The Memphis Grizzlies will play their third sport throughout a four-day stretch to start out the season once they play their residence opener Saturday evening towards the Orlando Magic.
The Magic additionally will play for the third time in 4 days.
Memphis began the season at Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday and posted a two-point victory over the Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies stayed on the street Friday and dropped a 128-108 choice to the Houston Rockets.
The Grizzlies have been with out 4 key rotation gamers within the first two video games, together with veteran Jaren Jackson Jr., who is predicted to make his debut towards the Magic after working his method again from a left hamstring harm he sustained within the crew’s preliminary preseason apply.
After lacking many of the 2023-24 season, Ja Morant is off to a robust begin for Memphis. The 2-time NBA All-Star was restricted to 9 video games final season as a result of a mixture of a suspension and an harm, however he opened this season with 22 factors vs. the Jazz and 24 towards the Rockets.
Main 65-59 at halftime, Memphis could not maintain the momentum at Houston. The Grizzlies have been outscored 39-18 within the third quarter and didn’t get better. Being outrebounded 64-43 hampered the Grizzlies.
“Our lack of ability to rebound undoubtedly harm our potential to get out and get to that tempo we performed with in that first half,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned. “(Houston’s) physicality harm us. We could not get a rebound.”
The Magic have been spectacular of their season opener Wednesday at Miami and once more at residence on Friday in a 116-101 victory over Brooklyn. Orlando led by as many as 32 factors within the second half of a 116-97 victory over the Warmth. Paolo Banchero had 33 factors and 11 rebounds within the convincing win.
Within the victory over Brooklyn, Franz Wagner scored 29 factors to offset a 4-for-13 capturing efficiency from the ground by Banchero.
Orlando want to get constant contributions from offseason acquisition Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He missed every of his 5 field-goal makes an attempt (all 3-pointers) at Miami and had one rebound in 25 minutes. He completed with 10 factors in 26 minutes towards Brooklyn.
The Magic look like inserting an emphasis on 3-pointers within the early going. They tried 27 pictures from past the arc within the opener, a higher-than-average quantity from a crew that ranked final within the league in 3-pointers in 2023-24.
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned there is a methodology to getting extra 3s.
“It is all the time going to return right down to the method for us,” he mentioned. “We have all the time been a really attacking crew. We will discover matchups at completely different locations on the ground. It is about our decision-making.
“So with the fellows making the suitable choice, it tends to fall into guys standing on the perimeter with their ft set (and) open. It is about our means of getting downhill, attacking early, and enjoying earlier than the protection will get set. And in case you discover these 3s, you have to let it fly.”
–Discipline Degree Media
