Memphis Grizzlies players huddle up in a game against the Toronto Raptors on February 5, 2025. (Photo: Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies overcame a lackluster first half, trailing 59-53, with an explosive second-half performance, scoring a season-high 85 points, to dominate the Toronto Raptors, 138-107. The win extends their impressive run of 10 victories in their last 11 games and a current four-game winning streak.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the charge for the Grizzlies with 32 points on 62.5 percent shooting, complemented by five rebounds and four assists. This performance marked his third consecutive game with 30-plus points and his ninth straight game with 20-plus points, both career highs.
Ja Morant delivered a strong performance, scoring 26 points on 64.3 percent shooting, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists. He also exploded for 16 points in the third quarter, matching his season-high for points in a single quarter.
Morant and Jackson Jr. have now both scored 25-plus points in back-to-back games, highlighting their impressive offensive chemistry.
In his hometown NBA debut, Toronto native Zach Edey made history, logging a career-best third-consecutive double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Edey became the first Memphis Grizzlies rookie since Pau Gasol in 2002 to record three straight double-doubles, with Gasol having achieved four consecutive double-doubles that March and April.
Completing the teamâs solid performance, Brandon Clarke scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds, with Scotty Pippen Jr. adding 12 points and five rebounds.
The Grizzlies received a boost, as their injury list shrunk, with the return of Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr., both of whom had been sidelined.
The Grizzlies are gearing up to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at FedExForum on Saturday, February 8th, at 7 p.m. CT. The highly anticipated matchup pits the top two teams in the Western Conference against each other.
Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a shot against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 2, 2025 (Photo: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies moved to 33-16 with a 132-119 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Sunday, securing their seventh win in eight games and a 2-0 season series sweep.
Memphis dominated the boards, outrebounding Milwaukee 61-36, with a 22-8 edge in offensive rebounds. The Grizzlies also held a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring the Bucks 66-36.
Memphis seized control of the game in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bucks 39-20. During this decisive period, the Grizzlies made 15 of their 27 shot attempts.
All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Memphis Grizzlies with 37 points, including 16 in the final period. This performance showcased his ability as one of the leagueâs top fourth-quarter scorers, where he ranks ninth with an average of seven points per game.
Jackson Jr. had a solid shooting performance, making 12 of his 26 field goal attempts and seven of his 13 three-pointers.
In the absence of star guard Ja Morant due to injury, the Grizzlies received significant contributions from others as Santi Aldama scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. Desmond Bane also had a strong outing, posting 22 points and nine rebounds while shooting 9-15 from the field.
Zach Edey nabbed his sixth career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in 18 minutes of play. Off the bench Scotty Pippen Jr. had nine points, 10 assists â eight of which came in the final frame
Although GG Jackson II didnât have a good shooting night, he did have a highlight block against Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jackson II chipped in five points and eight rebounds.
The Grizzlies are back at FedExForum tonight, February 3rd, to take on the San Antonio Spurs at 7 p.m. CT. Memphis has a 2-0 edge in the season series.
Jaren Jackson Jr. handles the ball in a game against the New York Knicks on January 27, 2024 at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies struggled mightily against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks ended the Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak with a dominant 143-106 victory.
The Grizzliesâ ball-control issues led to a season-high 26 turnovers, including 20 steals from the Knicks, which they capitalized on, scoring 36 points off turnovers.
New York also dominated Memphis in fast break points, outscoring them 31-9. The Knicks put up 83 points in the second half.
Following the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins offered his assessment of the team’s performance. He said, âWe didn’t have it for 48 minutes. Give the Knicks a lot of credit â they played great tonight. (I) thought their physicality was great. We had so many uncharacteristic moments in the game â defensively and offensively â definitely not our best tonight.â
Jenkins continued: âWe were just out of sync from the very get-go. I mean, I thought their physicality was good, just some of our decision making was tough. And, we struggled finishing. So overall, give them credit, they played a great physical brand of basketball that we struggled with all night.â
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 21 points, shooting 8 of 14 from the field, and added four rebounds and two blocked shots.
Prior to the game, Jackson Jr. earned his first-ever NBA Western Conference Player of the Week award. He guided the Grizzlies to a perfect 4-0 record, averaging 25.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The All-Star candidate’s stellar week was highlighted by his excellent shooting, with a field goal percentage of 57.6%, a three-point percentage of 38.1%, and a free throw percentage of 82.6%.
Desmond Bane contributed 16 points and 4 assists, but struggled with ball control, committing a team-high 6 turnovers.
