Tag: Memphis Grizzlies

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Grizzlies hold off Rockets for a last-second win in Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets

Jaren Jackson Jr. made two free throws with 8.6 seconds left to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 120-119 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

In a game between two of the Western Conference’s top teams, there were 14 ties and 13 lead changes. Houston had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point shot.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Luke Kennard added 22 points, and Jackson finished with 21. Memphis ended the game on a 13-4 run, marking its seventh win in the last eight games.

Houston, ending its four-game win streak, was led by Jalen Green, who had 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Dillon Brooks contributed 22 points, and Amen Thompson had 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.

Cavaliers 137, Hawks 115

Darius Garland scored 26 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 24 as Cleveland defeated Atlanta at home.

Ty Jerome scored 20 points off the bench. Evan Mobley, celebrating his NBA All-Star Game selection, had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jarrett Allen grabbed 15 rebounds and scored nine points. Cleveland dominated the third quarter 39-21, shot 58.2 percent, and outrebounded Atlanta 53-43, earning its third consecutive victory.

Zaccharie Risacher led the Hawks with 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting. De’Andre Hunter scored 25, and Trae Young posted 15 points and 10 assists.

Timberwolves 138, Jazz 113

Anthony Edwards led the Minnesota Timberwolves with 36 points and 11 assists in Salt Lake City, helping the team extend its win streak to five games.

Edwards made 12 of 18 field-goal attempts, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and blocked three shots. Rookie Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, scored a career-high 19 points with eight assists. Luka Garza had a season-high 16 points.

Anthony Edwards Shines but Timberwolves’ Slow Start and Late Mistakes Cost Them Against Warriors
Anthony Edwards Shines but Timberwolves’ Slow Start and Late Mistakes Cost Them Against Warriors

Former Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also played well against their old team. Gobert finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, while Alexander-Walker added 15 points and five assists. Minnesota’s Julius Randle left with right groin soreness.

Keyonte George led the Jazz with 23 points. Collin Sexton added 19 points, while John Collins and Jordan Clarkson each scored 16.

Lakers 134, Wizards 96

LeBron James recorded 24 points and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers dominated Washington.

LeBron’s son, Bronny James, entered the game for Los Angeles at the start of the fourth quarter, playing the final 12 minutes. He scored a career-high five points. Rui Hachimura added 22 points, and Shake Milton scored 21 points off the bench, helping the Lakers win their fifth game in six tries.

Washington, losing its 16th straight game, was led by Jordan Poole with 19 points and Kyle Kuzma with 13.

Trail Blazers 119, Magic 90

Shaedon Sharpe came off the bench to score 23 points and lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a comfortable victory over Orlando.

Sharpe hit 3 of 6 from 3-point range, shooting 9 of 14 overall. Scoot Henderson also had 23 points, along with seven assists. The Trail Blazers have won six of their last seven games.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 24 points, but Orlando lost for the seventh time in eight games. Paolo Banchero scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds.

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NBA (Basketball)

Memphis Grizzlies secure win over Houston Rockets with clutch free throws

Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets

Jaren Jackson Jr. made two free throws with 8.6 seconds left, giving the Memphis Grizzlies a 120-119 win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

Houston had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point shot.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Luke Kennard added 22 points, and Jackson finished with 21. Memphis ended the game with a 13-4 run, marking their seventh win in the last eight games.

Houston’s four-game win streak ended with this loss. Jalen Green scored 25 points, had six rebounds, and five assists. Dillon Brooks added 22 points, and Amen Thompson contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.

The Rockets were hoping to sweep the Grizzlies in the season series for the first time since 2009-10, having won the last three matchups.

The game, which saw 14 ties and 13 lead changes, was between two of the top three teams in the Western Conference.

Key players for both teams were missing — Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, out with right shoulder soreness, missed his 20th game this season, while Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun, who had a left calf contusion, missed his first game of the season.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

Down by 10 to start the third quarter, the Grizzlies went on an 8-0 run, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Kennard. Memphis used that momentum to chip away at the Houston lead and briefly took a 79-78 lead after a shot by Santi Aldama.

However, the Rockets regained control and led 96-92 going into the fourth.

