The Memphis Grizzlies were overwhelmed from the opening tip in a 146-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Monday night, a defeat that stands as their largest margin of the season.
This one never settled. It only separated.
Atlanta dictated everything. Pace. Space. Shot quality. And once Memphis fell behind, there was no stretch where it felt recoverable. The Hawks didn’t just score. They scored with purpose, turning every Grizzlies mistake into something immediate.
“Honestly, they outplayed us in every category today,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “We had too many turnovers, couldn’t rebound against them, and on top of that, they capitalized in transition and shot the ball really well. Not much more to say about that.”
The numbers don’t just support that. They underline it.
Memphis committed 23 turnovers, and Atlanta turned them into 39 points. Not empty possessions. Not wasted trips. Direct damage. The kind that breaks rhythm and fuels runs before a defense can even get set.
And while the Grizzlies were trying to stabilize, the Hawks were spacing the floor and letting it fly. Atlanta knocked down 25-of-54 from three, shooting 46.3 percent from deep, while assisting on 37 baskets. The ball didn’t stick. It moved. And Memphis never disrupted it.
Even when Memphis forced misses, the possession often didn’t end. Atlanta won the rebounding battle 44-34, extending possessions and keeping constant pressure on a defense that never got reset.
Offensively, the Grizzlies couldn’t find consistency. They shot 42.2 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from three, numbers that reflected a night where rhythm never fully formed.
Still, there were individual efforts that held steady within the collapse.
GG Jackson finished with a game-high tying 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes, continuing to show confidence and control as his role expands.
Ty Jerome added 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting, knocking down three threes while contributing four assists and two steals in 24 minutes, providing a steady presence even as the game slipped away.
Off the bench, Tyler Burton contributed 20 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting, bringing energy that never wavered despite the score.
But the collective breakdown outweighed individual production.
Memphis couldn’t control the ball. Couldn’t finish possessions. Couldn’t slow the tempo. And against a team playing with that level of flow, those gaps don’t just show. They widen.
Atlanta’s balance only made it worse.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way with 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding six assists while setting the tone early. Onyeka Okongwu added 16 points with activity on both ends, while Jonathan Kuminga matched that with 16 off the bench. CJ McCollum orchestrated the offense with 15 points and nine assists, and Dyson Daniels chipped in 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists as the Hawks continued to pile on from every angle.
This wasn’t just a loss. It was a clear picture of what happens when execution slips across the board.
And against a team shooting like that from deep, there’s no margin for error.
Up next, the Grizzlies return home to FedExForum, where they’ll host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.