Ja Morant scored 10 points on 5-13 shooting with two assists in 27 minutes, a departure from what we are used to seeing from the superstar guard.
Zach Edey had a strong outing, tallying 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks, just shy of a double-double.
The Grizzlies are gearing up for a showdown with the Houston Rockets at FedExForum this Thursday, January 30th, at 8:30 p.m. CT. You can catch the action live on TNT. The matchup promises to be an exciting one, as both teams are vying for the second spot in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are currently 31-16, while the Rockets stand at 31-14.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey tap hands during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, January 24, 2025. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
On Friday night at FedExForum, the Memphis Grizzlies secured their fifth consecutive win, defeating New Orleans, 139-126, and halting the Pelicans’ four-game winning streak in the process.
Memphis improved to 30-15 on the season and 18-5 at FedExForum.
The Pelicans ended the first half on a high note, going on a 15-2 run to take a 71-62 lead into the break. However, Memphis had other plans in the third period.
The Grizzlies came out scorching in the second half, making their first 14 shots and erupting for 43 points in the third quarter on 17-of-22 shooting. They also dished out a season-best 13 assists in the quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 29 points, highlighted by a 15-point outburst in the third quarter. He shot with precision, making 10 of 16 field goals and 5 of 9 three-point attempts and dished out a career-high-tying seven assists.Â
— Grizzlies On FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Grizzlies) January 25, 2025
Jackson Jr. said he believes the Grizzlies’ three-point shooting “opens it all up” and forces defenses to adjust. He praised teammates Luke Kennard, Jaylen Wells, and Desmond Bane for making smart passes, and also commended Wells for his consistent shooting.
Jackson Jr. credits the Grizzlies’ improved team flow for making Bane’s shots easier and more open. He also praised Kennard’s consistent shooting, noting that when Bane and Kennard are making shots, others contribute with good shooting nights.
Jackson Jr. said effective communication is essential to the Grizzlies’ defense, enabling players to stay alert and make informed decisions. He noted that the team is addressing defensive struggles by communicating loudly and attributed many of these issues to a lack of awareness, rather than a lack of effort.
Kennard had a standout performance, scoring 27 points and dishing out six assists. He shot impressively, converting 10 of 14 field goals and 7 of 9 three-pointers. Notably, Kennard has been on a hot streak from beyond the arc, making 14 of his last 20 three-point attempts over the past two games.
Following the game, the Duke alum shared his thoughts on his recent surge: âWhen you have the ball in your hands, you have to be even more focused trying to make the right play, being aggressive. And for me, I think Coach (Taylor Jenkins) knows if I have the ball in my hands, especially early in the game, (it) gets me going a little bit â gets me into a rhythm. So credit to Coach for just trusting me in that aspect, getting me going early and getting me involved in the game.”
Kennard recognized Ja Morant and Bane as the team’s primary ball handlers, and said that his focus is on being aggressive without the ball and making smart, aggressive decisions when he does get the opportunity to handle it.
Bane had another phenomenal game, tying his season high with 14 assists and adding 20 points. The performance marked his seventh consecutive game with 20+ points and his fourth double-double of the season. Bane’s consistent scoring and ability to facilitate for his teammates have been key factors in the Grizzlies’ success.
Bane pointed out that the Grizzlies’ newfound proficiency from beyond the arc has made opponents think twice about leaving players like Jaren Jackson Jr., Morant, or himself unguarded:Â “This creates opportunities for easy scores or open shots when defenses provide help.â
Rookie Zach Edey delivered a notable performance, securing his fifth career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. His well-rounded effort also included three assists, one steal, and two blocks.
If the Bluff City had an Athlete of the Year for 2024, it was University of Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan. The senior piled up records like a greedy 5-year-old under the Christmas tree. Henigan became the first Tiger signal-caller to toss 100 touchdown passes (104) and climbed to 13th on the FBS career passing-yardage chart (14,266). Best of all, he led Memphis to an 11-2 record, a third straight postseason victory (over West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl), and finished his career with 34 wins, a mark no future Tiger quarterback is likely to match. Add the heroics of running back Mario Anderson Jr. â 1,362 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns â and Memphis is all but certain to finish in the AP Top 25 for only the fourth time in program history.
