Tag: Nikola Jokic

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Tough Loss but Progress for the Grizzlies

Nikola Jokic and Jaren Jackson, Jr. in position for tip-off on Friday, October 27, 2023 inside FedExForum (photo by: Sharon Brown)

For the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday night was full of high points despite losing to the Denver Nuggets (108–104).  Memphis displayed vast improvements in shooting and rebounding from their season-opening loss to the Pelicans. The Grizzlies edged Denver in rebounding 48-39. 

After being held to just two fast-break points in the season opener against New Orleans, the Grizzlies scored 22 against Denver.  And Memphis’ aggressive defense on reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic resulted in nine turnovers for the Nuggets. Jokic finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. 

The Grizzlies, fueled by Jaren Jackson, Jr. used a collective effort to stay within striking distance. After a disappointing performance in the season opener, Jackson had a bounce-back game, leading the Grizzlies with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has eight blocks in two games, tying him for the league lead with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns at 4.0 per game.

“They’re great – great new voices, great leaders,” Jackson on having Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose as teammates. “They have a lot of experience, a lot of things to teach us. They’re here to win and to play hard every night. It’s great to have them around and in the locker room. They’re talented as hell.”

Marcus Smart and Xavier Tillman on Friday, October 27, 2023 against the Denver Nuggets (photo by Sharon Brown)

Smart also gave the Grizzlies a spark. He chipped in 20 points, five assists, and a team-high five steals.  “It’s a challenge, but it’s a great one,” Smart said about adjusting to his new teammates. “It’s different from Boston. You got guys that do different things. It’s just been fun for me to try to figure out everybody’s tendencies, where they like the ball, things that they like to do and that they do very well.”

Rose gave the Grizzlies a much needed boost off the bench, adding 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. He was crucial in a 4th period that saw the Grizzlies have multiple chances to win the game.

After the game he said, “It’s a learning experience — I haven’t played in a year. When I was in New York basically I was a vet trying to be vocal but coming here they’re getting me the opportunity to play and I’m grateful for that.”

Rose continued, as he addressed the media in front of his locker, “I’m just trying to find my groove and trying not to shoot that many shots and get a feel for the game. I understand I have great offensive weapons with me so there’s no need for it. I’m just trying to do anything to win. Thank God I came to a winning team.”

Xavier Tillman, Sr. continued with his solid play as the starting center while Steven Adams is sidelined for the season. Tillman finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. 

“Personally, my goal is to win games, so that’s all I’m worried about,” Tillman said after the loss. “As far as my individual play, my confidence, it comes from my teammates. When we’re out there they’re like, ‘Yo, we believe in you.’ And each and every game, I’ve tried to truly, truly hone in on that, truly hone in on the work that I put in and the trust factor my teammates and the coaches have in me, and just let it ride.”

Memphis is now 0-2 on the new season but taking the defending champs to the distance is something they can build upon. The Grizzlies will have a chance to show that progress tonight as they will face former grizzly Tyus Jones and the Washington Wizards at Capitol One Arena at 6 p.m. CT. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Run Out of Gas Against Nuggets in Double OT

Grayson Allen goes to the basket against the Nuggets. via Grizzlies Twitter

Double. Overtime. Also known as 10 minutes of free basketball in Denver that nobody asked for. The Nuggets were on top, 139-137,  when the final buzzer sounded. It was too little, too late from De’Anthony Melton, who sank a three at the buzzer. So, after leading by as many as 13 points, the Grizzlies dropped the third game of the current seven-game road trip by a measly two points. 

Melton returned from injury and demonstrated exactly why the Grizzlies gave him a multi-year contract over the summer. He missed eight games, came back, and torched the Nuggets with six of 10 from beyond the arc. Impressive, but ultimately not enough to push the Grizzlies to victory.  

There are good reasons why Nuggets center Nikola Jokić is the likely MVP, and they were on display. With Jonas Valančiūnas out due to concussion protocol, Xavier Tillman Sr. was left as the man-to-man matchup against Jokić. Which was less than ideal. Jokić had a game-high 47 points, including a clutch three-point basket near the end of the second overtime period that basically sealed the deal for the Nuggets. 

Close but no cigar.

This was one of those games that, logically, shouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Memphis taking the L, but in practice it was excruciating. 


I could point to several careless mistakes that contributed to the loss, but it felt so incredibly close — up until the last two minutes of the second overtime.  

It should be a learning experience for the young bears, who have struggled to close out games in close situations all season. But in the stretch run leading up to the end of the season, every game counts for the purposes of potential playoff or play-in seeding, and this game may well haunt the Grizzlies down the line.  

