Recap: Sam Merrill’s Hot Shooting Leads to the Grizzlies’ Downfall in Loss vs Cavs

The Memphis Grizzlies returned to action Monday evening against former Memphis Tiger Emoni Bates and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League team in Las Vegas. The Grizzlies won their first Vegas Summer League game on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls and hoped to continue that momentum into this contest.

The Grizzlies deployed Jacob Gilyard, David Roddy, Jake LaRavia, Tarik Biberovic, and Kenny Lofton Jr. to start the game.

First Half

Kenneth Lofton Jr. (Junior) picked up where he left off last game (23 points), scoring the first basket of the game for the Grizzlies. The Cavs responded by scoring eight straight points to put the Grizzlies in an early 8-2 deficit. After a made free throw by Jake LaRavia, Junior made an impressive block on the defensive end to give the Grizzlies some life leading to a transition layup by David Roddy to cut their deficit to 8-5 before the first timeout.

makin sum shake on both ends

watch now 📺 https://t.co/cv52w0KLWP pic.twitter.com/vJfKmfwsj9

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 10, 2023

Upon returning from the timeout, both Jake LaRavia and David Roddy added some razzle dazzle playmaking passing to Junior for a couple of made baskets that led to a tie at 13. Former Grizzly Sam Merrill answered with a three before Jake LaRavia matched that with a three himself. After a made basket by the Cavs to regain the lead, Junior connected on a three to give the Grizzlies their first lead of the game at 19-18. The Cavs responded with a 6-0 run to end the first quarter leading 24-19.

lol @jacob_laravia3 x @itzjunior35

watch📺 https://t.co/cv52w0Ke7h pic.twitter.com/F5l4UYwCs2

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 10, 2023

The Cavs extended their lead to 33-26 to begin the second quarter before both Junior and David Roddy made back-to-back impressive drives to the rim for unbelievable and-one plays to cut their deficit to 33-32. After a defensive stop, David Roddy got into the teeth of the defense again before extending a pass to GG Jackson in the corner for three to complete the Grizzlies’ 9-0 run to regain the lead 35-33 heading into the first timeout of the quarter.

BIG BODY

📺 https://t.co/cv52w0KLWP pic.twitter.com/u5PCcDV02e

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 10, 2023

However, the Sam Merrill revenge tour continued as he made his fourth three-pointer of the game, followed by a layup to help the Cavs regain and extend the lead to 44-36. Jake LaRavia quickly responded with a three followed by two free throws from Junior to cut their deficit to 44-41 before Merrill connected on his fifth three of the half to put the Cavs back up six at 47-41. An Emoni Bates steal and made free throws, along with the Grizzlies’ second delay of game that led to a technical free throw, resulted in the Cavs leading the Grizzlies 50-41 at halftime.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. stuffed the stat sheet at the half with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block; his five fouls were his only negative of the half. David Roddy and Jake LaRavia followed behind with eight and seven points, respectively. Former Grizzly Sam Merrill led the game with 18 points on five made threes at the half for the Cavs.

Second Half

Sam Merrill continued his hot streak to begin the third quarter making another three to extend the Cavs’ lead into double digits at 53-41. The Grizzlies cut the deficit to 55-48 before Sam Merrill connected on yet another three, followed by a pass to Emoni Bates for a three and another three by himself to put the Cavs back up double digits at 64-48.

Grizzlies legend, Sam Merrill 🥺 pic.twitter.com/XQ4ROQlNKT

— Goooo Grizz!! (@dearest_darling) July 10, 2023

Following a timeout, Junior committed a flagrant foul, which led to a free throw, followed by another basket from Emoni Bates to give the Cavs their largest lead of the game at 67-48. However, the Grizzlies refused to go away quietly as made free throws by Roddy, followed by back-to-back threes from LaRavia and Gilyard, brought the Grizzlies back to within 11 points at 67-56 with 3:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Following the timeout, GG Jackson got going a little bit with back-to-back baskets, but Emoni Bates had answers on the other end for the Cavs as they extended their lead back to 15 points to end the third quarter, leading 76-61.

The beginning of the fourth quarter continued to look very similarly to the third quarter, as the Cavs continued to exert their will on the Grizzlies, pushing their lead back to its largest at 19 points (86-67), with six minutes remaining in the game.

Following a timeout, Emoni Bates connected on what ended up being the back-breaking three to put the Cavs up 22 points at 89-67. The Cavs lead by as many as 25 points in the 4th quarter en route to defeating the Grizzlies 100-77.

David Roddy led the Grizzlies with 18 points and five rebounds. Jake LaRavia scored 16 points but was a team-high -25, and Kennth Lofton Jr. was shut out in the second half finishing with his halftime total of 15 points.

Next game: Wednesday, July 12th at 2:30p CST vs LA Clippers | ESPNews