By Clay Bailey
Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 points as the Memphis Grizzlies used a third-quarter rally en route to a 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, Oct. 21, in the season opener for both teams.
The game featured two of the top rookies in the current class: Utah picked Darryn Peterson of Kansas No. 2 overall right before Memphis selected Cam Boozer from Duke. Peterson had 9 points. Boozer finished with 11 rebounds, 7 points and five assists but shot just 2 of 15 from the field, 0 for 6 from 3-point range.
Jerome connected on 17 of 25 shots including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. The 45 points were the most by a Memphis player in a season-opener, eclipsing the 44 scored by Ja Morant in 2020.
In the fourth quarter, Jerome went to the line with Memphis comfortably ahead, and the faithful in the stands started a chant usually reserved for such players as LeBron James or Steph Curry.
“MVP! MVP! MVP!,” the crowd roared in unison.
“That was a cool moment,” Jerome said after the game. “I was just really pleased with the crowd to be honest.”
While Jerome enjoyed a breakout night, Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said the Grizzlies point guard benefitted from the team play he is working to build in his second full season as the team’s coach.
“I would give a ton of credit to our other guys,” Iisalo said, “because they did not get passive in the situation, which is easy to do with three or four other guys just standing around and watching.”
Jerami Grant, obtained in an offseason trade with Portland that sent Morant to the Trail Blazers, scored 15 points. Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson each scored 12 points.
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 22 points. Lauri Markkanen added 18 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. made his return to the FedExForum court after eight seasons with the Grizzlies and scored 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Jackson was traded to Utah at last February’s deadline.
Jaxson Hayes had a career-high six blocks for Utah.
Memphis led by as many as 15 in the first half, carrying a 64-51 advantage into the break. The Grizzlies used an 18-4 run to open the third, stretching their lead to 82-55.
Memphis dominated throughout the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 27 points and the Jazz trailing by at least 15 points.
Before the game, the Grizzlies honored former forward Brandon Clarke, 29, who died in May from an accidental drug overdose.
A video tribute and a moment of silence preceded the national anthem. The video featured highlights from Clarke’s career, plays that made impacts on games, and interaction with the community.
Several pictures in the tribute showed Clarke and Jaren Jackson Jr. The two played together in Memphis and became close before Jackson was traded to Utah in February.
“I mean that’s my brother forever. It’s always going to be tough,” Jackson said about watching the video. “Great memories of my dog who’s forever watching us.”
Clarke played seven seasons for Memphis. As part of the remembrance, the Grizzlies will wear a patch on their uniforms this season bearing Clarke’s initials.
