The Memphis Grizzlies returned from their East coast trip to take on the Utah Jazz at home on Wednesday. If you have not noticed by now, the Jazz is one of the biggest surprises in the league right now. They have fought hard in numerous games this season despite the roster turnover that occurred in the summer. They went into the matchup with Memphis without critical players, such as their leading scorer Lauri Markkanen and Colin Sexton left early with a hamstring injury. Today, they are right outside the play-in-game range at 11. No one thought that was possible before the season started.
The flow of the game started and ended in a similar sequence that we have recently noticed from the Grizzlies. Memphis dominated Utah in the first half by taking a 24-point lead. But the Jazz would rally to cut the Grizzlies’ lead to only one point, 111-110, with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter. They took possession of the ball after the Grizzlies missed a field goal. However, they could not capitalize due to committing a turnover.
Point guard Ja Morant would score on the following three opportunities for the Grizzlies, which would seal another home victory. Here are a few observations from Wednesday’s matchup. Jaren Jackson played a huge role in the Grizzlies’ success, leading all scorers with 26 points and contributing five blocks and nine rebounds to the team’s efforts.
His ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc and his strong presence on the defensive end proved crucial in keeping the Jazz at bay throughout the game. Morant also stood out, scoring 20 points and dishing out nine assists while adding two steals to his stat line. His ability to create opportunities for his teammate and scoring prowess kept the Grizzlies’ offense firing on all cylinders. Morant’s teammate Desmond Bane chipped in with 24 points, and Dillon Brooks added 11.
Memphis took advantage of numerous flaws that the Jazz presented in Wednesday’s game. The Jazz committed 15 turnovers in the first half, allowing Memphis to score 26 points because of those errors. New addition Luke Kennard chipped in off the bench with nine points after playing 21 minutes. He was two of four from the 3-point line as well. The team made 14 out of 40 three-point attempts against Utah. Jackson connected on four of those 3-point attempts.
Overall, the Grizzlies played a vital and well-rounded game, with several players contributing to the team’s success. Their ability to take advantage of Utah’s turnovers was a crucial factor in their victory, as they turned defense into offense and kept the Jazz from mounting a comeback. With this win, the Grizzlies improve to 35-22 on the season and continue to look like a team to watch in the West.
What Lies Ahead
The Grizzlies now head into the All-Star break and return to action on February 23 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Morant and Jackson are the members of the Grizzlies that were selected to the All-Star team.
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