The Memphis Grizzlies snapped a three-game losing streak and set a franchise record with their first 5-0 road start, beating Toronto 118-102 on Monday. Jerami Grant scored key buckets for the Grizzlies, and the defense made the stops it needed in the final minutes.
The Grizzlies remain unbeaten on the road, and they’re the only team in the NBA that can say that this season.
Memphis improved to 7-3 after three consecutive home losses. Ty Jerome led all scorers with 27 points and added six rebounds, while Cameron Boozer finished with 22 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Jaylen Wells scored 14 in an offensive bounce-back as the Grizzlies shot 53 percent from the field, 47 percent from three and 95 percent from the free-throw line.
Grant scored 17 points off the bench, including two corner threes off Boozer’s skip passes, helping Memphis hold off the Raptors in the fourth quarter. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo also pointed to Grant’s transition scoring, trips to the foul line, and defensive plays. His experience gave a young lineup someone who understood what the closing possessions required.
“I loved our poise in the fourth quarter,” Iisalo said, crediting Memphis with timely stops and execution down the stretch. Jerome offered a similar assessment of how the Grizzlies finished: “Got contributions from everybody. Stayed together for 48 minutes.”
Boozer’s ability to get into the paint helped create those looks for Grant. Iisalo praised his decisions once he got there, whether he took the shot himself or passed to a teammate. Even on a 0-for-5 night from three, Boozer found ways to score and involve others. “That’s the type of player that I think he can grow into,” Iisalo said.
The Grizzlies had been forced to adjust their frontcourt much earlier. Quinten Post left in the first quarter with a head injury after taking an elbow to the face while defending Jamison Battle’s drive. He did not return, leaving Taylor Hendricks to take backup center minutes as Isaiah Stewart missed his second straight game with a knee injury.
Hendricks finished with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, giving Memphis an efficient replacement in a role it needed filled. Jerome singled him out afterward: “Shout out to my guy T. Henny, man. He was great tonight for us. Great minutes.”
Javon Small supplied nine points and five assists in extended minutes off the bench. Iisalo liked the balance that using two ball handlers brought to the offense, making it harder to pressure Memphis and allowing the Grizzlies to reach their spots sooner. They no longer had to work so hard to get the ball to one designated playmaker.
Those changes left Iisalo using combinations with players who had little experience together. He was encouraged that the players could maintain the team’s approach while adapting to each group’s strengths, despite limited practice time. He also emphasized that the rotation remains open this early in the season, with opportunities varying from game to game.
Iisalo credited Zach Edey with helping the offense in less obvious ways, too. Along with rebounding and protecting the rim, Edey keeps defenders occupied near the basket. Their reluctance to leave him open, Iisalo explained, gives the guards room to drive. The coach acknowledged the mistakes that come with a young roster still learning to play together. What pleased him was the defensive pressure from the opening possessions, the willingness to battle through those mistakes, and a bench that stayed engaged.
Jerome saw a difference in approach from the home losses. “We picked up our intensity again,” he said.
Post’s injury tested that response before Memphis reached the fourth quarter. By the finish, Hendricks had covered the backup center role, Small had helped run the offense, and Grant had helped close the game. Jerome credited the preparation behind those contributions: “Everyone does a great job of staying ready and keeping a positive attitude, and that’s going to be big for us over the course of 82.”
Memphis returns to FedExForum on Wednesday at 7pm CT to take on the 5-4 Denver Nuggets.