The Grizzlies struggled in the first half, giving up 38 points in the opening quarter and falling behind by seven in the second. Houston, which made eight 3-pointers in the first half, stretched its lead to 66-55 in the final minutes of the second period and held a 66-56 advantage at halftime.

Green had three 3-pointers and 15 points in the first half, while Thompson added 14. Bane and Jackson led Memphis with 12 points each in the first half.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Knicks Begin A Tough Stretch Against Playoff Contenders, Starting With The Grizzlies In New York

New York Knicks (NBA)

The New York Knicks are entering the final stretch of their season at home, giving them a chance to show their strength against other teams vying for playoff spots.

The Knicks will continue their five-game homestand on Monday night, facing the rising Memphis Grizzlies in their first meeting of the season.

Both teams had Sunday off after comfortable wins on Saturday. The Knicks beat the Sacramento Kings 143-120, while the Grizzlies defeated the Utah Jazz 125-103.

The Knicks’ victory was their third straight after a 3-6 stretch from January 3-17. During that tough period, New York went 1-4 against teams that were in playoff contention. The top six teams from each conference make the playoffs, while the next four teams compete in a play-in tournament for the last two spots.

So far this season, the Knicks are 8-9 against teams that are in playoff spots and 22-7 against teams that are not. They will have a chance to improve their record against playoff contenders during the final four games of this homestand, where they will face four teams from the top six of the Western Conference.

After playing the third-place Grizzlies, the Knicks will host the fourth-place Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, the fifth-place Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, and the second-place Houston Rockets on February 3.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Knicks are hopeful that their strong start against the Kings, where they quickly gained a 38-25 lead after the first quarter, signals they are ready for the rest of the homestand after three days off.

“It’s about making the right play every single time, or at least trying to,” said Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson. “And if we don’t, we hold each other accountable and we go forward from there. But all we want is to win and that’s the only thing that matters.”

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are in top form, riding a six-game winning streak—the longest in the NBA. This is Memphis’ longest winning streak of the season, matching a six-game stretch from November 20 to December 1.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies on Saturday with 28 points, and six players finished in double figures. Memphis has won by at least 10 points in five of their last six games.

Over this streak, 11 different players have scored in double figures, even though star guard Ja Morant has missed two games due to a foot injury and illness.

Rookie center Zach Edey showed off the Grizzlies’ depth with back-to-back double-digit performances, scoring 19 points on Saturday after posting 13 points the night before in a win over New Orleans. These were the first consecutive double-digit games for Edey since December 26-27.

“Just getting back into our offense and getting back comfortable,” Edey said. “We play such a unique style of basketball. It takes a little bit to kind of build yourself into that.”

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA Trade Rumors: Grizzlies Targeting Defensive-Focused Big Wing Before Deadline in Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies players in the 2nd half

The Memphis Grizzlies seem ready to make it to the playoffs this season after finishing with a 27-55 record in 2023-24. They may try to add a key player on the wing to improve their chances as the season moves forward.

Sam Vecenie from The Athletic reported on Sunday that Memphis “is in the market for a big wing with a defensive edge.”

With this in mind, Vecenie mentioned the Grizzlies as his “favorite wild-card” in the possible Jimmy Butler trade and pointed out that the team showed interest in Dorian Finney-Smith before the Los Angeles Lakers acquired him.

Butler, who was suspended by the Miami Heat and is available for trade, would be a huge addition that could completely change the team’s performance on the court. The six-time All-Star would become another key player alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., and would also be able to defend the opposing team’s best wing player each game.

However, the Grizzlies may not need to make such a big move to improve their situation.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

They are currently 23-13 and tied for second place in the Western Conference. Even a small improvement on the wing could raise their potential and would likely cost less than a trade for Butler.

It’s not surprising that they’re looking for help on the wing, as they could face bigger, stronger players like LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, and others in the Western Conference playoffs.

Morant and Jackson provide the Grizzlies with strong players in both the backcourt and frontcourt. Adding a wing who can take some of the defensive pressure off their shoulders would definitely be a positive development for the team.

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NBA (Basketball)

Memphis Grizzlies’ young stars excel in commanding victory against conference rival

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

Zach Edey being picked by the Memphis Grizzlies at #9 was considered a big surprise, especially since he won back-to-back National Player of the Year awards at Purdue.