The Tigersâ gridiron success made for some late-year balance to an otherwise disappointing 12 months in Memphis sports. Ravaged by injuries (and a lengthy suspension for star guard Ja Morant), the Memphis Grizzlies missed the NBA playoffs for the first time in three years. The only silver lining: A miserable record (27-55) earned the Grizz the ninth selection in the draft, a pick they used to acquire towering center Zach Edey, the two-time national college player of the year at Purdue. As 2025 approaches, Memphis is near the top of the Western Conference standings. Letâs call 2024 a hibernation year in Grizzlies history.
College basketball was no less disappointing. Coach Penny Hardawayâs Tigers roared to a 15-2 start, climbing to a ranking of 10th in the country ⊠only to bumble their way through their American Athletic Conference schedule, finishing with a mark of 22-10 and missing out on the NCAA tournament. David Jones won the AAC scoring title in his only season in blue and gray, but an 11-7 record in that league doesnât impress come March.
On the diamond, slugging first baseman Luken Baker starred for the Redbirds, leading the International League in home runs a second straight season despite a late-summer promotion to the St. Louis Cardinals. Baseball Americaâs Pitcher of the Year, Quinn Mathews, finished his season with Memphis, tossing his 200th strikeout of the season â a minor-league rarity â in a Redbirds uniform. Look for Mathews to anchor the 2025 rotation (until the Cardinals decide heâs needed in St. Louis).
Memphis said goodbye to our USL Championship soccer club, 901 FC. Without a soccer-only stadium in the plans, the franchise is moving to Santa Barbara, California, after six up-and-down seasons at AutoZone Park. For the sports historians, 901 FC put up an overall record of 76 wins, 62 losses, and 45 draws.
Hideki Matsuyama won the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship (FESJC) at TPC Southwind, this being the third year Memphis has hosted the opening tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Along with the Southern Heritage Classic and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the FESJC is an annual reminder that Memphis can put on a show like few other cities in the world of sports. Let the 2025 games begin.
Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a layup in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. (Photo by: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Two Western Conference rivals delivered an electrifying performance Wednesday night, with the Lakers narrowly defeating the Grizzlies 128-123, capping off their second exciting matchup this season. After allowing L.A. to score nearly 40 points in the first quarter, Memphis rallied to pull within one point at halftime. The game see-sawed through the second half, but All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to hold off a late Memphis charge.
In the loss, Memphis show-cased impressive depth and balanced scoring, with seven players â including four reserves â reaching double-digits.
The Lakers achieved a season-best 20 three-pointers, but were outpaced by the Grizzlies, 58-36, in points scored in the paint.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way for Memphis with 29 points and seven rebounds. Despite the team’s injury-plagued start to the 2024-25 season, Jackson Jr. has been a consistent bright spot, scoring in double digits in every game he’s played. Through 10 appearances, he is averaging 22.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.
After the game Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins shared his thoughts about the team’s performance, âYeah, great fight by the guys. [We] dug ourselves a pretty big hole. [We] canât give up 40 points in the first quarter on the road. I thought we let them get a little too comfortable. Way too comfortable, honestly. In the first quarter, we were taking the ball to the net too much and there were fouls and then we couldn’t run.â
âLuckily, we found our groove in the second and third quarters,â added Jenkins. âWe made that run in the fourth quarter. It just was a battle until the end. [Iâm] proud of the fight. We definitely had a learning opportunity here. We got to come up better in the first quarter on the road.â
Jenkins concluded, âWe had a couple of breakdowns defensively. They had some great execution with some zooming action and backdoor play for LeBron [James]. I thought we had some pretty good looks from the offensive side that didn’t fall. But I give them credit. They executed pretty well the last five minutes.â
History Maker
LeBron James will go down as one of the best players who ever stepped on a basketball court. He continues to make history, and Wednesday night against Memphis was no exception, as James, at 39, became the oldest player in NBA history to record three consecutive triple-doubles, surpassing his own record, set five years ago. Against the Grizzlies, he racked up 35 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds. It marked James’ 40th career 30-point triple-double and his fourth triple-double this season, solidifying his position as one of the all-time NBA greats.
