Grizzlies use Morant's triple-double, rally to beat Pacers
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — (AP) — Ja Morant had 27 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 28 points and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a lackluster first half to defeat the Indiana Pacers 112-100 on Sunday. It was Morant's fifth triple-double of the season and second in a row. That's not us.”But the game started as if Memphis was going to continue its losing ways. The Grizzlies were down by 12 at half, but the second-half change, fueled by defensive adjustments, allowed them to outscore the Pacers 62-38 in the final two quarters. The second half, they were able to flip the whole thing.”Bennedict Mathurin, the sixth pick in the 2022 draft, led the Pacers with 27 points and eight rebounds.
wftv.comLakers rally to snap Grizzlies' winning streak at 11 games
LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Dennis Schroeder completed a three-point play with 7.6 seconds after a steal and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied to beat Memphis 122-121 on Friday night, snapping the Grizzlies' winning streak at 11. The Lakers trailed 114-107 before outscoring the Grizzlies 15-7 the rest of the way. Bane got the offensive rebound, but lost control of it to give the Lakers possession with 0.4 seconds left. Russell Westbrook led the Lakers with 29 points and LeBron James added 23. Morant had 14 points in the third quarter and the Grizzlies had a 13-point lead late in the period.
wftv.comFantasy Basketball: It's time to consider dropping Malcolm Brogdon
Let’s highlight five established players for fantasy managers who need an open roster spot to consider dropping. Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics (64 percent rostered)The Celtics acquired Brogdon in a trade from the Pacers to make him a member of their second unit. That has come to fruition, with him averaging 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists over 23 minutes per game. One of the reasons why the Celtics want to keep Brogdon playing limited minutes off the bench is that he has a checkered injury history. Unless you’re desperate for his 2.8 3-pointers per game, he’s hurting fantasy managers enough in most categories to be worth dropping.
wftv.comFantasy Basketball: 5 players to consider dropping, including Keegan Murray
By Mike Barner, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsIt’s not always easy for fantasy managers to drop players they were excited about during draft season. With that in mind, here are five players to consider dropping that are still rostered in many Yahoo leagues. Clarke is only averaging 19 minutes per game this season, leaving him to provide 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. Murray has provided his expected 3-point shooting, averaging 1.8 triples per game. After averaging 26 minutes per game last season, Bamba has only logged 19 minutes per game this year.
wftv.comFantasy Basketball 2022-23: Deep sleepers to consider in drafts
By Gabe Allen, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsWhat constitutes a sleeper in fantasy basketball? Here are my favorite sleepers heading into the 2022-23 NBA season. Washington, Charlotte Hornets (ADP-100.9)Apart from field-goal percentage (47.0% FG), Washington regressed in every regard during his third season. Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers (ADP-116.6)Like Tre Jones, Jackson made a significant per-36 minutes impact in a modest role last season. Jackson averaged 8.3 points (56.3% FG), 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.7 steals in just 15.0 minutes per game as a 20-year-old rookie.
wftv.comFantasy Basketball Rankings 2022-23: Power forward draft tiers
The 2022-23 NBA season is fast approaching, which means it's time to start getting ready for your fantasy basketball drafts. [Get in on the fun this fantasy hoops season: Create or join a league now!] He led the league in minutes played last season (37.9 per game) and has dual eligibility at power forward and center. Despite his shooting woes, his unique ability to generate rebounds, assists, steals and blocks remains an asset for fantasy basketball. If that changes closer to the season, he's someone that could move down to Tier 6.
wftv.comJ.J. Redick slams Chris Russo for criticizing NBA's Draymond Green: "People on Fox News talk about athletes that way."