Though he hasn’t played as much as expected, every time he steps on the court, he plays confidently, and the Grizzlies are better with him. Recently, he joined an elite group of NBA big men, and his teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. made a bold statement about the Canadian center.

After the Grizzlies’ 29-point victory over the Raptors, a fan account posted Edey’s stats, revealing that he had joined Hall of Famer Yao Ming as the second player in NBA history to have 20+ points, 15+ rebounds, 9+ offensive rebounds, 2+ blocks, and shoot over 50% in a single game.

Edey finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, and shot 60% from the floor, leading his team. Jackson, who started alongside him, claimed that Edey’s performance was better than Ming’s because Edey made one three-pointer (out of five attempts), while Yao didn’t make any in his game.

Jackson’s praise shows how much Edey is liked by his teammates. He is not only well-liked but also brings valuable skills that could help the Grizzlies if they aim for a championship. Standing at 7’4 with a 7’10 wingspan, Edey is a tough matchup for big men who dominate the paint.

Ja Morant celebrates a three-pointer

He has also proven to be a strong offensive player, able to catch lob passes and grab offensive rebounds. Playing alongside a point guard like Ja Morant, who attacks the rim, makes him an even bigger offensive threat in the paint.

Morant was excited to play with the rookie and showed confidence in Edey by calling him a lock for the Rookie of the Year award as early as September. “Definitely Rookie of the Year.

I think easy, too,” Morant said in a video posted by Matt Infield of Action News 5. “It was definitely — I wouldn’t say a surprise for me, obviously, seeing how he dominated college. But coming into the workout, he came in and he was ready to work.

Obviously, my summer workouts would be pretty much what I call boot camp. So for him coming in, saying he wants to work out with me and getting through the workout throughout the whole week, it was big time for him.”

It seems that Morant is a big fan of Edey and has already given his approval. While his prediction might not be totally accurate, as Edey is currently in 5th place on the NBA’s Rookie of the Year ladder, the Grizzlies’ young players are excelling. Jaylen Wells is also in the running, currently in 3rd place for the award.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Grizzlies look to bring their “competitive fire” against the Kings in Sacramento

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Memphis Grizzlies are heading to Northern California with their strong recent form, starting with a game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

The Grizzlies have won 15 of their last 19 games and will play the Golden State Warriors on Saturday as part of a back-to-back. This will be the final game of a five-game road trip for Memphis, which included a loss to Oklahoma City and wins against New Orleans and Phoenix in the past week.

On Tuesday, Memphis defeated the Suns 117-112, even without star guard Ja Morant, who is out indefinitely with a sprained right shoulder. Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cam Spencer mainly took over the point guard duties in Phoenix. Spencer, the reigning NCAA champion from Connecticut, played 16 minutes, his third-highest of the season.

The Grizzlies got contributions from all nine healthy players in that game. They are hoping to add a tenth player for the Sacramento game, as rookie Zach Edey is trying to return from a concussion that caused him to miss two games.

With key players like Morant, Marcus Smart, Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, and Brandon Clarke all injured, coach Taylor Jenkins knows the team must work together to keep winning.

“It starts with our mentality, our competitive fire,” Jenkins said. “To be able to sustain it for 48 minutes just shows poise and resilience.”

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

This mindset has been especially important on the road, where the short-handed Grizzlies have won five of their last seven games, including wins in Boston, Washington, and Atlanta before their current trip.

In their 115-110 win against the Kings at home last month, Memphis got double-digit scoring from four different bench players. Smart, Aldama, and LaRavia combined for 45 points off the bench.

Edey missed that game with an ankle injury, and if he plays on Friday, he will face Kings star Domantas Sabonis for the first time.

Sabonis had a huge game on Wednesday, contributing 17 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists in a 113-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Kings have won two of their last three games since firing coach Mike Brown.

Those wins were over the Dallas Mavericks and the 76ers, with interim coach Doug Christie encouraging his players to take pride in defending their home court.

“Don’t nobody come in your house messing with your stuff. You feel what I’m saying?” Christie said. “This is where we reside, and when you come up in here, you’re going to feel us up in here. That’s just the way it is. It doesn’t matter.

