![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ON-vs-LN.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Grizzlies closed out the regular season series against the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland Wednesday with a 122-114 loss. Portland won the season series 3-1.<\/p>\n
There were just eight players available for head coach Tuomas Iisalo and Memphis, although you would be forgiven for not recognizing many of the names.<\/p>\n
The team the Grizzlies are fielding in March 2026 is vastly different from the one that started the season in October 2025.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, and John Konchar have all been traded away, PJ Hall was waived, Santi Aldama is injured with no timetable for return, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is out for the remainder of the season, and most likely Ja Morant is out for the rest of the season as well. Brandon Clarke\u2019s face should be on a milk carton with how scarce he has been. <\/p>\n
The lineup on Memphis\u2019 current injury report would probably make the play-in tournament if they were available and playing. The lineup that hit the floor on Wednesday night, not so much.<\/p>\n
Before I get further into this game, here\u2019s a bit of Grizzlies housekeeping:<\/p>\n
Rayan Rupert, a former Portland Trail Blazer who was signed to Memphis on a 10-day contract, has been signed to a two-way contract for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who started the season on a two-way contract, has signed a multi-year contract, with terms not disclosed.<\/p>\n
And finally, it\u2019s official: center Zach Edey will miss the rest of the season after undergoing a successful procedure to address ongoing discomfort in his left ankle. Per Grizzlies PR, Edey is expected to make a full recovery in advance of the 2026-27 regular season.<\/p>\n
With that out of the way, let\u2019s get into this game against the Blazers.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure what remains for these teams that qualifies as a rivalry, but they are currently ranked 10th and 11th in the Western Conference standings, with Memphis in the 11th seed seven games back from Portland in the 10th.<\/p>\n
The score was tied at the half, with nine lead changes in the first half. Cam Spencer scored all 12 of his points in the first half, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 12 of his 17 total points in the first half.<\/p>\n
Portland\u2019s starting center, Donovan Clingan, was ejected near the end of the second quarter for a flagrant foul penalty 2, after an intentional elbow to the face of Olivier-Maxence Prosper.<\/p>\n
But it was in the third quarter that the Blazers started pulling away offensively, despite Jaylen Wells shooting a perfect 4 of 4 from beyond the arc in the period.<\/p>\n
And in the fourth, the Blazers slammed the door on the Grizzlies\u2019 chances at a comeback.<\/p>\n
Portland had the advantage over Memphis in several categories. They dominated in the paint 62-46, in second chance points 23-15, and on the boards 53-38.<\/p>\n
Both teams committed 17 turnovers, but the Blazers converted the Grizzlies\u2019 turnovers into 23 points, while giving up only 13 points off their turnovers.<\/p>\n
I haven\u2019t had to harp much on free throws this season, because they have made very little difference in the outcome of most games.<\/p>\n
However, in this instance, they would have made a difference \u2013 shooting 22 of 33 from the charity stripe, leaving 11 free points on the table in a game where your team lost by 8 points, is less than ideal- YGTMYFT.<\/p>\n
By the Numbers:<\/p>\n
Seven of the eight players available for the Grizzlies scored in double figures:<\/p>\n
Jaylen Wells led with a team-high 24 points on 8 of 15 overall shooting and 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, along with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.<\/p>\n
GG Jackson scored 20 points on 8 of 18 overall shooting, along with four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three blocks.<\/p>\n
Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 17 points, along with nine rebounds, one assist, and two steals.<\/p>\n
Javon Small added 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block.<\/p>\n
Jahmai Mashack led the bench with 13 points on 5 of 8 overall shooting and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, and added one rebound, one assist, and one steal.<\/p>\n
Cam Spencer scored 12 points, along with seven rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks.<\/p>\n
Walter Clayton Jr. also scored 12 points, to go with two rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.<\/p>\n
Who Got Next?<\/p>\n
A little rest for this weary Grizzlies team; they don\u2019t play again until Saturday, March 7th, when they face the Los Angeles Clippers at FedExForum. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.<\/p>\n
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