The Memphis Grizzlies played the first game of a three-game road trip on Wednesday night with a 136-119 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Memphis has now lost six games in a row, and 18 of their last 20.
Let’s get into it.
The Grizzlies opened the game with some sharp shooting, going 7 of 15 from beyond the arc in the first quarter. They are just one game removed from tying the NBA’s single game record for made three-pointers with 29, in the matchup against Cleveland.
In this game, Denver outscored Memphis 37-33 in the first period, but Memphis outscored the Nuggets 39-31 in the second, giving the Grizzlies a four-point lead at the midway point.
But as has been their custom this season, the Grizzlies squandered their lead in the second half.
There were a couple of familiar faces – former Grizzly Jonas Valanciunas, coming off the bench for the Nuggets in his 1000th career game, and former Grizzly Tyus Jones sitting on the sidelines.
Come to think of it, Denver might have had more familiar faces than Memphis did, just one more indignity in this nightmare of a season.
Anyway. Moving along.
There is at least one positive takeaway from this game: single-digit turnovers.
I repeat: SINGLE-DIGIT TURNOVERS!
Unfortunately, there was far more negative than positive for Memphis, as Denver beat them in almost every statistical category.
The Nuggets dominated the Grizzlies in the paint 66-44, on fastbreak points 19-7, and on second-chance points 15-10.
Which should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. Right now, this Grizzlies team is being held together with 10-day contracts, two-way players, and (probably) duct tape.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, one of the best players in the league, and a fairly deep roster of role players.
By The Numbers:
Cedric Coward led all scorers with 27 points on 10 of 17 overall shooting and 3 of 7 from beyond the arc, along with six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Taylor Henricks added 16 points on 6 of 8 overall shooting and 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, along with six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.
Toby Okani and Walter Clayton Jr. each added 15 points.
Off the bench, Lucas Williamson led with 16 points, shooting 3 of 8 from beyond the arc and 6 of 12 overall, along with six rebounds and one assist.
Adama Bal added a very inefficient 12 points on 3 of 10 overall shooting and 2 of 6 from beyond the arc, along with six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will play their last two games of the season this weekend. Friday they will face the Utah Jazz, and Sunday, in their final game of the season, they will face the Houston Rockets. Friday night’s game tips off at 8:30 PM CDT, and Sunday’s game at 7:30 PM CDT.