On a night when the Memphis Grizzlies honored a former player who was an NBA first-team all-defensive standout in the Bluff City, it was a current player with similar achievements who had a big night.
Jaren Jackson Jr., the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Defensive first-teamer, was honest Friday night after a subpar game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he was asked when he would feel like himself again.
Jackson, coming back from an ankle injury, said it would take a few games. Apparently, a few games meant two.
He scored 31 points on 13-for-18 shooting in the Grizzlies’ 125-91 win against the Miami Heat, after which Tony Allen’s jersey was retired.
Jackson did most of his work inside the paint. He was 1-for-4 on 3-pointers and 4-for-4 on free throws.
He had missed five games due to a right ankle injury and returned Friday night against the Cavs, scoring 13 points. The Jackson who fans are accustomed to seeing showed up on Saturday.
“It don’t take that boy no time,” Desmond Bane said. “The way he works, it doesn’t take people like that no time.”
Desmond Bane responds
It wasn’t just Jackson, though. Bane was also coming off a down performance. Like Jackson, he was efficient Saturday, with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Bane is known to have an even-keel mentality. After shooting 5-for-16 and finishing with just 12 points and three assists against the Cavs, he said he didn’t make any adjustments for Saturday.
“It’s basketball,” Bane said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I trust my work.”
What’s next
Memphis is headed on a five-game road trip that will be crucial in the team’s playoff standing. The stretch includes games against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The trip begins Monday in Sacramento.
The Grizzlies also should be getting back a few players who missed Saturday’s game. Ja Morant, Vince Williams Jr. and Santi Aldama are all dealing with short-term injuries.
“I think we just kind of have to get back to our rhythm we had defensively,” Brandon Clarke said. “The past month or two we kind of struggled with that, so I think it’s about taking pride on that end, finding ways to get stops.”
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