Grizzlies aim to rebound in two-game series against Magic
Field Level Media
30 Apr 2021, 06:19 GMT+10
All of the Memphis Grizzlies excitement after beating potential play-in tournament opponent Portland twice last week faded during a 130-109 blowout loss at home to the Blazers on Wednesday night.
The Grizzlies (31-30) lost their second in a row and will look to regroup when they host the OrlandoMagic on Friday night in Memphis in the first of a home-and-home set on back-to-back nights.
Despite 19 points from Jonas Valanciunas and 18 from Dillon Brooks, the Grizzlies were buried early and trailed by as many as 33 points in the first half. Ja Morant struggled from the field shooting 3-for-11 and scoring only 10 points while Jaren Jackson Jr. went 2-for-10 from 3-point range, 4-for-15 overall and finished with 13 points.
Portland Trail Blazers’ do-or-die approach pays off for second consecutive night: ‘The season is on the line’
Updated 12:20 AM;
Today 12:12 AM
Memphis Grizzlies Dillon Brooks, right, is blocked as he defends against Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) APAP
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Memphis forward Dillon Brooks and some of his teammates were involved in some chippiness during their team’s two wins in Portland on Friday and Sunday. After the second victory, Brooks proclaimed that he wanted to sweep the Blazers.
Brooks even referred to the Blazers’ two wins against Memphis last summer at the NBA bubble that eliminated the Grizzlies as motivation.
2021/04/29 11:41 Portland Trail Blazers Nassir Little (9) drives against Memphis Grizzlies defenders in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 28,. Portland Trail Blazers Nassir Little (9) drives against Memphis Grizzlies defenders in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Memphis Grizzlies Killian Tillie (35) is fouled by Portland Trail Blazers Robert Covington (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesd. Memphis Grizzlies Killian Tillie (35) is fouled by Portland Trail Blazers Robert Covington (23) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Choose Your Own Adventure: Memphis Grizzlies Rotations Edition
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Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
You are the Head Coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. It is the Spring of 2021, and your team is once again overachieving. They are in a prime position to be in the NBA’s inaugural play-in tournament at a minimum while also having an outside chance to climb all the way up to the six seed in the Western Conference. The best part is that only recently has your roster become fully healthy, leading you to believe that the best is perhaps yet to come for this team. At the same time, however, your roster is now so deep that several good players are sure to be eliminated from getting minutes. Decisions must be made, and this is why they pay you the big bucks. It is time to construct your ultimate rotation.
The loss saw Philadelphia drop a game behind the Brooklyn Nets at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Charlotte Hornets held off a fast-finishing Milwaukee Bucks outfit 127-119 to clinch their 27th win of the season.
The Bucks, who were without a host of players due to injury, struggled through the first three quarters before rallying down the stretch.
Milwaukee outscored Charlotte by 11 points in the fourth quarter, but were ultimately unable to avoid their third straight defeat.
Another Jokic triple-double.. Another @nuggets win!
26pts | 13reb | 14ast | 8 straight Ws pic.twitter.com/1iqSY4cF6D
The San Antonio Spurs let victory slip through their fingers as they went down 121-119 to the Denver Nuggets.