Memphis Grizzlies Continue to Defy Odds with Third Consecutive Victory in the NBA

Although it does not make headlines or feature in highlights, the fact that the Memphis Grizzlies have three consecutive victories is one of the news of the moment in the NBA. That the Tennessee team continues to be competitive and is separating itself from the group of the worst (it has 18 victories, which in the East is equivalent to play in position) is a bit of a miracle and a lot of reward for the incredible work of a coach, Taylor Jenkins, and a group of players who have decided to show their face. Stay standing.

Against the Magic (107-106) it was necessary for Joe Ingles to miss a triple in the last seconds to close that third straight victory (18-27) and, in the process, to air out the bad moment of those from Central Florida: seven defeats in nine games and 23-22, already in the eighth of the East. It was also necessary for the triples to cascade in the first half (12/22) and for Jaren Jackson Jr, a star who does not always seem like it, to play at his best level and go crazy, with his mix of mobility and size, to the rival defense: 30 points with the last basket, the decisive one, with 81 seconds left. But the Grizzlies are playing without Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Derrick Rose, Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke. Four starters are missing, two of the main three (Morant and Bane), the big signing of the year (Smart) and the interior framework that used to protect Jackson Jr (Adams, Clarke). But the Grizzlies win, with another curious fact: this was only their fifth victory at home (5-15) while outside the FedExForum they have a positive balance (13-12).

Making a virtue of necessity, they opted for a quintet in which everyone can shoot, with Vince Williams Jr, second round in 2022, who is making good use of this opportunity. With a proven shooter like Luke Kennard (15 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists) and Santi Aldama whose versatility and ability to connect is vital for his team right now. The Spanish power forward finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. And the Grizzlies squeezed everyone’s contribution, also from the second unit with Ziaire Williams at the helm, and took another hard-fought victory of enormous value.

For the Magic there was no good news. Jalen Suggs was injured (left knee problems) and Franz Wagner went too unnoticed. Paolo Banchero was charged with fouls trying to stop Jaren Jackson (teammates in the very disappointing Team USA last summer) but he appeared on time, added 12 points in the last quarter and was (in the end, 27+5+6) the main reason for which his team arrived alive until the last possession, which Ingles forgave. A couple of steps below their best level of the first third of the season, the Magic are a vulnerable team right now, one that fell into the clutches of these proud bears who refuse to assume that everything has to go wrong. That is the summary of this dark season for the Grizzlies, one in which victories like this have enormous merit.

2024-01-27 05:06:29
#Aldama #miracle #Grizzlies