Memphis Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo was scrambling.

Around 45 minutes before the start of a Dec. 26 game between the Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks, it was announced that center Jock Landale wouldn’t be available due to right calf soreness.

Memphis is already without centers Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey, plus Olivier-Maxence Prosper was out due to being on a two-way transfer.

Even with Ja Morant and Cedric Coward making their returns, the Grizzlies’ coaching staff had to huddle and come up with an adjusted gameplan after factoring in Landale.

Memphis got off to a slow start. As Morant and Jaylen Wells said, the team had to get the “Christmas food” out of its system. A 10-point first quarter deficit quickly turned into a 10-point halftime Memphis lead, and the Grizzlies kept piling on in a 125-104 win at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies (15-16) got strong performances from the star duo of Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Wells, Cam Spencer and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were also among the players who stood out.

One of the more unheralded performances of the day came from Christian Koloko. He’s currently on a 10-day contract, but Memphis needed him to play 28 minutes after learning of Landale’s absence. He had four points and three steals while the team finished plus-23 in his time on the floor.

“He wasn’t scheduled for this type of minutes,” Iisalo said. “We were thinking more in terms of what happened in Utah, and it was a complete surprise that Jock wasn’t able to go.”

“I was very impressed with his ability to step out and guard different type of guys,” he later added. “Christian has made a good impression on us.”

Koloko’s performance was important, but this was a win led by the stars.

Morant and Jackson’s performances will play pivotal roles in this Grizzlies team’s ultimate ceiling. Both players performed admirably against the Bucks.

Ja Morant, Tuomas Iisalo finding answers

Listening and adaptability are key components in all forms of relationships. That is no different in the dynamic between a point guard and head coach.

It’s no secret that Iisalo and Morant haven’t seen eye-to-eye this entire season. Morant called out the coaching staff earlier this season, leading to a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

As Morant made his return from a four-game absence due to a left ankle sprain, Iisalo talked before the game about managing his minutes by finding sub patterns that work best for him while making sure he’s not on the floor for too long of stretches. Iisalo had a similar message again after the game.

“I think both of us were very happy that he was able to express himself fully and then still not have those long stretches where he’s off the court or on the bench,” Iisalo said.

Morant finished with 17 points and 10 assists. He made six shots on 11 attempts. Morant’s return led to Memphis having one of its best games of the season in transition scoring, finishing with 26 fastbreak points.

While the Grizzlies will continue to monitor Morant’s minutes for the time being, there has been an emphasis on keeping the star guard in rhythm.

“Just getting some more consecutive games under my belt,” Morant said. “Feeling the gym environment, gameplay, game style, physicality—all that goes into rhythm.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. explains recent surge

Jackson was never going to admit it. He wasn’t in the business of making excuses.

After beating his expected to return timeline and getting back early from an offseason turf toe procedure, the Grizzlies star has finally opened up about his early season struggles.

Jackson pointed to his shooting struggles, stating that he didn’t feel “that great” about his shots earlier this season because the ball wasn’t feeling good when coming off his hand.

Jackson finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and five blocks against the Bucks. After having five games of 20 or more points through his first 23 games this season, he has surpassed 20 points five times in his last six appearances.

The numbers go beyond the scoring. He has had three games of eight or more rebounds in that six-game stretch after doing so only twice prior to this run. He also had four games of three or more blocks in his last six after reaching that total two times before that.

“I think I was still just recovering from surgery, honestly,” Jackson said. “That probably took a bigger toll on me than I even knew of. I think my whole goal was to just be healthy, so when I got back playing, I didn’t really think anything of it, and I just kind of assumed that I would be exactly who I was immediately.”

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.