What’s flawed with the Memphis Grizzlies? That had been one of many huge questions across the league over the previous month. The reply, not less than on Saturday evening, was nothing. They led by as a lot as 35 en path to a dominant 112-94 win over the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets.
In late January, the Grizzlies had been 31-13 and driving an 11-game profitable streak right into a primetime matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. That evening they obtained right into a weird on-court beef with NFL legend Shannon Sharpe and collapsed within the fourth quarter to endure a one-point loss.
Those occasions began a tailspin that they did not pull out of till Saturday. On both facet of the All-Star break they had been 4-10 of their final 14 video games with the fifth-worst offense within the league (109.7 offensive ranking) in that span. None of these wins got here in opposition to groups that presently have a profitable file and so they had been 0-5 in opposition to different top-six groups in both convention. That included a second-half meltdown on Thursday in what ended up being a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
All of which made Saturday’s showdown with the Nuggets much more essential. The Grizzlies appeared to sense as a lot, as they grabbed management late within the first quarter and by no means let go.
With Tyus Jones main the best way with 5 triples off the bench, the Grizzlies hit 15 3-pointers, their most in a sport since Jan. 16, and feasted within the paint for 60 factors. Getting their offense going was essential, however the greatest issue within the win got here on the opposite facet of the ball. The Grizzlies have been among the finest defensive groups within the league this season, and confirmed why as they restricted Nikola Jokic to fifteen factors, 13 rebounds and, crucially, simply three assists. His three assists tied was a season low, which additionally occurred in a Nov. 11 loss at Boston.
“Holding Jokic to 3 assists, that does not occur usually,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins stated. “I assumed there was a variety of nice self-discipline. They’ve obtained good cutters, our rotations out to the 3-point line, making an attempt to make his finishes as powerful as potential, make his entries as powerful as potential, attempt to put on him out as a lot as potential. Kudos to [Xavier Tillman], he is accomplished an exceptional job the final two video games in opposition to two of the very best bigs within the sport. And then collectively I assumed our protection was actually good.”
This win was the primary for the Grizzlies in opposition to one other playoff staff since they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 18. After all the latest on-court struggles and off-court drama — a report earlier this month indicated the Grizzlies had been investigated for an incident by which the Indiana Pacers claimed a gun with a laser was pointed at their bus inside FedEx Forum by Ja Morant’s associates — this felt like a press release win for the Grizzlies.
They’ll must construct on it, nevertheless it was a reminder of why they nonetheless have the fifth-best file within the league.
“We had that [swagger] again in opposition to Philly, it simply did not finish the best way it was purported to,” Xavier Tillman stated. “You see we obtained the swagger again and now we’re on a roll now.”
