After a five-game losing streak, the Memphis Grizzlies finally got one in the win column Thursday night with a decisive 137-96 victory at FedExForum over the Sacramento Kings.
Let’s get into it.
First and foremost, I acknowledge that the Kings are … not good, right now. But a win is a win.
I don’t care that they were missing their star center, Domantas Sabonis, because the Grizzlies were without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, not to mention everyone else on the injury report who has not played yet this season.
Moving right along…
We’ve got some season firsts, some career highs, and some franchise records.
Regardless of how bad their opponent was, it was a fun game and gave some of our role players time to shine in the absence of Morant and Jackson Jr. The team needed a win, and I think fans needed to see one on home court.
The Grizzlies had a season-high 137 points, while holding the Kings to 96 points, their first time holding a team under 100 this season. I think this is also the first time this season the Grizzlies had it in the bag by halftime, leading 75-47.
They only gave up six points off eight turnovers, while scoring 30 points off 17 Sacramento turnovers. Single digit turnovers are kind of a big deal this season.
Four of five starters for Memphis finished the night in double figures, and the only one who did not, Vince Williams Jr., produced a career-high 15 assists in just 23 minutes — the least amount of time for 15 assists in franchise history. And the team’s 42 assists were a new franchise record.
Twelve players got minutes last night, and every one of them grabbed at least one rebound, with GG Jackson II (9) and John Konchar (6) both grabbing season-high rebounds.
Santi Aldama moved into the starting lineup with Jackson Jr. out, and led with a game-high 29 points, tying his career high.
Zach Edey, aka Big Maple, scored a season-high 16 points on a perfect 7 of 7 overall shooting and 1 of 1 from beyond the arc, his first three-point make of the season.
Rookie Cedric Coward continues to thrive in the starting lineup. He put up 19 points on 7 of 13 overall shooting and 4 of 9 from three-point range.
Say what you want about Zach Kleiman’s pick for a coach, but that man knows how to find a hidden treasure in the draft. Anyone who remembers the last few years of the Chris Wallace era should appreciate Kleiman’s ability to draft players who not only play but also make an immediate impact.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies are hitting the road for one game, heading to Dallas to face off against the Mavericks Saturday night for the second time this season. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM CST.