That’s What They Said
Before fouling out, Zach Edey finished with 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
âHeâs a big body. Heâs 7â4,” said Davis, who defended Edey. “When you have a guy like that, itâs hard to score and rebound, especially on the rebounding. He made a couple shots over me. And then you go to Friday against another guy in Victor Wembanyama. These guys are extremely tall, so you definitely have to put your work in a little early trying to push him out.â
The Grizzlies’ Luke Kennard on Edey: âHe’s been doing a great job of continuing to run the floor, being aggressive, protecting the paint, and that’s big for us. One of our biggest defensive keys is protecting the paint with everything that weâve got. So having him down there, just being that presence; it really defers a lot of guys going to the rim. It’s stuff that really doesn’t show up on stat sheets. But I know personally, if I drive and I see a dude like that in there, it makes me want to pass the ball. But he’s been doing a great job. I feel like he’s picking stuff up really fast. We’re only … 11 games in now, or 12? He’s done a great job and [Iâm] proud of him, how he’s really handled things.â
Who Got Next
The Grizzlies are set to face off against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Friday at 9 p.m. CT, for NBA Cup Group Play. The matchup marks their first meeting of the season. The Warriors, with a 9-2 record, are looking strong. The Grizzlies stand at 7-5.
Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (1) shoots the ball as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13), John Konchar (46) and Ja Morant (12) attempt to block the shot during the first half at FedExForum on October 30, 2024 (Wes Hale Photo)
The Memphis Grizzlies dropped to 2-3 on the season, falling 119-106 at home to the Brooklyn Nets. Injury woes continued, as starters Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane exited the game with ankle issues.
Despite favorable expectations, Memphis underperformed, hindered by careless ball handling which led to 22 turnovers that Brooklyn capitalized on for 31 points.
The Grizzlies’ quest for a faster tempo remains elusive, marred by sloppy execution and costly mistakes.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins expressed disappointment in the Grizzlies’ defensive performance, and praised the Nets offense. He admitted his team failed to execute their planned strategy and took responsibility for not adequately preparing them.Â
âWe just have to fill our cup,â Jenkins said, on dealing with injuries. âTomorrow, [we play] a great [Milwaukee] Bucks team, and they’re going to be hungry for a win. We’re hungry for a win. It’s going to be two teams battling.âÂ
He continued, âWe have to bring a better effort tomorrow, and whoever’s available to play has to go out there and compete even better than we’ve done the last two games. The guys are feeling it. They know it’s unacceptable.â
âWe [the coaches] have to find a way to be included,â Jenkins concluded. âI have to lead better âI have to prepare them better. Our guys have to go out and play better, so it all comes down to responsibility. We’ll just take it day by day. I donât know where weâre going to stand tomorrow, but once we get through, we know weâve still got depth that can go out there and can be better [than] before.â
Jaren Jackson Jr. poured in a season-high 30 points, shooting 83% from the field (10-12) and perfect from three (3-3), with 7-10 from the free throw line, his 23rd career 30-point game.
Ja Morant posted 14 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists, securing his 64th career double-double and second of the season, despite shooting 5-16 from the field and 1-6 from three.
Zach Edey tied his career high and Brandon Clarke set a season high, each scoring 13 points. Edey went 6-9 from the field and 1-2 from the line, while Clarke shot a perfect 5-5 from the field and 3-3 from the free throw line.
No Time to Panic
Although disappointing, it’s only 5 games out of 82. As Jackson Jr. said last night, âCan’t panic. Soldiers don’t panic. Should never panic. Panic just makes it worse, makes anything worse. You just stay calm and work on what you have to do â work on your craft.âÂ
Up NextÂ
The Grizzlies’ four-game home stand comes to a close on Thursday, October 31, with a showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 PM CST.
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 2023â2024 season, beginning with standout point guard Ja Morantâs 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 7â4â Purdue center Zach Edey, who addressed a gap in the teamâs roster. The remainder of the league is in for some terrifying hours if Edeyâs 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 teamâs 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.âs 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 Grizzliesâ efforts this year?
The Grizzlies will be considered underdogs to begin the season due to recency bias in the national mediaâs expected rankings. That being said, itâs for the best because thatâs where this squad excels.
âWe know who we are; we know what weâre capable of. Itâs just about going out there and doing it now,â 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 seasonâs 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 yearâs 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 clubâs 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 6â9â, highly athletic Jackson II on the court, it provides the team dynamic options, particularly in half-court sets. Last season, fans didnât 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 Morantâs synergy.
The Grizzlies need to get back to their brand of basketball. When Memphis was the Western Conference runner-up in 2021â22 and 2022â23, 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, Memphisâ offensive rating was the worst in the league.
Edey and Morantâs pick-and-rolls will feed families this season. Edeyâs 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 âwhat have you done for me latelyâ league, some may have forgotten about Morantâs presence on the court.
âA happy Ja is a scary Ja,â according to Morant, who made the bold proclamation during last monthâs 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 2022â23, 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 Grizzliesâ success, so heâs 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 leagueâs most exciting players, and he will make sure the league remembers who he is.
