Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Memphis Grizzlies to a 111-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night with a stunning performance of 35 points. The Bucks faced their fourth loss in five games, struggling to maintain their position as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jackson shone in the second half, scoring 25 points, fueling the Grizzlies to their fifth consecutive win against Milwaukee. He showcased his skills by making 14 of 26 shots, including two crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
“I took advantage of the opportunities presented by the defense,” Jackson stated. “I’ve been working hard on my game, and I’m glad I had the chance to demonstrate it.”
Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Bobby Portis scored 19 points, and Malik Beasley added 10. Bucks coach Doc Rivers expressed concern about Antetokounmpo’s health after the game. Despite playing 32 minutes on the second night of back-to-back games, Antetokounmpo appeared fatigued.
“During the middle of the third quarter, I felt he needed a break,” Rivers explained. “He seemed exhausted. As a coach, you have to make those decisions. The medical staff cleared him, but I could see he wasn’t at his best.”
Both teams were without key players due to injuries. The Grizzlies missed Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart, while the Bucks played without Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Patrick Beverley.
GG Jackson contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, while Brandon Clarke, returning from an Achilles tendon injury, scored 14 points. The Grizzlies dominated the paint, outscoring the Bucks 76-36, with Jaren Jackson leading the charge.
A quick 9-0 run by the Grizzlies gave them a 98-90 lead with 4:17 left in the game, powered by seven points from Jaren Jackson. From there, the Bucks couldn’t narrow the gap to less than four points.
Antetokounmpo’s fourth foul in the third quarter forced him to the bench, and the Grizzlies capitalized on his absence. Jaren Jackson scored nine points in the quarter, helping Memphis erase a six-point deficit and take a one-point lead into the final period.
Lillard missed his third straight game due to a right groin injury, while Beverley was sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Middleton, who scored 24 points against the Wizards, did not play due to the team’s practice of resting him in back-to-back games.
Rivers hinted that Lillard could return against Toronto on Friday if he’s fully recovered. Since Rivers took over as coach, Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Lillard have played together only six times out of 40 games.
