The Memphis Grizzlies go back house Monday evening to play the Portland Path Blazers with a momentum spice up powered by way of exemplary teamwork.
The Grizzlies are a number of the league leaders in assists in keeping with recreation (29.8) and their 38 in Saturday’s lopsided win at Chicago tied a season-high. Memphis ranked 3rd at the back of Denver (30.3) and Golden State (30.2) within the class getting into Sunday’s video games.
Scotty Pippen Jr., the Grizzlies’ place to begin guard till big name Ja Morant returns from a hip damage, had 10 assists within the 142-131 victory over the Bulls to move in conjunction with a career-high 30 issues. Pippen Jr. produced the double-double within the area his father, Scottie, rose to stardom right through the Nineties with the Michael Jordan-led Bulls.
Pippen Jr. referred to as his time out “a dream come true” in an area the place his father’s jersey quantity hangs within the rafters. He made 13 of his 16 pictures.
Memphis additionally has benefited from rookie ahead Jaylen Wells’ sturdy early season play. He scored a career-high of his personal, completing with 26 issues on 10-of-14 capturing.
Pippen’s stable play has allowed the Grizzlies to stick above .500 right through the absence no longer simplest of Morant, however Marcus Good and rookie giant guy Zach Edey. Morant, Good and Edey had been out for more than a few accidents and illnesses.
Morant injured his proper hip in a Nov. 6 recreation in opposition to the Lakers and looks nearer to returning. He was once indexed as unsure prior to Saturday’s recreation in Chicago and questionable for Monday’s contest. Good, scuffling with an sickness, ignored his fourth directly recreation. Edey stays sidelined by way of an ankle damage he suffered in ultimate weekend’s recreation in opposition to Denver.
In spite of the wounds that experience stored starters Morant, Good and Edey inactive — and, in short, Desmond Bane with a strained indirect — the Grizzlies had been productive offensively and defensively. They’re averaging 120.3 issues in keeping with recreation, 2nd within the NBA getting into Sunday, and their 7.2 blocks in keeping with recreation lead the league.
The Grizzlies surpassed 140 issues for simplest the 6th time in franchise historical past on Saturday.
Memphis shot 57.3 % (55-of-96) within the win over Chicago, together with 45.2 % (19-of-42) from 3-point vary. The group made 19 3-pointers for the second one directly recreation.
“We had a perfect run by way of scoring some 40-plus issues (45) within the 3rd (quarter),” Memphis trainer Taylor Jenkins mentioned. “Our recreation plan was once lovely neatly completed.”
Portland will carry momentum, too.
The Path Blazers defeated Houston 104-98 on Saturday, rebounding from a 28-point loss to the Rockets on Friday in an NBA Cup recreation. Portland was once led on Saturday by way of Anfernee Simons (25 issues) and Shaedon Sharpe (24 issues) in a recreation by which the Path Blazers made 18 3-pointers.
Along with Simons and Sharpe, the Path Blazers were given a cast defensive efficiency from Deni Avdija, who had 4 blocks. Avdija spent many of the recreation making issues tough for Houston’s Alperen Sengun within the paint.
“It is superb to look Anfernee make some pictures and raise us down the stretch,” Portland trainer Chauncey Billups mentioned. “And Deni was once fantastic. We relied on him so much. He is been begging for that chance for relatively a while.”
Avdija mentioned Simons performed a key function within the win.
“I am happy with him,” Avdija mentioned. “He confirmed what he is made from and, with a bit of luck, he will proceed to be competitive.”
Portland rookie middle Donovan Clingan won’t play on Monday because of a left knee sprain. He went scoreless on 0-for-4 capturing from the sector on Saturday however grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds.
–Box Stage Media
