Grizzlies squander 15-point lead without Morant
The ball was moving, and several Memphis Grizzlies players were getting involved. The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t have one player to focus on while the Grizzlies were down four key contributors.
Each team put up a strong offensive first half, but the Grizzlies took it to another level in the third quarter. Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones couldn’t miss, and the Grizzlies got every shot they wanted while scoring 51 points.
That outburst helped Memphis build a 15-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Clippers responded with a dominating final 12 minutes. A 17-0 Clippers run led to a 135-129 loss for the shorthanded Grizzlies on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena.
It was the Grizzlies first game since it was announced star point Ja Morant would miss at least two games while the NBA investigates a video where he was holding an apparent gun in a nightclub Friday night. Morant apologized on Saturday and said he would “take some time away” from the Grizzlies.
The 51-point third quarter tied the highest scoring quarter in the NBA this season, but another fourth-quarter meltdown overshadowed everything by the Grizzlies. Bane led the Grizzlies (38-25) with 30 points, Jones added 25 and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24.
Jones also had 12 assists, and Memphis got five 3-pointers off the bench from Luke Kennard.
The Clippers (34-33) got huge performances from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard while top Grizzlies wing defender Dillon Brooks was suspended for Sunday’s game. George scored 42 points and Leonard added 32 points.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
David Roddy and Tyus Jones join the starting lineup
The Grizzlies were missing three everyday starters. Jones started in place of Ja Morant, David Roddy for Brooks and Xavier Tillman Sr. for injured Steven Adams. Having Jones at point guard led to solid ball movement and efficient offense. Roddy was the story early in the game with eight points in the first quarter, but he didn’t score for the remainder of the game.
Memphis struggled rebounding the ball, but the team is hoping to get back Adams soon.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins provided an update on Adams’ status before the game, stating that the big man could return this week.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane’s new roles
With Morant unavailable it meant Bane and Jackson were put in bigger roles. Jackson was a focal point on offense as the Grizzlies went to him inside against a smaller Clippers team and let him get to his left hand. Jackson also mixed in his 3-point shot. Bane had the ball in his hands more throughout the game, especially when Jones went to the bench. He served as the backup point guard and kept the offense afloat when Jones left the game. Bane finished with six assists.
Jones continued his stellar work as a starter with a strong third quarter. Jones had a career-high 20 points in the third quarter, and he was also getting teammates involved as a facilitator. The eighth-year veteran entered Sunday averaging 18.8 points and 7.7 assists in nine starts this season.
What’s next
The Grizzlies will stay in Los Angeles as they prepare to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday (9 p.m., TNT). The Grizzlies defeated the Lakers 121-109 in their last meeting on Feb. 28, but Los Angeles won the last time the two met at Crypto.com Arena. Brooks will be back from a one-game suspension, but Morant will continue to be away from the team.