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.”
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.”
