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No. 14 Memphis looks to extend its AAC lead against Wichita State in Memphis

Memphis (NCAAB)

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway reached a big milestone Thursday night — his 150th career win.

“What a great 6 1/2 years for me, as far as all the talent that I’ve had and the coaches I’ve had, to be at 150,” Hardaway said after his team’s 80-65 victory at South Florida. “Thank God for the opportunity. I’ve grown so much in the game. Just happy to be here, being able to help the school and the city, you know, just try to advance.”

Hardaway will aim for his next 150 wins Sunday when the 14th-ranked Tigers travel to Wichita, Kan., for an American Athletic Conference game against the Wichita State Shockers.

Memphis (21-4, 11-1) is on an eight-game winning streak and holds a two-game lead over North Texas in the conference standings. The Tigers can improve from their performance at South Florida, where they made only 40.3 percent of their shots and missed 13 out of 30 free throws.

Despite the shooting struggles, the Tigers still cruised to a win thanks to strong rebounding and solid defense. They out-rebounded South Florida 51-34, grabbing 16 offensive boards that led to 16 points, and held the Bulls to 38.3 percent shooting.

Even with the shooting issues, Memphis had four players in double figures, including 15 points from Tyrese Hunter in his first game back after missing a 90-82 win over Temple on Feb. 9 due to a knee injury. It was the first game Hunter has missed in his four seasons, spanning 131 games.

“I got emotional just thinking about it when I first figured out the news,” Hunter said. “But it was for the best of the team.”

Derik Queen (NCAAB)

PJ Haggerty leads Memphis with 21.5 points per game, while Hunter adds 14.5 points and Dain Dainja chips in 12.8 points on 60 percent shooting. Dainja has been averaging just under 20 points per game over his last three games.

While Memphis is playing well, Wichita State (14-10, 4-7) has won three straight games, with their latest victory being a 69-64 win over Texas-San Antonio on Wednesday. The Shockers overcame 20 turnovers by dominating the boards 50-29, with Corey Washington recording a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.

A key reason for Wichita State’s recent success is their defense. Opponents have made only 16 of 69 3-point attempts (23.2 percent) in the last three games, compared to 42.1 percent during the Shockers’ rough 1-7 start to AAC play.

“We’ve made a lot of adjustments but we’ve also grown a lot,” forward Harlond Beverly said. “We’re playing hard-nosed and being tough.”

Wichita State’s improved defense will face a tough challenge against Memphis, which ranks fourth in Division I for 3-point shooting accuracy at 40.1 percent. The Shockers also need to take better care of the ball. They committed 22 turnovers in their 61-53 loss to Memphis on Jan. 23.

Xavier Bell leads Wichita State with 14.6 points per game and makes 86.7 percent of his free throws. Washington adds 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Justin Hill scores 13.3 points per game.

Memphis leads the all-time series 21-13, though Wichita State has a home court advantage with an 8-7 record at home.

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In Memphis, the Grizzlies take on the Thunder in a clash of top Western Conference teams

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Memphis Grizzlies have faced injuries to several key players this season, but one constant has been Jaren Jackson Jr. After missing the first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury, Jackson has been a regular starter, consistently contributing in many areas on the stat sheet.

While Ja Morant remains the team’s star, Jackson has taken big steps forward this season. He leads the Grizzlies in scoring, averaging 23.4 points per game, and has become a dominant presence in the paint, especially in isolation plays, making Memphis a strong contender in the Western Conference.

On Saturday night, Jackson will lead the Grizzlies as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder, led by NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 32.7 points per game, have been at the top of the Western Conference standings for most of the season.

The Thunder enter the game with the best record in the NBA and a 6.5-game lead over the second-place Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are on a hot streak, winning four straight and 10 of their last 11 games, with Jackson playing at a high level. He has scored 30 points in three consecutive games and has scored 20 or more points in nine straight. In a win at Milwaukee on Sunday, Jackson made seven 3-pointers. In Wednesday’s 138-107 win at Toronto, he scored 32 points in just 26 minutes, shooting 10-of-16 from the field. Jackson was named Western Conference Player of the Week in late January, the first time he’s earned that honor.

