Rookie forward Cedric Coward finished with another double-double on Friday, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a home win over the LA Clippers at FedExForum.
Coward produced 23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and one steal in the 107-98 win. He shot 10-of-18 from the field, including 1-of-6 from 3-point range, and was a plus-eight in 28 minutes as the Grizzlies won for the sixth time in eight games.
The 11th pick in the 2025 NBA draft tallied 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, helping the Grizzlies seal the victory down the stretch. Coward credited their defense for stepping up after holding the Clippers to 29.4% shooting from the field in the final frame.
“Getting stops, playing with so much heart and intensity,” Coward told Rob Fischer of FanDuel Sports Network Southeast after the game. “That’s the way that we’re supposed to play and the way we know we can play, and that’s what we did.”
Coward is averaging 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 32.7% shooting from 3-point range in 23 appearances with the Grizzlies. He is fifth among rookies in scoring and leads all first-year players in double-doubles (4).
The 22-year-old has started the past 10 games for coach Tuomas Iisalo, emerging as a key player for the team on both ends of the court. He once again showcased his overall skill set on Friday, turning in perhaps his finest all-around performance.
Coward has fit in well with the Grizzlies to start the season and has earned the trust of his teammates and coaches. He has stepped up amid a chaotic year on and off the court and is already solidifying himself as a leader for the group in his first year.
“I think that is something that has always been a part of me,” Coward said. “Honestly, it’s just making sure we have what’s best available for us at that time. If it is calming us down, if it is getting us riled up, I’m there to do really whatever.”