There’s nothing like your home. These people deserve that and that’s what we’re going to give them.”

The Kings made a big comeback against the 76ers, scoring the final 15 points of the game to win by six. De’Aaron Fox, who had 18 points in the previous matchup with Morant, has been on fire in the last two games, scoring 33 and 35 points as part of the Kings’ two-game win streak.

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Jaren Jackson Jr. scores 38 points to lead Grizzlies past Suns

Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Desmond Bane added 31 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies secure a 117-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Luke Kennard chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and John Konchar contributed 12 rebounds and seven points. The Grizzlies built a 14-point lead by halftime and managed to hold off the Suns, who cut the lead to just one point in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant led Phoenix with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, but the Suns lost Bradley Beal to a hip contusion after the first quarter. Beal got hurt when he was fouled by Jackson with 4:40 left in the first quarter. He played through the rest of the period but was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Tyus Jones scored 21 points for Phoenix, while Mason Plumlee and Monte Morris both finished with 12 points. Devin Booker, in his return after missing five games due to a groin injury, struggled with his shot, scoring 16 points on 4-of-20 shooting.

Phoenix Suns- Kevin Durant

Jackson had a strong start, scoring 14 of Memphis’s first 20 points. He finished the first quarter with 19 points, and the Grizzlies led 36-26 after the first 12 minutes.

Phoenix came out strong in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points while Jackson rested, but Bane helped shift the momentum back in Memphis’s favor by scoring 13 points in the second quarter. The Grizzlies ended the half on a 19-10 run to lead 69-55 at halftime.

The Suns fought back in the third, with Plumlee scoring four dunks to help Phoenix cut the lead to 74-71. Bane added nine more points in the third, and Memphis led 91-86 going into the final quarter.

Durant’s dunk made it a 96-95 game, but that was as close as the Suns would get. Bane and Jackson each hit a three-pointer on consecutive possessions, extending the Grizzlies’ lead to 102-97 with 5:55 left.

Booker’s three-pointer pulled Phoenix to within 108-106 with 1:51 remaining, but the Grizzlies responded with the next six points to secure the win.

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NBA (Basketball)

Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Grizzlies hand the struggling Pelicans their 9th consecutive loss

Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 33 points, and Ja Morant added 25 before injuring his right shoulder as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 132-124 on Friday night.

Morant left the game for good with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter after a collision with Pelicans center Daniel Theis. Desmond Bane contributed 18 points, Zach Edey added 14 points and nine rebounds, Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 13 points, and Jaylen Wells chipped in 10 for the Grizzlies, who have won eight of their last 10 games.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with a season-high 35 points, CJ McCollum added 32, and Dejounte Murray scored 15. The Pelicans have now lost nine straight games and 18 of their last 19. Theis recorded 11 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.

New Orleans cut Memphis’ lead to 11 points three times early in the third quarter before the Grizzlies went on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 86-69.

Murphy responded with a 3-pointer, but Edey and Jackson each made two free throws, and Jackson added a three-point play to push the lead to 93-72.

The Pelicans made a 16-3 run to cut the deficit to eight, but Memphis finished the quarter strong, scoring the final eight points to take a 104-88 lead into the fourth.

Memphis Grizzlies players in the 2nd half

The closest New Orleans got after that was six points in the final seconds.

The Grizzlies started strong, scoring the first six points of the game and quickly jumping to a 12-4 lead. Murphy scored five points to help the Pelicans close the gap to four before Jay Huff scored five points during an 8-0 run, giving Memphis a 29-17 lead.

New Orleans scored the last six points of the first quarter, trimming Memphis’ lead to 32-25.

McCollum started the second quarter with a three-point play, but Morant hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Jackson followed with two more to extend Memphis’ lead to 48-32.

McCollum responded with a 3-pointer, Murphy added three more 3-pointers, and Theis completed a three-point play to bring New Orleans within 59-56.

Bane made two 3-pointers, and Pippen added one more as the Grizzlies closed the half with a 15-5 run to take a 74-61 lead.

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NFL (American Football)

Morant’s right shoulder is injured once more following a tough collision that cut his night short in New Orleans

Memphis Grizzlies players in the 2nd half

Ja Morant stood at the end of the Memphis bench, cheering for his teammates while keeping his right arm hanging by his injured shoulder, as Memphis won 132-124 over the Pelicans on Friday night.