“It’s awesome to watch Jaren’s evolution as a player, playmaker,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “He’s obviously a dynamic scorer. His growth, his seeing the floor, his poise, his patience, his aggressiveness and force have unlocked a lot for him. (If opponents) throw a double team at him, he’s going to find teammates. And if (teammates) make the right decisions on the back side, we get a layup or a 3. Playmaking through him has been awesome.”

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

With Jackson playing so well and Morant returning recently from a right shoulder injury, the Grizzlies are in a strong position. Desmond Bane, another key player for Memphis, is expected to return after missing the last two games due to an ankle injury.

Oklahoma City, which has won four straight games, will be playing the second game of a back-to-back after defeating Toronto 121-109 on Friday. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in just three quarters. However, the best news for the Thunder was the return of 7-foot-1 center Chet Holmgren, who had been out since November 10. Holmgren played 22 minutes in his return, contributing four points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. His return came ahead of schedule after recovering from a pelvic fracture.

“That’s a reflection of how his body responded, first of all, which he doesn’t have control over,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “But it’s also a result of how motivated he was through the process to get himself back as soon as possible.”

Holmgren had been averaging 16.4 points and 8.7 rebounds before his injury. He started on Friday night alongside Isaiah Hartenstein.

“It’s amazing,” Holmgren said about his return. “I missed it for a long time, and I worked really hard to be able to get back out there. So I’m happy and excited and look forward to continuing to try and help us win and keep improving.”

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No. 17 Memphis aims to avenge their loss to Temple in Philadelphia

No. 17 Memphis (NCAAB)

No. 17 Memphis has had a few close games this season, with just one loss, putting them at the top of the American Athletic Conference.

The Tigers will get a chance to make up for that loss on Sunday afternoon when they play Temple again in another conference game.

When the teams met on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, Temple pulled off an 88-81 upset by doing two key things: Outshooting Memphis from beyond the 3-point line and dominating the rebounding game.

Temple made 9 of 22 3-pointers, while Memphis made only 6 of 21. The Owls also grabbed 49 rebounds compared to Memphis’s 25, with 6-foot-4 senior guard Shane Dezonie leading the way with 13 rebounds and 15 points.

Since then, Memphis (19-4, 9-1) has managed to win its close games, including three decided by four points or less, and coming from behind on Jan. 23 to beat Wichita State 61-53 at home.

In their most recent game, Memphis won 83-71 against Tulsa, pulling ahead in the final 10 minutes. Guard PJ Haggerty scored 23 points in his first game against his former team. Haggerty, who averaged 21.2 points last season for Tulsa, is now averaging 21.7 points per game and has hit 51.1% of his field goals.

Despite Haggerty’s consistency, Tigers coach Penny Hardaway felt the need to check in on him before the game against Tulsa.

“Playing your old team, they’re mad that he left,” Hardaway said. “And they were going to try to take him out of the game.”

That didn’t work, nor did any defense on Dain Dainja. The Illinois transfer had 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, and 3 steals, boosting his scoring average to 12.2 points per game.

No. 19 Memphis and Rice

Memphis increased its Division I-best 3-point percentage to 40.3% by hitting 9 of 21 from beyond the arc (42.9%) and finished with 56.7% shooting from the field (34 of 60).

As Memphis extended its winning streak to six games, Temple (14-9, 6-4) played without its top scorer, Jamal Mashburn Jr., in a 100-91 double-overtime loss at South Florida on Thursday.

Mashburn, who is averaging a career-high 22.1 points per game, has a foot injury, and his status for the Memphis game is uncertain.

Without Mashburn, Zion Stanford and Steve Settle III stepped up. Stanford scored a team-high 23 points off the bench, nearly doubling his average, and Settle added a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Settle’s performance didn’t surprise Mashburn.

“I see him put in the work every single day, and he’s a great, terrific player,” Mashburn said. “He’s really a key piece.”

However, Settle’s efforts weren’t enough to prevent Temple from losing for the third time in five games. Defense has been a major issue during this stretch, as they’ve allowed an average of 89.4 points per game.

Temple’s win over Memphis last month was the first in the last seven meetings, with Memphis leading the series 15-12.

