The Memphis Grizzlies (18-31) fell to the Golden State Warriors (21-24) on Friday night at FedExForum, 121-101. Memphis has lost four straight games in the last seven days.
“I know we’re not getting the results, but the Grizzlies stand for competitiveness for 48 minutes,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “The fourth quarter learning opportunities we’re getting from Indiana, Sacramento the other night, and then tonight, are going to be great for us.”
“We’re working through some things,” Jenkins went on to say. “Guys are taking advantage of their opportunities. Guys are stepping up in different roles, maybe the full 48 minutes, or it’s a spark in the third quarter, or helping to start the game. We’re just trying to figure it out one game at a time. I’m just really impressed with how these guys are coming out there. They’re trying to take on the challenge. They’re not letting this game get out of hand at any point in the first half, or even in the third quarter.”
“We’re battling and we’ve just got to come up with those plays in that fourth quarter, and hopefully even have cleaner games in the first three quarters. Maybe we have a bigger lead going into the fourth. You win in different ways. You’re going to lose in different ways. The fact that we’re competing and giving ourselves a chance, that’s the thing that sticks out the most.”
Injuries have plagued the Grizzlies all season; however, Luke Kennard & Derrick Rose returned to the lineup Friday in limited minutes off the bench. Rose finished with 12 points and four assists while Kennard added six points.
The man of the match was second-year guard Jacob Gilyard who is on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies. Gilyard finished with a career-high 16 points, five assists, two steals, and a highlight block on Steph Curry.
After the game, the 24-year-old said, “I tried to be a little more aggressive tonight. I didn’t get yelled at, but I got told to be more aggressive. Especially with how teams have been guarding Jaren [Jackson Jr.], having guns to shoot, shooters out there to help them out, you make life easier for them.”
“Great floor command out there … I thought he did a great job getting the guys organized,” Jenkins said of Gilyard’s performance. “We keep stressing how we’re going to get to the paint: pick-and-rolls, screen rolls. His ability to facilitate our offense, but then to have a scoring night when we’ve challenged him to be even more aggressive shooting the three. I’m glad that he had a night like that tonight.”
Jackson Jr., who had a team-high 27 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks had complimentary things to say about Gilyard.
“I think Gilly (Gilyard) is great,” Jackson Jr. said. “He’s a great defender, great at getting steals and he can honestly shoot the lights out. I tell him that every day, and he rolls his eyes. There are some he makes where I look pissed, because it’s like, ‘You can make them anytime you want.’”
“He’s unreal, his playmaking gets us in those sets. He slows it down, speeds it up,” Jackson Jr. went on to say. “He’s not getting ripped because he’s good at ball handling. I’m glad he’s doing all that when you never know when you’re playing, really.”
Vince Williams Jr. chipped in 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists while David Roddy had 16 points and four assists.
The Grizzlies will head to Boston to take on the Celtics on Sunday, February 4 at 5 p.m. CT.