Morant got hurt when he collided hard with a legal screen set by Daniel Theis during the third quarter. The impact caused Morant to fall to the floor, and the officials initially called a foul on Theis, but reversed the decision after reviewing the play.

Morant walked to the locker room for an evaluation and later returned to the bench but did not re-enter the game. He used his left arm to point to teammates after they made crucial shots in the closing minutes.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins had no update on Morant’s condition after the game. About a year ago, a torn labrum in the same shoulder ended Morant’s 2023-24 season.

“Obviously, he took a nice shot there to the shoulder, but we’ll get more of an evaluation in the next couple of days,” Jenkins said, while also praising his team’s “great resolve” in holding off the Pelicans after Morant left.

“Losing somebody like that is never easy,” said Memphis guard Desmond Bane. “But we kept our composure and were able to make plays down the stretch.”

Ja Morant in the 1st half

The Grizzlies were scheduled to have updates on all injured players by Saturday, ahead of their Sunday game against Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City.

Morant was able to dress himself at his locker after the game in New Orleans. He seemed to be in good spirits and did not wear a sling. However, he kept his right arm mostly still and at his side.

The 25-year-old Morant has averaged around 21 points per game this season, slightly below his career average of 24 points per game.

Earlier this season, Morant missed eight games due to a posterior hip subluxation and multiple Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains. The Grizzlies (22-10) went 5-3 during that time.

Morant scored 25 points in New Orleans, but had just one point in the second half before his injury. Still, the Grizzlies surpassed 130 points, one night after setting a franchise record with 155 points in a win over Toronto.

According to Bane, the Grizzlies’ current offensive style is “balanced, it’s together, it’s fast — all of those things.”

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NBA (Basketball)

High-scoring Grizzlies set to take on struggling Pelicans’ defense next

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Memphis Grizzlies are on fire offensively, which sets up a strong matchup for them on Friday when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans, who are struggling defensively.

In their last five wins, the Grizzlies have averaged 140.4 points per game. This includes an NBA season-high and franchise-record 155 points in their dominant win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.

“We’re just moving the ball,” said rookie forward Jaylen Wells, who scored 17 points. “A lot of guys had a lot of assists. We’re playing fast, and we’re hitting a lot of threes.”

Nine players from Memphis recorded at least one assist, and the team shot 58 out of 109 from the field. Wells led the team with five 3-pointers on 10 attempts, and the Grizzlies finished 18 for 45 (40 percent) from beyond the arc.

Just a week earlier, Memphis set another franchise record by hitting 27 three-pointers in a 144-93 blowout of the Golden State Warriors, the largest victory margin of the season.

Though Memphis didn’t play its best defense against Toronto, they still managed to win by 21 points. Coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledged that allowing 70 points in one half wasn’t ideal but praised his team for responding in the second half.

Memphis’ offense leads the NBA with an average of 123.7 points per game, and they’ll likely look to build on that against a New Orleans team that has struggled defensively. The Pelicans have allowed an average of 120.9 points during their current eight-game losing streak.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray dribbles against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game

In their most recent loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday, New Orleans never led and trailed by 17 points at the end of the first quarter in a 128-111 defeat. It was their 17th loss in the last 18 games.

Pelicans coach Willie Green, who often praises his team’s toughness despite injuries, was frustrated with their performance on Thursday.

“(It was) just a lack of competitiveness from our guys from start to finish,” Green said. “We were just soft tonight — period. There are times when you’re going to go against good teams and you may go down. But, like I told our team, we can’t step on our home court and have that lack of physicality.”

In two games against the Rockets in a week, New Orleans allowed a combined 261 points, including a 133-113 loss in Houston on December 19.

Forward Herbert Jones expressed concern over the team’s effort and sense of urgency.

“We’ve all got to be better in that aspect,” Jones said. “I don’t really care how much we lose by. I’m more concerned about how we lose, and we can’t lose like that. We’ve got to be better defensively. We’ve got to be more physical.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Grizzlies set franchise record with 155 points, dominate Raptors

Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors

Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Zach Edey each recorded a double-double with 21 or more points, and the Memphis Grizzlies set a franchise record for points in a game with a 155-126 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday.

