicted of driving under the influence, domestic violence, or stalking are not eligible. Neither are felons or individuals who have been committed by the court to a mental institution.

Morant can legally be in possession of a firearm. If it’s legal, why are people so mad about it? Martenzie Johnson eloquently wrote, “Morant is a representation of this country’s infatuation with guns, but because of his celebrity … and recklessness … and defiance … and skin color, he’s not the visual representation of gun ownership that this country seeks out. He’s not the All-American white boy who likes to hunt or protect his family or whatever other excuse there is to own weapons in this country. He’s viewed as just another ghetto boy from the inner city who brings back memories of the crime-ridden 1980s and 1990s.”

He is viewed as a criminal who has little kids looking up to him and that will somehow make them criminals. That is the optics. Memphis is riddled with gun violence. We see it daily on the news, EVERY DAY! Morant has accountability, but is this viewed differently than when we see assault rifles displayed in photos or videos or carried in your local Wal-Mart? What’s the difference? This is not excusing Morant’s behavior, we just want to know why one is accepted and the other is not. 

The NBA is going to protect its brand, and Morant will serve another suspension again. The question is how long. He will be judged by his past incidents, and the suspension may be severe due to conduct detrimental to the NBA, and for lying to Adam Silver’s face. He may be punished harshly for hypothetical violence instead of actual violence. Miles Bridges was suspended for 30 games without pay (with 20 already served even though he wasn’t signed to an NBA team last season) after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence. Bridges’ incident was far worse than Morant’s however, the Grizzlies guard might be made an example of. 

We can be all disappointed in Morant’s behavior but still show him some grace. We don’t know when we will need such grace. It’s all up to him to take care of his well-being. 

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Sports

Grizzlies Blow Out Warriors

Tyus Jones shoots a floater against the Golden State Warriors. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE for Getty Images)

On Thursday night at FedExForum, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State Warriors in a wire-to-wire victory by a score of 131-110. 

Memphis improved to 39-26 overall and 27-5 at home, while the Warriors dropped to 34-33 and 7-26 away from San Francisco. 

For the game, the Grizzlies had a 53.8% field goal percentage and a 45% three-point clip (18-of-40). 

Memphis won the points in the paint battle 56-36, outrebounded Golden State 42-32, and dished out 36 assists.

Tidbits 

Ja Morant and Steven Adams

The Grizzlies announced Monday that Morant would be away for at least four more games after being away from the team following an incident in Colorado.

Morant missed his third straight game on Thursday against the Warriors. Prior to the game, Coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters about Morant’s absence, “I can’t share details. There’s definitely steps that are going to have to be met personally and professionally as he deals with some stuff personally to get better. Then obviously the expectations on the team, he’s going to have some things that he’s going to have to clear to know what the expectations are when he does return. Again, he’s out at least the next four games. I know everyone wants to know, ‘What’s this going to be?’ It’s the hot topic for sure, but he’s taking time. His responsibility to get better personally, that’s a big factor in this, and also, his responsibility to the team is something we’re addressing with him. He’s fully on board and has been communicative with our group.”

Per a medical update released yesterday, Steven Adams underwent a stem cell injection as part of his ongoing recovery process for a PCL sprain in his right knee. Adams’ condition will be reevaluated in four weeks. 

The news about this setback in Adams’ recovery, combined with Brandon Clarke being done for the season after an Achilles tear, leaves Memphis at a disadvantage in the center position. 

In the three meetings so far this season between these two teams, the home team has taken the victory. The Grizzlies are due to face off against the Warriors again March 18th at FedExForum for their final meeting of the regular season, so here is hoping that pattern continues. 

Any meeting between these two teams tends to be chippy, and this one was no exception. There was also the underlying expectation of a clash between Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks. Spoiler alert: Brooks handily won this round, and despite what Green may say about being unbothered, his postgame remarks told a different story. 

Everyone that watched the 2016 NBA finals knows the truth.

The Grizzlies opened the game and immediately asserted dominance, racking up 48 points in the first quarter, which is the highest-scoring opening frame in franchise history. Heading into the second quarter, the Grizzlies carried a 20-point lead, and despite Steph Curry being very Steph Curry, the Warriors went into the second half still down by 18. They outscored Memphis 34-22 in the third period but were not able to continue that in the fourth quarter. 

As of late, the fourth quarter has been like kryptonite to the Grizzlies, but thankfully that would not be the case here. The Warriors managed to cut the Grizzlies lead to 6, and Memphis responded by putting their collective feet on the Warriors’ necks and not letting up. Memphis outscored Golden State 32-17 in that final frame and that was the ballgame. The Warriors shooting 10% from three-point range in the fourth, and the Grizzlies shooting 62.5% from long range, was the nail in the coffin. 

By The Numbers:

Tyus Jones had a team-high 22 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals.

Jaren Jackson, Jr. finished the night with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Desmond Bane also put up 21 points, along with 2 rebounds and 4 assists.

Dillon Brooks closed out with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.

Santi Aldama lit it up from the bench with 15 points and 7 rebounds on 3 of 5 shooting from beyond the arc.

Who Got Next? 

The Grizzlies will finish out this two-game homestand on March 11th, facing off against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Crush Lakers Behind Historic Night From Morant

Ja Morant takes a shot against the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Tuesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies went on national television and embarrassed Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James watched from the bench as Ja Morant and company put on a masterclass in the second half, setting a few records while coming away with the 121-109 victory.  

Let’s get into it.  

The first half was pretty forgettable, and Memphis trailed by 3 at halftime, with several Grizzlies struggling to make shots. Ja Morant went 3 for 14 in the first half, and Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks shot 1 of 5 and 1 of 8, respectively.  

It was in the second half that this team really came to life on the strength of a record-setting 47-point third quarter, led by Morant’s career-high 28-points.  

The Lakers tried to close the gap in the fourth quarter, at one point cutting the lead to four, but that was followed by an 8-0 run from the Grizzlies punctuated by a pair of dunks from Jackson Jr. and Morant for good measure. 

Enjoy:

By The Numbers: 

As a team, Memphis scored a franchise record 41 points off 26 Lakers turnovers. 

Ja Morant led all scorers with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, his 10th career triple-double, and the highest scoring triple-double in franchise history. Morant’s 28 points in the third quarter are the most by any NBA player in a quarter this season. 

Xavier Tillman Sr. scored a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds, his first double-double of the season.  

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished the night with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks.  

Desmond Bane also finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals.  

Who Got Next? 

No rest for the weary: The Grizzlies are back at it tonight in Houston, facing off against the Houston Rockets. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.  

Categories
Film Features Film/TV

Music Video Monday: “Big League” by Moneybagg Yo ft. Yo Gotti and Mozzy

After an accidental two-week hiatus, Music Video Monday returns with a big win for a Memphis artist.

Tonight is Game 5 of the NBA Finals, with the seven game series between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors tied 2-2. While we all wish the Grizzlies were still in the mix, the soundtrack for the finals have a distinct Memphis flair. Moneybagg Yo and Yo Gotti penned the official song of the NBA finals, “Big League.” It’s all about that moment when the stakes are as high as they get.

Speaking of “as high as it gets,” the video shows game day at the Yo mansion. It’s every bit as decadent as you would expect. Go Grizz, we’ll get ’em next year. Meanwhile, here’s a sick beat from Memphis.

If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com.