Golden State Warriors Draymond Green was ejected from Game 1 of the second-round playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies for making contact with Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's face and then pulling down Clarke's jersey. Before leaving the FedExForum court, Green danced around and encouraged the Grizzlies fans to react. Green also flipped off Grizzlies fans for booing him as blood ran down his face after he took an elbow to the eye.
news.yahoo.comSupporting cast key in semifinal battle between Ja-Steph
Poole had playoff career-highs with 31 points and eight rebounds, and he also matched his playoff career-best with nine assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. nearly matched Morant's 34 points with a playoff career-high 33 points in his second straight double-double. Antetokounmpo had a triple-double leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a road win to open their Eastern Conference semifinal with Boston. Jayson Tatum got little help from his Celtics' teammates with Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart going a combined 7 of 24. Tatum managed 21 points, but Brown finished with only 12, going 3 of 9 from the 3-point line with seven turnovers.
wftv.comDraymond Green ejected for flagrant foul vs Grizzlies
Warriors Grizzlies Basketball Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after being ejected in the first half during Game 1 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) (Brandon Dill)MEMPHIS, Tenn. — (AP) — Golden State forward Draymond Green was ejected for a flagrant foul shortly before halftime of Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Green originally was called for a foul on Brandon Clarke with 1:18 left in the second quarter. Officials reviewed the play where Green had hold of Clarke's jersey after a missed layup. Clarke went down on his stomach, though it appeared Green tried to help hold him up as Clarke hit the court. Memphis led 54-53 at the time of the Green foul, and the Grizzlies took a 61-55 lead into halftime.
wftv.comGrizzlies claw back from 26 down, beat Wolves in Game 3
Tyus Jones hit two dagger 3-pointers against his former team down the stretch, and the Grizzlies seized back home-court advantage. They stunned a Wolves team that won Game 1 on the road 130-117, but took an ugly 124-96 loss in Game 2. After the NBA's highest-scoring team made only 30 field goals in Game 2 to match a season low, the Wolves hit only 33 in Game 3. HARD SHIFTThe Grizzlies used a 23-4 run over the final 10:28 of the second quarter to make a game of this. TIP-INSGrizzlies: Kyle Anderson started for the Grizzlies in place of Steven Adams, who was dominated by Towns in Game 1 and played only 3 minutes in Game 2.
wftv.comGrizzlies rout Timberwolves 124-96 to tie series at 1 apiece
Ja Morant scored 23 points and handed out 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies looked much more like the team that posted the NBA’s second-best record, routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-96 to even up their first-round Western Conference series at 1 apiece.
Timberwolves stun Grizzlies, grab Game 1 with 130-117 win
2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 on Saturday to grab home-court advantage in the opener of their first-round Western Conference series. The Timberwolves, fresh off beating the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in game, won their first playoff opener since 2004. Ja Morant led Memphis with 32 points and eight assists, and Dillon Brooks added 24 points. TIP-INSTimberwolves: They topped the 121 points scored April 21, 2018, against Houston in the only game they won that series. Their first quarter topped the 32 points scored May 23, 2004, in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
wftv.comTimberwolves stun Grizzlies, grab Game 1 with 130-117 win
Anthony Edwards scored 36 points in his postseason debut, and the seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 to grab home-court advantage in the opener of their first-round Western Conference series.
Ja Morant returns to help Grizzlies rout Pelicans, 141-114
After missing nine games, Morant played almost 27 minutes as the second-seeded Grizzlies got their starting lineup back together as they prepare for the postseason. Brandon Clarke added 20 points for Memphis, making all 10 of his field goal attempts. Trying to secure the ninth seed for the play-in tournament, the Pelicans played without scoring leader Brandon Ingram. Memphis scored a franchise-record 55 points in the third quarter, giving the Grizzlies a 119-80 lead heading into the fourth. Grizzlies: …Entered the game second in scoring at 115.4 a game.
wftv.comJa Morant returns to help Grizzlies rout Pelicans, 141-114
Ja Morant had 21 points and nine assists in his return from soreness in his right knee, Dillon Brooks scored 23 points and the Memphis Grizzlies routed the New Orleans Pelicans 141-114 on Saturday night to tie the 2012-13 franchise record for victories in a season at 56.