Memphis, the top-scoring team in the NBA, earned their seventh win in the last nine games while handing Toronto their ninth consecutive loss.

Edey grabbed 16 rebounds, and Jackson pulled down 11 boards. Eight Grizzlies scored in double figures, including all five starters. Desmond Bane had 19 points, Jaylen Wells added 17, and Ja Morant contributed 15 points and nine assists. Bench players Scotty Pippen Jr. and Luke Kennard also scored 15 points each, and Brandon Clarke chipped in 11.

Toronto, which dropped to 1-14 on the road, was led by RJ Barrett with 27 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Scottie Barnes added 26 points and eight assists. The Raptors were outrebounded 63-40.

The Grizzlies, leading by eight at halftime, quickly built a double-digit advantage, which grew to 22 late in the third quarter. Memphis led 121-100 going into the final period.

Ja Morant in the 1st half

Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic, a former Memphis assistant, was ejected with 10:29 left in the game after an altercation with officials. He had to be restrained by several Raptors assistants.

After Rajakovic’s ejection, the Grizzlies extended their lead to as much as 32 points.

Memphis jumped out to a 19-point lead in the first quarter but struggled to maintain it. Toronto fought back, tying the game twice late in the second quarter, before trailing 78-70 at halftime.

While the Grizzlies scored 43 points in the first quarter, they seemed impacted by the injury to Santi Aldama, who hurt his left ankle on a non-contact play with 3:43 remaining in the first. Aldama hobbled to the locker room and did not return.

With Aldama out, the Raptors outscored the Grizzlies 50-43 for the rest of the half. Toronto shot 53.8 percent in the first half, including 60.9 percent in the first quarter. Memphis shot 53.7 percent before halftime.

In the end, the Grizzlies outshot the Raptors 53.2 percent to 45.4 percent.

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NBA (Basketball)

Raptors fully recognize the tough challenge that Morant and the Grizzlies present

Ja Morant (NBA)

Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic understands the impact Ja Morant has on the Memphis Grizzlies.

When the Raptors visit the Grizzlies on Thursday, Rajakovic will return to the arena where he spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Memphis.

Morant, a two-time All-Star guard, missed most of the 2023-24 season due to a league suspension and injuries. However, he has returned and helped lead Memphis to a strong 20-10 start. Despite missing 12 of 30 games with different injuries, he has not been out of the starting lineup for long.

With Morant averaging 21.3 points and 7.9 assists, Memphis holds the third-best record in the Western Conference, behind only Oklahoma City and Houston. Even with Morant’s absences, the Grizzlies have been scoring 126.1 points per game in the 10 games they’ve played this month.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins describes Morant as one of the most entertaining and competitive players in the NBA. His commitment to the game has only increased, which has been exciting to witness.

“Since day one, there’s been support for him,” Jenkins said. “He understands the connection with the fans and has given back so much this year. It’s been incredible to watch his growth.”

The Grizzlies are coming off a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, which ended their eight-game home win streak. Despite this, Morant returned from a one-game absence to score 23 points, grab six rebounds, and dish out four assists.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

Jenkins emphasized the need for the team to play as a unit: “It’s not just one person’s job to make up for the loss of a player. We need all five players on the court to know what we are trying to do.”

On the other hand, the Raptors have faced struggles this season. They lost 12 of their first 14 games and are currently 7-23. They also suffered an 139-125 loss to the Knicks on Monday, extending their losing streak to eight games. Their last win came on December 3 against the Indiana Pacers.

However, Rajakovic has seen some positive developments in his second season as head coach. “We’re learning how to play when we’re injured, how to handle back-to-backs, and how to close out games,” he said. “We scored 43 points in the fourth quarter against the Knicks and 73 in the second half, so there are a lot of good things happening.”

One positive has been the recent performance of rookie Ja’Kobe Walter, who has scored 43 points in the past two games and is among the top rookies in scoring with an average of 8.9 points per game.

Another bright spot is Scottie Barnes, who had 24 points and eight assists against the Knicks. Barnes is one of only five players in the league averaging at least 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.