The Memphis Grizzlies will look to return to the win column on Sunday evening when it continues its season-high five-game highway journey towards the Phoenix Suns.
The Grizzlies squandered a 13-point lead within the third quarter and noticed their franchise-record-tying 11-game successful streak finish with a 122-121 setback on the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
“Disappointed because we didn’t play to our standard. I don’t care about a streak,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated.
Jenkins didn’t cease there.
“They outcompeted us for 48 minutes. Plain and simple. … Terrible effort,” he stated.
Ja Morant stated his crew’s downfall was due partly to giving the Lakers further appears on the basket.
“We gave up too many second-chance points. Just have to win the 50-50 plays,” Morant stated. “We’ve got a lot of good (things going), but a lot of cleaning up to do.”
Morant collected 22 factors and eight assists and Steven Adams added 16 factors and 17 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season. Brandon Clarke and Tyus Jones every added 20 factors off the bench for Memphis, which made simply 26 of 40 makes an attempt from the free-throw line.
Clarke missed an try from the road with 1.2 seconds remaining that may’ve tied the sport.
Now, it needs to be famous that the NBA launched its Last Two Minute Reports on Saturday, and it revealed that Lakers guard Russell Westbrook dedicated a lane violation that was not known as. In brief, Clarke would have obtained one other try and tie the sport.
The Grizzlies additionally had been on the unsuitable finish of a non-call that noticed Lakers guard Dennis Schroder rip the ball out of Desmond Bane’s arms earlier than scoring the go-ahead basket with 7.1 seconds remaining.
“They ain’t call it, so it ain’t really nothing to talk about,” Bane stated, per the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I thought (I was fouled). I just got to be stronger with the ball, though.”
The Grizzlies have gained two of the earlier three conferences towards the Suns this season.
Morant, who boasts team-leading averages in factors (27.2) and assists (7.9), scored 34 factors in a 125-108 setback to Phoenix on December 27 earlier than tallying 29 in a 136-106 victory on Monday.
Mikal Bridges scored 21 factors in the newest assembly with Memphis. He scored 22 factors because the short-handed Suns recorded a 112-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.
Josh Okogie collected 24 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks for Phoenix, which has answered a dismal 1-9 stretch by successful consecutive contests to start its five-game homestand.
In addition to Devin Booker (groin), the Suns performed with out Chris Paul (hip), Cam Johnson (knee-injury administration) and Deandre Ayton (non-COVID sickness).
“Just woke up (Saturday), he wasn’t feeling well,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams stated of Ayton, who’s averaging 17.6 factors and 9.9 rebounds per sport. “Probably somewhat of a buildup from that kind of stuff gets a hold of a guy. He was in bad shape this morning. He was trying his best to play.”
