A pair of Western Conference opponents on the hardwood conclude a two-game series in the Beehive State. The Memphis Grizzlies are on the road as they conclude a two-game series with the Utah Jazz Monday night. These teams opened up their two-game set Saturday night with Utah winning a back-and-forth battle by a 124-123 score to ensure no worse than a split. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Jazz own a 64-35 advantage and have taken eight of the last 10 meetings. Will Memphis bounce back from their narrow defeat or can the Jazz keep surprising teams in the early going of the season with another win here?
Memphis was a bit shorthanded on Saturday night yet still took Utah to the limit before falling on Saturday night. The Grizzlies entered Sunday tied with the Spurs atop the Southwest Division with a 4-2 record. Against Utah Saturday night, Memphis led by six after the opening quarter, trailed by eight at the half and used a 15-0 run to lead by six late in the third quarter. The Grizzlies were down four after three quarters and led most of the fourth quarter, including 120-116 with two minutes to play. Memphis gave up an 8-0 run to trail by four and couldn’t get closer than one after that. The Grizzlies had a chance on their final possession, but Desmond Bane slipped, failing to get a shot off to saddle Memphis with the loss. Memphis shot 56.8% from the field, including 12 of 27 from three-point range, but turned the ball over 20 times in the loss. Bane led the Grizzlies with 32 points in the loss.
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On the season, the Grizzlies are 1st in the league in scoring offense as they average 120.3 points per game this season. Memphis is 16th in the league in rebounding with 44 boards a night while the team is 17th by dishing out an average of 24.2 assists a night. The Grizzlies are near the bottom of the league defensively as they are 27th in the league by allowing an average of 121.5 points per contest. Ja Morant leads the team as he averages 32.6 points plus 6.8 assists a night. Desmond Bane puts up 24.2 points a game while Santi Aldama (10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds), Tyus Jones (13.5 points) and John Konchar are reliable offensive options for Memphis on the season. Brandon Clarke, Jake LaRavia, Steven Adams, David Roddy, Dillon Brooks (15 points) and Xavier Tillman are all counted on for coach Taylor Jenkins’ rotation. Memphis stands 12th in field goal percentage as they connect on 47.8% of their attempts from the floo r on the season. The Grizzlies splash an average of 14.5 three-pointers a night, putting them 4th in that category. Memphis is 3rd in three-point field goal percentage as they knock down 39.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc this season.
Danny Green (knee) remains out as he works his way back from a torn ACL and LCL. Jaren Jackson Jr. (foot) is rehabbing from offseason surgery and hopes to take the floor sometime in December though there is no firm timetable for his return. Ziaire Williams (knee) is still dealing with patellar tendinitis and his timetable has been updated to four to six weeks, putting him at early December more than likely. Morant (non-COVID illness) and LaRavia (non-COVID illness) each missed Saturday’s contest and are day-to-day: watch to see if they are back in the mix for this contest.
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