By The Numbers:  

Ja Morant lead the Grizzlies with 36 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists, three steals and a block for good measure.  

BLOCKED BY MORANT

Melton lived up to his Mr. Do Something moniker in his first game back from injury, finishing with 25 points, eight rebound, six assists and four steals, including six of 10 from beyond the arc.  

Grayson Allen closed out with 24 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals. 

Xavier Tillman Sr. had the misfortune of being paired against Nikola Jokić, but he still came away with 18 points and 14 rebounds.  

And Kyle Anderson was once again a quiet difference-maker, with 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists.  

Bonus: Things I Learned From Google While Questioning My Life During Commerical Breaks in Overtime 

According to Basketball Reference, Xavier Tillman Sr. (at 6’8”) is somehow only three actual inches shorter than Nikola Jokić’s 6’11”.  That seems low.  

The Denver Nuggets mascot is a mountain lion named Rocky, and not a nugget. Which feels like a missed opportunity for Mile High City.  

Who Got Next? 

The Grizzlies head to Los Angeles, where they will face the Clippers on Wednesday, April 21st. Tip-off is at 9 p.m. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall Short Against Denver, 119-110

CREDIT: NBA.com

On Saturday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver, the Memphis Grizzlies couldn’t get over the hump after scoring just 11 points in the first quarter against the Nuggets. Denver pulled off the victory 119–110. 

The Nuggets improved to 22–9 on the season, while Memphis fell to 12–21. Denver has won eight of its last nine games. The Grizzlies have lost four straight to Denver, overall. 

The Nuggets were up by many as 23 points in the first half before the Grizzlies went on a rally to tighten the game. After scoring just 39 points in the first half, Memphis put up 71 points in the second, but it was not enough to overtake Denver.

NBA.com

Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic garnered his seventh triple-double of the season, with a season-high 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, before fouling out of the game late in the final period.  Jokic now has 35 career triple-doubles.

Jokic wasn’t pleased about giving up a lot of points to the Grizzlies in the second half. “In the first quarter, they score 11 points and in the fourth, they score 42,” said Jokic. “It’s a huge difference. We have to be focused on closing the halves, closing the quarters, closing the games. The fourth quarter is the time our defense needs to be the best; it wasn’t tonight, but we won the game, which is the most important thing.”

Other Denver contributors included former University of Memphis standout, Will Barton, who put up 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds, plus two steals in 36 minutes of play. Mason Plumlee started in his first game of the season for the Nuggets and scored 15 points, with seven rebounds, in 20 minutes. Jamal Murray added 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists. 

Denver won the points in the paint battle, 66–58 (+8)

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 20 points and four rebounds. Jackson discussed how the Grizzlies were able to get back in the game after being down by 23 points: “A lot of better ball movement and a lot of side-to-side play. When we trust our ball movement and trust our pick-and-rolls, we just have much more action with more rhythm, and everyone gets open looks.”

Jackson also discussed how it was to match up with Jokic. “He’s really strong  —  he’s really going to cause some problems,” Jackson added. “He’s a really good passer, too. It’s kind of pick your poison with him when he’s hitting the three-ball. You’ve got to make sure you take one thing away and I definitely didn’t do a good job of that tonight. I definitely could have been better. He’s a good player.”

De’Anthony Melton had 17 points and four rebounds off the bench. Ja Morant tallied 16 points and eight assists. Brandon Clarke added 15 points and five assists while going 6-of-8 from the field. 

Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes for his 17th double-double of the season. It’s his fourth game of the season with 14+ points, 10+ rebounds and two made three-pointers. 


Game Quotes
Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins

On what went wrong:
“Obviously, it was a tough first quarter for us. We were not able to get a lot of shots to fall, both layups and threes, during the first quarter and a half. But, I love our resolve. Our guys were great at half-time and making a run to close out the second quarter. We cut it to three at one point in the third. It got back to seven in the 4th quarter and they made a run. So, for our guys to come in here and compete like that and come up short is obviously unfortunate. But, I’m proud of a lot of things we did tonight.”

On fatigue being a factor once the team came back:

“No, I think our guys were competing at a high level. They made the plays down the stretch, so credit to the Nuggets. They had some offensive rebounds that they came away with, and a couple late passes here and there. They also had some big-time shots, but I think our effort was great for 48 minutes.”

Up Next

The Grizzlies return home to host the Charlotte Hornets in the FedExForum on Sunday night. Tip-off is at 7 pm CST.