MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Grizzlies continued their strong performance with a solid 125-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, marking their sixth consecutive win. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with an impressive 28 points, while Zach Edey contributed significantly with 19 points and four blocks. Desmond Bane was also pivotal for the Grizzlies, finishing the night with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Jaylen Wells added 16 points to help secure the win.
For Utah, Collin Sexton was the standout player, scoring 20 points. Svi Mykhailiuk supported with 16 points, and four other players finished the game with 11 points each. This defeat was particularly disappointing for the Jazz, as it marked their fifth consecutive loss and eighth in their last nine games.
The game got intense in the first half, featuring a few technical fouls, along with the ejection of Drew Eubanks. Utah managed to stay competitive with balanced scoring, as Sexton managed to score 13 points before halftime. Memphis relied heavily on Jackson, who was efficient with his shooting, making 10 of 14 attempts for a total of 20 points, helping the Grizzlies establish a 65-57 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, Memphis showcased dominant performance, outscoring Utah 36-17 and extending their lead to 24 points by the end of the period, now leading 101-74. The Grizzlies shot an impressive 60% from the field during these twelve minutes, which solidified their advantage.
On the other hand, Utah has struggled during its recent losing streak, having only one of its last four games decided by double digits, which reflects their ability to stay close even in defeat. The game notably featured a tense moment in the second quarter when Ja Morant and Keyonte George received double technicals. Shortly after, Eubanks was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 for colliding with Edey following a missed shot, escalating the physical nature of the game.
Statistically, both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with the Jazz making only 12 of 47 attempts, translating to a 26% success rate. Notably, Lauri Markkanen and Sexton both faced difficulties as they finished just 1 of 8 from three-point range.
Looking ahead, both Memphis and Utah will be back in action on Monday night. The Jazz will host the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Grizzlies will head to New York to take on the Knicks.
