Santi Aldama’s best night in the NBA had no reward. The Canary Islands center of the Grizzlies broke his scoring record by scoring 37 points (22 of them at halftime) to the Wizards with 10/14 in two-point shots, 5/9 in triples and 2/3 in free throws. However, His team could not achieve victory and fell 122-130 in the bottom team’s visit to Memphiswhere they had not won since 2018 and had seven consecutive defeats.
Aldama, whose scoring record until now was 29 points, came off the bench and played 36 minutes. To his annotation he added 10 reboundswhich makes his performance something unusual. Since 2010, his numbers had only been seen as a substitute on two occasions. They had been achieved by Payton Pritchard and Jordan Clarkson. Throughout history they have only been achieved 19 times.
Santi Aldama, near the Wizards hoop.
The Grizzlies led by 20but they collapsed in the second half due to the push of CJ McCollum and Kyshawn George, who scored 28 points each. The first made 4/5 in triples after the break and the second also added seven rebounds and as many assists. Alex Sarr, former Real Madrid youth player, signed a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
With one minute left before the break, A 2+1 by Aldama gave the Grizzlies a 20-point lead (68-48). Those from Memphis, hampered by injuries, could only field nine players. Furthermore, they lost Brandon Clarke He left in the first quarter due to discomfort in his right calf and Jaren Jackson Jr., author of 22 points, and Jock Landale They had foul trouble.
All this and a bad exit from the locker room caused the comeback of the Wizards, who signed a 27-42 partial in the third quarter. With two minutes left, A triple from Sarr gave the capital’s lead (119-121) and they never lost it. This is how they ruined Aldama’s big night.