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Top 25 roundup: No. 4 Tennessee edges No. 15 Missouri 85-81 in Memphis

No. 4 Tennessee (NCAAB)

Zakai Zeigler scored a season-high 21 points and added eight assists to lead No. 4 Tennessee to an 85-81 win over No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday night in Southeastern Conference play at Knoxville, Tenn.

Igor Milicic Jr. also scored 21 points and recorded a season-high four blocked shots, along with 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals for Tennessee (19-4, 6-4 SEC), which won its second consecutive game.

Tamar Bates scored 22 points, and Tony Perkins added 16 for Missouri (17-5, 6-3), which lost for the second time in eight games. Caleb Grill had 11 points for the Tigers, who committed only three turnovers and forced 11 Tennessee mistakes.

The Volunteers were hot from behind the arc, making 10 of 15 3-point attempts, and shot 50 percent overall from the field. The Tigers shot 41.7 percent from the field and made 12 of 30 3-point attempts.

No. 2 Duke 83, Syracuse 54

Tyrese Proctor scored 16 points, Kon Knueppel added 12, and the Blue Devils extended their nation-leading winning streak with a dominant win over the host Syracuse.

Cooper Flagg scored 11 points for Duke (20-2, 12-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which never trailed and secured its 16th straight win. The Blue Devils are off to their best start in ACC play since the 2005-06 season (14-0).

Jyare Davis and J.J. Starling each scored 12 points, and Naheem McLeod had 10 for Syracuse (10-13, 4-8), who lost for the fourth time in five games. The Orange finished with their lowest point total of the season.

No. 17 Memphis 83, Tulsa 71

PJ Haggerty scored a game-high 23 points, leading the Tigers to a win over the visiting Golden Hurricane, keeping them at the top of the American Athletic Conference.

Dain Dainja contributed with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots, and three steals for Memphis (19-4, 9-1 AAC), which shot 56.7 percent from the field in their sixth straight win.

No. 19 Memphis and Tulane

Tyshawn Archie scored 17 points off the bench for Tulsa (9-14, 3-7). The Golden Hurricane made 53.6 percent of their shots but suffered their third consecutive loss.

Rutgers 82, No. 23 Illinois 73

Dylan Harper returned from a two-game injury absence to score 28 points, grab six rebounds, and dish out five assists in Rutgers’ 82-73 win over Illinois in Piscataway, N.J.

Ace Bailey added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeremiah Williams scored 13 for Rutgers (12-11, 5-7 Big Ten). After losing a 17-point lead, the Scarlet Knights finished strong with a 15-5 run to seal the win.

Will Riley led Illinois (15-8, 7-6) with 18 points and six assists off the bench, but the Fighting Illini lost for the fifth time in their last eight games.

No. 24 Michigan 80, Oregon 76

Will Tschetter scored 17 points off the bench to help Michigan beat Oregon 80-76 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Danny Wolf had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Vladislav Goldin added 15 points, Nimari Burnett scored 13, and Tre Donaldson had 12 points for Michigan (17-5, 9-2 Big Ten), which won its third straight game.

Jackson Shelstad led Oregon (16-7, 5-7) with 18 points, Nate Bittle scored 16, Keeshawn Barthelemy had 15, and TJ Bamba contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. Oregon has lost four straight games and five of its last six.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Raptors will look to bounce back from their last loss to the Grizzlies when they face off in Toront on Wednesday

Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are looking to get revenge for a tough loss when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies set a franchise record for points in their 155-126 win over the Raptors on December 26.

The Raptors have improved recently, now closer to full strength. Despite losing 121-115 to the New York Knicks on Tuesday, they’ve won eight of their last 11 games.

Toronto made a strong push against the Knicks. After trailing by 23 points, they cut the lead to just one with 3:17 left to play.

“I’m really proud of how we kept our composure during the whole game,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic.

It was a solid night for some younger Raptors players, particularly Jamal Shead. Shead scored 16 points and dished out nine assists in just over 23 minutes, getting significant minutes in the fourth quarter.

