Buckets

The Beale Street boys figured out their road woes last night against a talented Suns team, winning 125-100 to stop a 2 game skid. Paced by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 24 point and 11 rebound night, all Grizzlies starters finished with a postive +/- on what was a joyous night for all Memphis fans. Christmas came early with Desmond Bane’s return from a toe injury which was a sight for sore eyes and apparently just the medicine we needed to find a road win. Bane finished with 17 on the night in 24 minutes and the best part was how well he moved on the court. Bane attacked the rim at times with aggression and looked like his old self. He spaced out the floor well, opening the lane for JJJ to have a night, and Ja to find lanes for high percentage shots. The conditioning and range will return, but seeing him on the court close to his old self was a great pre-holiday treat for all Memphis fans. Here we are 2 days before Christmas and this is the first time this season the Grizzlies had their starting lineup from last year on the floor at the same time. That lineup, which fought it’s way into the second round of the playoffs, was a much needed boost to right the ship. The Grizzlies had dropped 2 in a row, in miserable fashion, to start a 4 game road tilt against some of the best of the Western Conference. They had looked lifeless in 2 games, losing a winnable game at OKC and getting bullied by Denver, but Bane ‘s returned seemed to energize this young team. Highlighted by a 1 handed slam by Brandon Clarke off a lob from JJJ, the Grizzlies looked like themselves again attacking the rim and burying Phoenix early. Ja had a double double again with 12 points and 11 rebounds, including an emphatic put back dunk off a missed Brandon Clarke shot late in the third quarter. Speaking of Brandon Clarke, he was the definition of efficiency last night scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. After an 8-0 run to start the game, the Grizzlies never trailed as they cruised to a 25 point victory for a tune up prior to Sunday’s clash with the Warriors. The Suns meanwhile, without star Devin Booker, were paced by big man DeAndre Ayton’s 18 and will play their next 6 games on the road.

The Grizzlies, tied for first in the Western Conference at 20-11, are back in action on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors at 8 pm eastern on ABC in the prime spot on Christmas Day. For more on the gravity of that game see our post Christmas Day Basketball –https://2buckssportspod.com/2022/12/22/christmas-day-basketball/