Following a four-day layoff, all five Memphis Grizzlies starters scored in double figures, including 28 points from Ja Morant, to frustrate the visiting New Jersey Nets, 135-119, on Friday, Dec. 13.
The win avenges a 119-106 loss to the Nets on Oct. 30.
“The biggest thing was just… locked in on the game plan. We had way too many mistakes with our game plan,” said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. “Maybe we just needed a couple extra weeks. When we made a mistake, they made you pay. But when we kind of dictated where our offense went, I thought we benefited.”
New Jersey had few answers for Morant, who took several drives to the basket for easy finishes, or dump-offs to ready teammates. The point guard ended the first half with 16 points, after a 13-foot step-back shot put the Grizzlies up 69-56 as the horn sounded.
In addition to the 28 points on 10-19 shooting, including 3-6 from deep, Morant had 10 assists on the night. With 15 games played this season, he is currently leading the Grizzlies with 22.1 points and 8.6 assists per game.
Morant recently returned from an 11-game absence with a hip injury. He also settled for layups instead of dunks.
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, Morant told reporters an alley-oop throwdown against the Portland Trailblazers on Nov. 25 would be his last. The slam resulted in a tweaked back. Morant also injured his hip on an attempted alley-oop against the Los Angeles Lakers during a Nov. 6 tilt that resulted in the extended absence.
Backcourt mate Desmond Bane also appeared rested, scoring 10 points on 3-5 shooting in the first five minutes of the game. Memphis entered the second quarter with a 39-36 lead.
Bane finished with 21 points on 8-14 shooting, hitting 3-5 from beyond the arc. He also tallied eight assists.
“I think it was good for everybody. Get away from ball a little bit, get your bodies right. Some guys in the gym, of course, getting some shots up. But I think it was really good. We don’t get many opportunities like that,” said Bane.
Despite the quick start by the Grizzlies, the Nets would hang around in the second half.
A Dennis Schroeder three-point shot pulled the nets to 74-72 with 8:53 left in the third quarter. After two quick scores near the basket by Jared Jackson Jr., Morant sank an open three from the top of the circle to put the Grizzlies up 81-72 with 7:45.
Schroeder had 15 points and eight assists in 26 minutes.
Later in the frame, Memphis would go on an 18-5 run to extend their lead to 92-77. The Grizzlies wrapped up the third quarter with 107-95 lead, after leading by a much as 15 points.
With the outcome apparent, the Nets grew chippy, as teams began subbing in bench players late. The disagreement began with an exchange of words between Schroder and Jenkins. Morant soon joined the discussion. The three were soon assessed with technical fouls.
As Jenkins and Nets coach Jordi Fernandez were shaking hands after the game, players from each team jawed back-and-forth at mid-court until the officials dispersed them to the locker rooms.
“We’re all connected, man. We’re all family here. Obviously, we have our coaches, but we look at them the same way as family. From top to bottom, from coach to the staff to security, we all connect. You can just tell by how we move around each other, laugh and joke and make sure we’re having fun at the end of the day.”
Memphis saw contributions from Jackson, who finished with 20 points and seven rebounds. He had five steals on the night, playing passing lanes in the post. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year has been a model of consistency with 21.8 points and 5.9 assists per game on average. He has only missed two games so far this season.
Meanwhile, Brandon Clarke chipped in 14 points and a team-high eight boards, while rookie Jaylen Wells added 12 points. Santi Aldama continued his solid play off the bench, with 20 points on 5-9 shooting from deep. It was his 12th straight game with a made three-pointer.
The Nets were led in scoring by Dorian Finney-Smith, who had 19 points. Jalen Wilson added 15 points. New Jersey had eight players score in double-figures on the loss.
The Grizzlies’ record improves to 18-8, for second place in the Western Conference standings. Memphis sits two games behind the 19-5 Oklahoma City Thunder. The rebuilding Nets fall to 10-15.
Memphis will travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Sunday, Dec. 15. Game time is 6:30 p.m. The next home game for the Grizzlies will be on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m., when they face the Golden State Warriors for their first matchup this season.
