Quick Recap: Grizzlies Outpace Pacers in Preseason Overtime Thriller

Excitement. You could feel it inside FedEx Forum on Sunday night as the Memphis Grizzlies’ offseason was finally coming to an end with their first preseason matchup against the Indiana Pacers.

It was our first opportunity to see new faces acquired by the Grizzlies this offseason in a -somewhat- competitive atmosphere at FedExForum. One of those new faces is former Memphis Tiger and the youngest MVP in NBA history, Derrick Rose, who returned to Memphis after 13+ years of being away.

Unfortunately, Marcus Smart, the other new face, was ruled out before tonight’s game against Indiana with “mild abdominal soreness.”

First Quarter:

It was an up-and-down affair throughout the first quarter, which was to be expected, considering it was the first preseason game for the Grizz. The beginning of ironing out the kinks and developing relationships with one another.

Team USA Center and Memphis Grizzlies Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. came out of the gates like a guy who had taken yet another offensive leap. From post passes, dribble drives that led to layups one-on-one, and even punishing a Pacer for challenging him at the rim defensively, Jackson showed no signs of rust. “Triple J” tallied six points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in nine minutes of first-quarter action.

Memphis Led Indiana 32-24 after one quarter.

Second Quarter:

If you didn’t watch the first half with a smile on your face, you weren’t watching the same game. Between Memphis showing great signs defensively and Derrick Rose showing he still has plenty in the tank heading into this season, it was an awesome first half.

Rose shot 6/8 from the field in the first half, leading to 13 points and plenty of highlights. Between Rose and Jackson Jr., Memphis carried a 66-59 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter:

In the third quarter, the Pacers came out of the locker room as the aggressor on both ends of the floor, forcing Memphis to turn the ball over early in the third quarter. However, Memphis would bounce back, following a Taylor Jenkins timeout five minutes into the third.

In that timeout, Bally Sports Southeast Sideline reporter Rob Fischer reported that Jenkins told the team that the Pacers were “trying to slow them down.” Slowing the Grizzlies down allowed the Pacers to tie the game.

It was back and forth for most of the third quarter, as Memphis and Indiana headed to the fourth quarter tied at 91 apiece.

Fourth Quarter:

The fourth quarter was about ‘the other guys.’ Guys like David Roddy, GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia, and Kenny Lofton Jr. Lofton Jr. played really well in the seven minutes of action that he saw in the fourth quarter.

Second-year Point Guard Jacob Gilyard was a force for Memphis throughout the second half, setting the tone for the Grizzlies. It was neck and neck as regulation came to a close; Shaquille Harrison wasn’t able to hit a right-handed floater for the win, and we were headed to overtime in Memphis tied at 114.

Overtime:

The Grizzlies put up 13 points in overtime thanks to a show put on by Jake LaRavia and Kenny Lofton Jr. Memphis executed down the stretch to avoid a second overtime and came out with a 127-122 victory at FedEx Forum.

Full Stats:

Desmond Bane – 17 points (5/13 FG), four assists and four rebounds

Jaren Jackson Jr. – 18 points (8/15 FG), five rebounds, and five blocks

Derrick Rose – 13 points (6/8 FG)

The Grizzlies will be back in preseason action on Tuesday night as the Milwaukee Bucks travel to Memphis.