Unable to win in Orlando since January 2015, the Grizzlies quickly put themselves in a position to put an end to these seven years of scarcity during the first half.
After a one-sided first quarter, at the end of which they are already at +13 (37-24, 54% on shots, 10 assists for 14 baskets), Taylor Jenkins’ men do even more damage in the next quarter. In 12 minutes, they pass 39 points to the Magic (16/27, 59% on shots) and join the locker room well ahead (76-56, 35 rebounds and 18 assists!). Not deserving in this second quarter (32 points at 13/23), the men of Jahmal Mosley however pay their very important defensive largesse.
Ja Morant is the (very) strong man of this first half: the neo All-Star is at 22 points (10/14), 3 rebounds and 5 assists in just 17 minutes. On the side of the Magic, it is Cole Anthony who shines the most (17 points at 6/9, 2 rebounds and 4 assists).
In the second half, the gap increases to… +31 halfway through the third quarter. Without being particularly amazing on offense, the Grizzlies take what the opposing defense gives them, namely a lot of shifts and intervals that lead to easy “drives” to the circle or open outside shots. Unsurprisingly, the “garbage time” begins at the end of the third quarter and the benches open for long minutes: the ten players on the Orlando game sheet play, and score.
After a last act won for the honor by the Magic (34-27), the final buzzer sounded and the Grizzlies won their first game in seven years in the Amway Center.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– End of drought for Grizzlies. Defeated at the buzzer last year by Cole Anthony, the Grizzlies finally won a game on the Orlando floor. The first in seven years, with Memphis’ last victory dating back to January 2015.
– Memphis first half. Enough to quickly secure the victory and ensure a quiet second period. Insignificant, the second half was summed up in 24 minutes of “garbage time”. The Grizzlies have indeed secured victory at halftime, with a monstrous first period: 76 points scored, 54% on shots and 56% from behind the arc, but also 35 points and 18 assists. A basketball lesson.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Ja Morant. Freshly All-Star, the leader of Memphis pulverized the Orlando defense: 33 points (14/21), 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks, in just… 29 minutes. So much so that the Orlando public did not hide their admiration, with “ohh” and “woahh”, in the face of the high altitude “drives” of the athlete.
✅ Cole Anthony. There has been little satisfaction for Orlando, outside of the sophomore. The former Tar Heel compiles 22 points at 8/14, with 6 rebounds and 5 more assists to sign a good full game. A very clean but diluted match in a disastrous collective performance. The law of collective sport, unfortunately for him.
⛔️ Mo Bamba. The pivot was annihilated by the presence of Steven Adams and delivered a ghostly match: 3 points at 1/6, 3 small rebounds and 2 faults. We will note all the same 3 counterattacks in defense…
THE FOLLOWING
Orlando (12-42): “back-to-back” tomorrow at home, against Boston
Memphis (37-18): return to the FedEx Forum on Tuesday for the reception of the Clippers
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