“I think that’s a testament to us,” Shead said. “We didn’t shy away from it. I think we accepted the challenge and we looked forward to it. I think it was really fun and we made it fun. We’re young, but that’s how you learn.”

Starting center Jakob Poeltl, who has been dealing with a hip injury, was limited to five points in 15 minutes and didn’t play in the second half. Rajakovic mentioned the injury has been bothering Poeltl for several games, and he took a hit to the hip during the first half.

Memphis, on the other hand, defeated the San Antonio Spurs 128-109 on Monday and has won nine of their last 10 games. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 31 points, followed by GG Jackson with 27, and Ja Morant with 25.

GG Jackson had missed the first 42 games of the season after offseason foot surgery.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

“Really my first injury ever that took me away from the sport, so definitely a lot of mental lapses, a lot of mental battles,” Jackson said.

Brandon Clarke (back) and Desmond Bane (ankle) were out for Memphis on Monday, giving Jackson more opportunities.

“I feel a little bit better from last year,” Jackson said.

Memphis rookie Zach Edey, a Toronto native, will be one of the main focuses in Wednesday’s game. Edey posted 16 points and 14 rebounds against San Antonio and had 21 points and 16 rebounds in the first meeting with the Raptors.

Edey, a Purdue product, was drafted ninth overall by Memphis last June.

Several Canadian players on the Raptors, including Chris Boucher, RJ Barrett, and Kelly Olynyk, have watched Edey’s development closely.

“To see his development, from seeing him in high school to college, and then just how much he’s grown, it’s amazing to see him,” Olynyk said. “It just shows his work ethic, his diligence and his desire to be good. He wants to get better, he’s always asking questions, always putting in extra work, and you don’t see that often from young guys these days.”

“You see it, but it’s not a guarantee. And the way he was dominating college basketball, he didn’t really have to do more and do this or that, but he knew he was going to have to do more and get better to make it at this level and have an impact at this level, and he’s continued to do that, and that’s a testament to him.”

RJ Barrett (concussion protocol) and Chris Boucher (illness) did not play on Tuesday.

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No. 19 Memphis holds off Rice for its fifth consecutive victory in Houston

No. 19 Memphis and Rice

PJ Haggerty led the way with 26 points and eight rebounds, and No. 19 Memphis held off Rice 86-83 in an American Athletic Conference game on Sunday in Houston.

Tyrese Hunter added 19 points and five assists for the Tigers (18-4, 8-1), giving them a one-game lead over North Texas and UAB in the conference standings. PJ Carter, coming off the bench, hit 5 of 7 three-pointers to score 19 points, helping Memphis shoot 55 percent from the field, including 11 of 21 from beyond the arc.

Carter made two crucial free throws with 4.2 seconds left to give Memphis a three-point lead. Rice was called for a five-second violation on the inbounds pass, but the Owls forced a turnover on Memphis’ next pass. However, Carter blocked a last-second shot as time ran out.

Rice (11-11, 2-7) had three players score in double figures, led by Trae Broadnax with 19 points and six assists. Jacob Dar added 17 points and eight rebounds, including a three-pointer with 11.7 seconds remaining to pull Rice within 82-81. Alem Huseinovic finished with 13 points.

No. 19 Memphis and Tulane

The Owls came within one point at 60-59 with 10:52 to go after a 3-pointer by Denver Anglin, assisted by Broadnax. However, Memphis responded with a 9-2 run, capped by a three from Hunter, for a 69-61 lead at 8:02. The Tigers were ahead by as many as 11 points late, holding off Rice’s late rally.

Rice shot 45.2 percent from the field, making 10 of 25 from three, and scored 23 points off 16 Memphis turnovers.

Carter’s three-pointer at 12:50 gave Memphis a 21-10 lead in the first half, but Rice fought back to briefly take a 29-28 lead. Memphis regained control and went into halftime with a 44-39 lead.

Memphis entered the game on a four-game win streak, while Rice had lost six straight, four of them by a combined 16 points.

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The Grizzlies defeated the Bucks for the seventh consecutive time in Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks

Jaren Jackson Jr. hit seven 3-pointers and scored 37 points, while Desmond Bane added 22 as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Milwaukee Bucks 132-119 on Sunday night.

