The Memphis Grizzlies opened their west coast trip with a 129-125 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
A 40-point fourth quarter and a big offensive showing from Ty Jerome helped lock in the victory, but in light of recent events, this win feels hollow.
Most of Grizz Nation is still reeling from the big trade move executed that sent two-time all-star Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, along with Jock Landale, John Konchar, and Vince Williams Jr., and netted a return of Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, former Grizzly Kyle Anderson, and three first-round picks.
Trading away a franchise cornerstone like Jackson Jr. is a signal that the Grizzlies’ front office is pursuing a roster rebuild. Add in the ongoing chatter about moving off of franchise superstar Ja Morant, and you have a recipe for some possibly ugly basketball to come in the next couple of seasons.
If the team can’t get a deal done for Morant by the trade deadline Thusday afternoon, I think we can expect to see him dealt in the off-season. There isn’t much logic in keeping him around if the plan is to blow up the roster and rebuild.
But getting back to last night’s game, Ty Jerome’s 28-point performance is precisely what Memphis hoped to get from him when he was acquired over the summer, before he was sidelined with an injury just before the start of the season.
The Kings have been an even bigger dumpster fire this year than the Grizzlies, and they are sitting dead last in the Western Conference. Beating sub-.500 teams has been a hallmark of Memphis this season — they are 15-7 against those teams, and an abysmal 5-22 against teams with a winning record.
The Grizzlies managed to pull off a win despite giving up 17 points off turnovers, in no small part due to their 18 made three-pointers and 50 percent overall shooting. They played a 10-man roster against the Kings, with six players finishing the night in double figures.
Jerome’s 28 points led all scorers. He shot 10 of 14 overall shooting and 3 of 4 from three-point range, and added a game-high 7 assists, plus a rebound and a steal.
Sophomore forward Jaylen Wells closed out with 18 points on 6 of 12 overall shooting and 6 of 9 from beyond the arc, and added three rebounds and an assist.
GG Jackson put up 16 points on 2 of 3 shooting from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 overall, to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
Santi Aldama returned from a four-game absence with 12 points, six rebounds, one steal, and two blocks.
Cam Spencer led the second unit with 20 points on 7 of 13 overall shooting and 3 of 7 from three-point range, and added three rebounds and five assists.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 points on 6 of 9 overall shooting, plus two rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will continue their road trip with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Tip-off for both games is 9 PM CST.
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