Grizzlies rookie Tillman looking to build off first start
Xavier Tillman Sr. said last week he hadn't gotten his welcome-to-the-nba moment because nobody dunked on him yet. That changed in his first career start Monday.
Suns center Deandre Ayton spun baseline and went up-and-under for a dunk on the Grizzlies rookie in the second half. Ayton hung on the rim for emphasis but Tillman didn't back down.
Tillman finished with 12 points and tied his career high with six rebounds in the Grizzlies' 108-104 win over the Suns. He sank a free throw with 1.8 seconds left to finish things off.
"I said just give me one and close it out so we don't have to get the stop. That was the biggest thing," Tillman said.
With Jonas Valanciunas out due to the league's health and safety protocols, Tillman started in his eighth career game.
In his brief stint, Tillman has shown a knack for rebounding and defense along with holding the center spot despite being 6-foot-8. On Saturday against the 76ers, he forced a late turnover as Tobias Harris stepped out of bounds with under six seconds left and the Grizzlies up one.
"It's time to win. That was kind of my whole mentality," said Tillman. "Don't foul. Don't be the rook who fouls in the clutch. Get your hands up. If he's got to score on you, make it tough on him."
With Valanciunas out for an indefinite time, Tillman could remain a starter as the Grizzlies begin a two-game series at Portland on Wednesday (9 p.m., Fox Sports Southeast). But now it's a question of whether he will maintain the strong play he had off the bench.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins praised Tillman for learning at a rapid pace and doing things to impact the team's five-game win streak. His net rating of 9.9 is the best on the team and he has the team's second-best defensive rating (99.4 points allowed per 100 possessions).
Tillman has scored in double figures the last three games but also had a career-high four steals against the 76ers on Saturday.
"He's playing big-time for us," Ja Morant said. "He's guarded multiple positions, playing in the mid-range, rebounding, he's doing a lot for us on the floor. That's just a lot of credit to his work."
Tillman modeled his game after another undersized player from Michigan State in Draymond Green. Green's versatility and defense helped the Golden State Warriors win three NBA championships. Tillman's challenge is to keep up what he did as a reserve. It's been a trial by fire but he's figured out lessons pretty quickly.
"Don't do too much but at the same you need to be doing the right things," Tillman said. "You need to be a threat. You need to know what we're trying to do on the offensive and defensive end. Just go out there and compete is the last thing."