This win marked the Grizzlies’ seventh straight victory over the Bucks and their eighth win in the last nine matchups. Santi Aldama contributed 23 points and eight rebounds, and Ja Morant (shoulder) missed his second game in a row.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Khris Middleton scored 20 points off the bench, while Damian Lillard added 15 points, although he struggled with his shooting, going 4-for-15 from the field.

The Bucks have now lost four of their last five games, a stretch that began after a 1-3 road trip. Before this, Milwaukee had won eight of their previous nine games.

The game was competitive from the start, with 10 lead changes in the first quarter. Memphis took a 31-28 lead at the end of the opening period. Middleton led the Bucks early, scoring 11 points in the first quarter and 13 by halftime.

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the ball forward in the 2nd half

Memphis went on an 11-0 run in the second to take an eight-point lead, but the Bucks fought back and regained a 58-56 lead at the break.

Milwaukee came out strong in the third, with Brook Lopez hitting two 3-pointers and Taurean Prince adding another to give the Bucks an eight-point lead. Antetokounmpo’s dunk put them up by 10 with 9:37 left in the third. AJ Green hit a 35-foot running 3-pointer at the end of the quarter, giving the Bucks a 99-93 lead heading into the fourth.

Memphis opened the fourth quarter with a 12-4 run, taking a 105-103 lead. With the game tied at 112, the Grizzlies scored seven unanswered points and never trailed again. Jackson scored 16 points in the final quarter, including three 3-pointers, while Aldama added 11 points in the period.

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Victor Wembanyama is expected to return for the Spurs in San Antonio against the Grizzlies

Victor Wembanyama jumps to complete the basket

The San Antonio Spurs are likely to have second-year star Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

However, it seems less likely that newly acquired De’Aaron Fox will join the trip. Multiple reports late Sunday indicated that Fox, the veteran point guard from Sacramento, is part of a three-team trade that will send Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls to the Kings.

Fox is averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 5 rebounds per game and could make Wembanyama an even stronger offensive force for the Spurs.

Wembanyama missed Saturday’s last-second loss to the Miami Heat due to an illness, which is not considered serious. “Obviously, (Wembanyama) wasn’t feeling 100 percent (against Miami),” said Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson. “I expect it to be minor. It didn’t sound like it was anything drastic or extreme.”

Fox’s arrival would be a boost for the Spurs, who have lost six of their last eight games, though they did secure a dominant win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. In that 144-118 victory, Wembanyama scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked six shots.

After Saturday’s 105-103 loss to Miami, Wembanyama mentioned he was dealing with allergies and was scratched from the lineup 40 minutes before the game started.

As the All-Star break approaches, Wembanyama leads the NBA with an average of 4 blocks per game, having recorded at least one block in 77 straight games. He’s averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and is set to be a Western Conference reserve in the All-Star Game.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are on a hot streak. They’ve won two straight games without star guard Ja Morant, who is out with a right shoulder injury, and eight of their last nine games. Memphis is also 20-5 at home this season.

The Grizzlies beat the Bucks 132-119 on Sunday, rallying in the fourth quarter with a big rebounding advantage (61-36) and 37 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis outscored Milwaukee 39-20 in the final period.

“Our pace, we just tried to wear them down in the fourth quarter,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “We had great contributions from everyone.”

Jackson led Memphis in scoring, hitting seven 3-pointers. Desmond Bane added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Zach Edey contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Grizzlies’ bench also played a key role. Santi Aldama scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Scotty Pippen Jr. had 10 assists, nine points, five rebounds, and four steals in 23 minutes of play.

Pippen has seen significant playing time with Morant missing 21 games this season and has been effective in his role. He had a plus/minus rating of +22 in Sunday’s win.

“Scotty just tries to find ways to contribute to winning,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I’ve loved about him over the course of this season. He’s played a lot of different roles — coming off the bench, starting, playing with different personnel. He’s progressively gotten better as a decision-maker and as a playmaker.

“I told him the other day, ‘Your defensive intensity and the pace at which you play unlocks so much for our offense.’ We needed him (Sunday), and he came through for us big-time.”