The Memphis Grizzlies have had bad luck away from the FedExForum this season as they are 0-3 on the road. Tonight, they will look to change that as they battle the San Antonio Spurs in Texas. If they win this evening, it will also put an end to a two-game losing streak.
The Spurs, on the other hand, are hoping to avoid a second consecutive loss tonight. They are coming fresh off of a 135-115 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday. This game will mark the first of four matchups between these two ball clubs this season.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:
The Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs have met up a grand total of 119 times in the past as the Spurs won 89 games while the Grizzlies came away with only 30 victories.
INACTIVES:
Memphis Grizzlies:
-Grayson Allen (ankle; 7.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 31.4 FG%, 26.3 3P%)
-Bruno Caboclo (coach’s decision; 3.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, 41.4 FG%, 18.2 3P%)
-De’Anthony Melton (coach’s decision; 2.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 33.3 FG%, 20.0 3P%)
-Andre Iguodala (personal)
-Yuta Watanabe (G-League)
-Josh Jackson
-John Konchar (G-League; 0.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 0.0 APG)
San Antonio Spurs:
-DeMarre Carroll (coach’s decision; 3.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 40.0 FG%, 40.0 3P%)
-Chimezie Metu (coach’s decision; 2.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 37.5 FG%)
-Lonnie Walker (coach’s decision; 0.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, 18.2 FG%, 0.0 3P%)
-Keldon Johnson
-Drew Eubanks (G-League; 0.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 FG%)
-Quinndary Weatherspoon (G-League)
-Luka Samanic
GAMETIME:
The beginning of the game would be held close as the Spurs shot forty-five percent from the field while the Grizzlies shot fifty-one percent. LaMarcus Aldridge chalked up 12 points while grabbing two rebounds, dishing off two assists, and committing one steal. DeMar DeRozan helped out with ten points while shooting sixty-two percent. He also had six rebounds and four assists.
Former Denver Nuggets forward Trey Lyles had seven points while knocking down a three-pointer in the first quarter. Dejounte Murray scored four points while recording six rebounds, one assist, and one block. Bryn Forbes had a three-pointer in the middle of the first quarter. Patty Mills played the most minutes off the bench as he had seven points.
On the other end of the court, Jaren Jackson scored 15 points which included 3 three-pointers. Dillon Brooks gave 12 points on seventy-one percent shooting while Jonas Valanciunas also shot seventy-one percent from the field, scoring 10 points. Both Ja Morant and Jae Crowder were kept to just two points each. Tyus Jones played 11 minutes off the bench as he had two points, as well, but the Grizzlies still went into the locker room with a 57 to 54 lead.
Both teams would still play it close in the second half as the Grizzlies shot fifty percent from the field while the Spurs shot forty-six percent. Forbes had 11 more points while hitting 3 three-pointers and grabbing one defensive rebound. Rudy Gay gave ten points while recording six rebounds and two assists.
Aldridge scored seven more points as he got his hands on two rebounds. DeMar DeRozan was held to just two points on fourteen percent shooting. Both Dejounte Murray and Trey Lyles were kept scoreless in the second half while Mills had two points. Derrick White played the most minutes off the bench as he had twelve points.
As for the visiting team, both Jackson and Brooks earned nine points each. Jonas Valanciunas contributed with eight points and eight rebounds while Ja Morant scored seven more points. Tyus Jones played 11 minutes off the bench but only had six points as the Grizzlies held on for a 113-109 win. Jaren Jackson finished the game with 24 points, 6 rebounds, a career-high five assists, one steal, and one block. LaMarcus Aldridge settled for 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and two steals.
So…what’s next?
The Memphis Grizzlies will travel to North Carolina to battle Devonte’ Graham (17.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 7.6 APG, 40.9 FG%, 42.5 3P%) and the Charlotte Hornets (4-6) on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. The San Antonio Spurs will head to Minnesota to take on Andrew Wiggins (25.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 47.3 FG%, 33.8 3P%) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (6-4) on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.