More NBA games called off as contact tracing probes continue
It has been a major factor in the decisions to postpone 20 games so far this season, including the latest three Memphis Grizzlies’ games that the league decided Thursday to push back. The biggest culprits that have led to players being flagged and ruled out during the contact tracing process: meals and shared rides, improper mask usage. “Contact tracing involves a lot of different sources and information,” Weiss said. That decision came one day after the Grizzlies’ game at Portland, scheduled for Wednesday, was also called off. Washington — which will go at least 13 days between games after a half-dozen of its players tested positive — has seen six games called off, and Memphis has now had five of its games pushed back.
Grizzlies lose Morant to ankle injury, beat Nets in overtime
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, wears a boot on his left foot after suffering an injury during the team's NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in New York. The Grizzlies earned their first victory of the season, outlasting the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 116-111 in overtime Monday night. Morant was hurt late in the first half when he leaped to block a shot by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and landed on the Nets forward's foot. Morant watched Brandon Clarke score the go-ahead basket on a follow shot with 41 seconds left in overtime before the Grizzlies put it away with free throws. “Early in the season I think guys are still acclimating to back-to-backs, let alone an overtime back-to-back,” Nets coach Steve Nash said.
Rookie of the Year Morant wheeled off with ankle injury
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, drives past Brooklyn Nets guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (9) as Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (15) sets a screen during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK – Rookie of the Year Ja Morant left the court area in a wheelchair Monday night after spraining his left ankle in the first half of the Memphis Grizzlies' game in Brooklyn. Morant jumped to block a shot by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and appeared to land on the Nets forward's foot. He immediately hopped off the floor in pain and was wheeled to the back, unable to put any weight on his foot. Morant was off to a strong start in his second season, scoring a career-best 44 points in the season opener and following with 28 more in his second game.
Grizzlies' Ja Morant wins NBA's rookie of the year award
(AP Photo/Mike Ehrmann, Pool, File)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. The first three baskets of Memphis season set the tone for Ja Morants rookie year. Morant was announced Thursday as the runaway winner of the rookie of the year award for 2019-20, the first Grizzlies player to win the award since Pau Gasol in 2001-02. Morant averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 assists this season, picking up three Western Conference rookie of the month awards along the way. 1 pick in the 2019 draft missed much of his rookie season while dealing with injury. Memphis lost the first and only game of that series to Portland, meaning the Grizzlies were just two wins shy of the postseason.
Blazers make playoffs, oust Grizzlies with 126-122 victory
Portland finished eighth in the West, Memphis was ninth, and the Grizzlies needed to sweep a two-game matchup to advance. They had a chance, up eight in the final quarter, before Portland did what Portland does in the bubble find a way at the end. The Grizzlies' 42-point third quarter matched the second-highest scoring period of the season for Memphis and was the second-highest scoring third quarter in franchise history. LOOKING AHEADThe Lakers went 2-1 against the Blazers this season, with the road team winning all three games. Anthony Davis (32.0 ppg) and LeBron James (24.7 ppg) led the Lakers; Lillard (36.0 ppg) and Whiteside (22.0 ppg) led the Blazers.
Celtics keep Grizzlies from clinching spot in play-in series
The Grizzlies missed another chance to guarantee themselves a spot in the Western Conference play-in series, and could fall out of eighth place if Portland beats Dallas later Tuesday. The Grizzlies arrived in Florida with 3 1/2-game cushion over their nearest competitor for the eighth seed in the West. But their struggles have guaranteed the need for a play-in game for that final spot with Portland, San Antonio and Phoenix all still in contention. Memphis will head into its final seeding game against Milwaukee on Thursday needing a win to earn a place in the play-in game. Boston held the Grizzlies to 33% (17 of 51) shooting in the half, including 1 of 13 (7.7%) from the 3-point line.
McCollum, Lillard help Blazers get past Memphis in OT
Lillard finished with 29 points and nine assists as the Trail Blazers boosted their hopes for a seventh consecutive playoff appearance. Carmelo Anthony added 21 points as Portland moved within 2 1/2 games of the Grizzlies for the No. Everybody knew how important that game was," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 33 points and rookie Ja Morant added 22 points and 11 assists for Memphis. It was a weird game," McCollum said.