Grizzlies’ loss a message to play with urgency
When Tyus Jones’ potential-tying 3pointer fell short against the Orlando Magic, the Fedexforum crowd sighed and started to leave feeling deflated. The Grizzlies hadn’t had a loss like this since before the All-star break.
They’ve lost games, obviously, but Tuesday’s 120-115 loss stung more because it was a close one they let slip away. It wasn’t the way to start a difficult final stretch where 16 of their next 17 opponents are playoff contenders.
A 14-point third quarter lead faded away and the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 17 in the first quarter, were left to answer for a lackluster second half.
The Magic scored 70 points after halftime. The Grizzlies’ bench, which had been a strength since the All-star break, was quiet except for Josh Jackson. But even Jackson’s strong play was offset by foul trouble that limited him in the fourth quarter.
Jackson had a highlight-worthy play by spinning past Michael Carter-williams and pump-faking Aaron Gordon into a layup while being fouled. Yet he also had foul trouble limit his minutes in the fourth quarter.
“(I) hope guys go home and think about what they can do better. We got to put more effort into this,” said Dillon
Brooks, who scored 21 points. “When we were out there today, it seemed like we were too comfortable. You have to play with some desperation because there’s teams that are right on our heels.”
This is the new normal for the Grizzlies
(32-33). Where the final 17 games matter not because of their performance but in trying to hold off five teams with easier schedules who want to seize on their mistakes.
It wasn’t enough punching the Magic early, the same Magic team that beat them by 32 in November. They didn’t land the knockout blows despite rallying from a nine-point fourth quarter deficit.
Ja Morant, who scored 21 points, almost delivered another 4th quarter moment with three assists in the really. He tied the game with a driving layup with 1:58 left but a missed a go-ahead layup as the Magic re-took the lead for good thanks to a 3-pointer by Terrence Ross.
The Grizzlies can’t afford to have their bench outplayed by the league’s 17th best scoring bench thanks to Ross (24 points) and Michael Carter-williams (20 points). Nor can their defense, which carried them to four wins in their last five games, allow a team to shoot 9 for 17 on 3-pointers in the second half.
It was a bad start to a stretch where the Grizzlies’ final 17 games involve 16 playoff contenders, 11 of which have winning records.
They still have a 3 1/2 game lead for the No. 8 seed as they begin a threegame road trip Thursday in Portland. They’ll get reinforcements soon with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow returning from injuries within the next week. But as Brooks noted, they have to play with urgency or else this playoff fight becomes that much harder.
You can reach Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_b) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com