The Memphis Grizzlies entered Sunday night trying to put one of the more eventful 48 hours the franchise had probably ever seen, facing off against a Los Angeles Clippers team that had been on quite the slick spot following the trade deadline. Being without three of their five starters, could Memphis pull off the upset on Sunday night?
First Quarter:
It was announced prior to tip-off that David Roddy would be starting at small forward for the Grizzlies, an opportunity with Memphis missing three of their five normal starters. Roddy came out of the gates with a steal against Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, which led to a slam dunk in transition.
The Grizzlies came out like a team that was well aware that they were shorthanded. The little things were now more important — talking out screens, taking care of each possession, and just competing at a high level. Memphis did that in the first quarter. Despite Jaren Jackson Jr. starting 0/4 from the field, Memphis led by as much as seven, but trailed 30-28 heading into the second quarter.
Second Quarter:
Sharpshooter Luke Kennard set the tone for Memphis at multiple points in the second quarter. Desmond Bane and Kennard shared point guard duties on the floor at the same time, which helps Memphis’ spacing.
Kennard has been huge for the Grizzlies since the trade. Grizzlies second-year wing Ziaire Williams, whom been sent down to the Memphis Hustle to try a rhythm, came in picked up three fouls quickly. Williams looked like a shell of who he was a year ago. Memphis got down double-digits in the final two minutes of the first half before closing on a 5-0 run. Memphis would go into the half trailing the Clippers 67-61, which being shorthanded as they were, felt like a win in itself.
Third Quarter:
When was the last time you saw a team put up 50 or more points in a quarter? I don’t have an answer to that either, but if you stayed up, you saw a short-handed Grizzlies team cook in the third. The Grizzlies went enfuego on the offensive side of the floor.
Tyus Jones started it all for the Grizzlies. Dropping three, after three-pointer. Jones dropped 20 third quarter points. Jones offensive swagger trickled down to the rest of the Grizzlies team. Memphis dropped a 51-point third quarter, and completely flipped the script on Los Angeles, as Memphis would carry a 112-97 lead into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter:
The script flipped back in the Clippers favor in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies returned to earth, and had to battle more than the opposing players. Memphis was out shot 35-15 from the free throw line, but I’m not here for excuses. The Grizzlies were outscored 38-17 in the fourth quarter, as the Clippers were able to complete the comeback and take down the Grizzlies 135-129.
The Grizzlies will look to bounce back on Tuesday night as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto Arena.