A 121-105 Victory Over The Grizzlies Moves The Jazz To 4-0 At Home
Success for the Utah Jazz is fueled by their fearless play.
In a 121-105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, Lauri Markkanen had 31 points and 10 rebounds as the Jazz dominated on both ends of the court.
The Utah Jazz frequently blocked shots, crashed the glass, and created turnovers. The Jazz’s offensive effort was equally tenacious, as they consistently made outside jump shots.
“Nobody is backing down or afraid of anything,” veteran guard Mike Conley said. “We are that team; we are the scrappy players who don’t mind getting elbowed or fouling too frequently. It’s fun to be around people like that.”
In addition to shooting 69% from the field, Markkanen made a season-high 11 field goals.
The impact he had as a defender was just as significant, as he blocked shots and made shooters uncomfortable in the paint.
“He knows how to use his size and length, and he has good feet. He’s a legit 7-footer,” Will Hardy said he was a jazz coach. “He’s a good defender because of his size and his mobility.”
For the Jazz, Malik Beasley added a season-high 18 points off the bench. 15 each were contributed by Conley and Collin Sexton. To defeat Memphis for the second time in three days, Utah made 19 3-pointers.
The Grizzlies were led by Ja Morant’s 37 points. Tyus Jones added 12 points, while Dillon Brooks added 19 more. Memphis made 6 of 26 3-point attempts.
“Everything was on us,” Morant said. “We weren’t talking to each other, we were just rotating and giving them simple looks.”
In the first period, Morant went 5 for 5 from the field and assisted Memphis in taking a 26-23 lead. By halftime, he had scored 21 points.
In the second period, the Grizzlies’ fortunes began to fall apart due to a rash of errors and a protracted shooting slump. Memphis was limited by Utah to just one field goal over the course of 6 1/2 minutes. During the quarter, the Jazz also forced eight errors, and they then capitalized by scoring 10 points.
That made it possible for Utah to seize the initiative before halftime. Jordan Clarkson’s four-point play highlighted a 24-5 run by the Jazz that gave them a 54-38 advantage.
Utah outscored the Grizzlies 38-18 in the second quarter and held Memphis to just 32% field goal shooting. Additionally, the Jazz defeated the Grizzlies on Saturday night and scored 38 points in the second quarter.
“We lost our spirit there in the second quarter and they took advantage,” Taylor Jenkins, the Memphis coach, said.
By the third quarter’s end, Utah had increased its lead to 23 points thanks to seven 3-pointers made during the period.
BETTER CHEMISTRY
Due to rumors of conflict in the locker room between former stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Utah collapsed late in the previous season. The Jazz’s team chemistry has changed drastically this year.
Because of everyone’s desire to succeed, according to Clarkson, this season has been enjoyable. This has resulted in teammates working hard and interacting effectively on the court.
“We have a great thing going right now in terms of the vibe in the locker room,” Clarkson said.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Desmond Bane did not play due to right ankle discomfort. … With nine rebounds, Steven Adams led the team. … Memphis only had 13 assists in total.
Jazz: Markkanen stopped a career-high four shots. … 12 assists were totaled by Jarred Vanderbilt in the two victories over Memphis. … Utah improved to 4-0 at home.
Related Story: Donovan Mitchell Leaving A Lasting Impression On The Cavaliers
Source: https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/jazz-rout-grizzlies-121105-improve-to-40-at-home
