SALT LAKE CITY — Desmond Bane contributed 21 points and Jaren Jackson added 19 as the Memphis Grizzlies secured a commanding 140-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, even in the absence of Ja Morant.
During the third quarter, Jackson exited to the locker room after taking a hit to the face but returned to the bench late in the contest. Despite his absence, the Grizzlies outperformed the Jazz 76-38 in the second half, achieving their second win in six games.
Memphis, once near the top of the standings, has struggled recently, largely due to injuries including Morant’s hamstring strain. This has pushed them out of the championship contender spotlight. Meanwhile, the Jazz’s Isaiah Collier also scored 21 points, though the team has now lost 13 of their last 14 games.
Key players for Utah, such as John Collins (ankle), Lauri Markkanen (illness), and Jordan Clarkson (foot), were not on the court, affecting their potential performance. Initially, the Jazz showed strong shooting from beyond the arc, sinking 13 of their first 19 attempts in the first half.
Falling behind 61-47, Memphis then shifted the momentum by forcing Utah into five consecutive missed three-point shots. Jaylen Wells completed a 17-2 run that pushed Memphis ahead 64-63 just before the halftime buzzer.
**Takeaways:**
Grizzlies: Memphis displayed determination, turning the game around by outscoring the Jazz 76-38 in the second half and holding a 33-8 rebounding edge.
Jazz: Unable to sustain their early success from three-point range, Utah’s efforts dwindled when their shots stopped falling.
**Key Moment:**
Following Jackson’s temporary exit, the Grizzlies’ defense restricted the Jazz to only one field goal over seven-plus minutes.
**Key Stat:**
Without Morant and, temporarily, Jackson, the Grizzlies managed to outscore the Jazz 41-17 in the third quarter alone — their largest point differential for a quarter this season.
**Up Next:**
The Grizzlies conclude their five-game road series against Oklahoma City on Thursday, while the Jazz are set to host Houston that same evening.