By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
The Memphis Grizzlies have had it tough in the NBA restart, losing all four of their games with the latest coming from the Utah Jazz 124-115 which bounced back from two losses of its own.
Utah’s effort was led by a six-man charge which included a strong contribution by Rudy Gobert with 21 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Joe Ingles banked 25 points followed by Mike Conley’s 23 and Donovan Mitchell’s 18 points. Jordan Clarkson added 14 and Royce O’Neal 15 points.
On the other side, Jonas Valanciunas didn’t hold anything back either in the clash of European bigs, logging a double-double of his own with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists.
Dillon Brooks banked 23 points in addition to Ja Morant’s 20 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Grayson Allen stepped up with 20 points of his own.
Gobert 1 – 0 Valanciunaspic.twitter.com/6JCqYKQbUp
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Memphis put on a strong start of the game and led by Brooks – who scored 20 in the first half – managed to grab a 14-points lead (39-25) early in the third quarter. However, Utah turned it around completely with a 20-2 run and was up by 64-55 at the break.
The Jazz didn’t allow their opponent to take over the lead at all for the rest of the game, and although the Grizzlies were very close at times, Brooks scoring just three points in the second half before fouling out while also not being able to slow down Utah’s offensive movement may have been the deciding factor.
Utah is 2-2 in Orlando and has held on to the fourth seed for now in the West with a 43-25 record while Memphis stayed at 32 wins in the eight spot. Portland is right behind them at 31 while the Spurs, Pelicans, and the Suns follow with 29 wins each.