The Memphis Grizzlies began their 2024 Summer League campaign with a Scotty Pippen Jr. alley-oop pass to GG Jackson II, picking up their chemistry where they left off the 2023-24 season. The duo continued to combine to score the Grizzlies’ first 8 points, including another alley-oop on a fastbreak opportunity to cap it off.
The Grizzlies went on to shoot 60% and led by as many as 13 points before leading 27-17 to end the first quarter. After trailing 31-19 to begin the second quarter, the Jazz utilized a 9-2 run to get as close as 5 points before Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jake LaRavia led the charge, each scoring in double digits in the half, to help the Grizzlies to a 52-41 halftime lead.
The Jazz used an 18-6 run to take their first lead of the game, capped off by a dunk from former Grizzly Kenneth Lofton Jr. After both teams traded leads, another transition dunk by Lofton Jr. broke a 66 tie to give the Jazz the lead going into the fourth quarter at 68-66.
The Jazz pushed their lead to 5 points to begin the fourth but second-round draft pick, Cam Spencer, helped the Grizzlies to an 8-0 run to regain the lead before the starters returned to finish the game alongside him. While the Grizzlies led 87-83 with 1:05 remaining, the Jazz used a 7-0 run to take a 90-87 lead before a wild sequence occurred that led to a Zach Edey tip-in off a missed free throw by Jake LaRavia with .2 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime.
With the “Elam Ending” rules in overtime, the first team to score seven points in overtime won and that team was the Utah Jazz as Keyote George hit two free throws after a foul call on Zach Edey to win it 97-95.
Now here are the key takeaways:
Zach Edey’s NBA Debut
Granted it was a summer league game, but Zach Edey didn’t look fazed in his first NBA action, especially on the defensive end as he blocked two shots and affected many other attempts at the rim in the first quarter. He also dominated the glass with 6 rebounds and set screens on the offensive end that led to others benefiting with a score, showing what will be asked of him on the main roster.
A twisted ankle seemed to slow Edey’s progress some in the second half but he still ran the floor well and altered shots on the defensive end of the court. Down the stretch of the fourth quarter, his presence was felt as post-up opportunities presented themselves for him and he showed why he was the back-to-back player of the year as Walker Kessler had no chance at stopping him. He even made up for a missed putback dunk that would’ve given the Grizzlies the lead to tip in the tying score to take the game to overtime.
Edey’s presence was felt throughout overtime but a questionable foul call against him was the deciding factor for the game with the overtime rules in place. Zach Edey finished his impressive debut with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
GG Jackson & Jake LaRavia’s Continued Growth
These two became a tag team duo to end the regular for the Memphis Grizzlies and started the 2024 summer league in the same rhythm as Jake LaRavia led the team with 8 points in the first and GG Jackson showed his elite athleticism on multiple occasions throughout the first. Both players were integral in the Grizzlies pulling away from the Jazz in the second quarter after their double-digit lead was cut to two possessions.
Both players struggled from three, especially GG, but the majority of their looks were good and it has been proven that they can shoot so it can be chalked up as an off-night. However, more consistency from behind the arc will be needed from both players as their roles with the main roster at full health will require that. All in all, both players produced in other aspects by scoring in a different variety and were solid defensively despite the final result.
Jake LaRavia finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals and GG Jackson finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
Scotty Pippen Jr.’s Steady Presence
Scotty Pippen Jr. looks to make it harder and harder to keep him off the main roster. He displayed great potential with the Grizzlies last season and came out the gate scoring and/or assisting on the Grizzlies’ first four baskets in their first summer league game. His stellar play continued in the second quarter as he led the team with 10 points in the quarter and chipped in 2 steals.
Scotty’s second half was quieter but he scored a huge basket when his midrange jumper with 1:05 remaining gave the Grizzlies a two-possession lead before the wild sequence to end the game ensued. Scotty Pippen Jr. led the Grizzlies in scoring and assists with 21 and 5, respectively, while also tying for the team lead in steals with 3.