Grizzlies stun Bucks in exhilarating win on TNT
Led by GG Jackson and Ziaire Williams, the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies shock the Milwaukee Bucks for a national TV audience to see.
The Memphis Grizzlies snapped their 9-game losing streak with a win over the Houston Rockets Friday night. And before their week-long All-Star break, they had the Milwaukee Bucks come to town for a TNT showdown.
The Grizzlies came in even more shorthanded.
The Bucks had everyone available except for Khris Middleton.
The Grizzlies had a nice start to the game. Trey Jemison hit some hook shots to really set the tone for the kind of night we’re expecting. The Bucks kept trying to pull away early, but the Grizzlies put up a good fight with their hustle. GG Jackson came in off the bench and immediately scored 11 points in the 1st quarter — including 2 three’s with Giannis Antetokounmpo up in his grill. The Grizzlies finished with a 29-26 lead.
The 2nd quarter woes didn’t happen (great news!). The Bucks did find a way to take the lead, but the Grizzlies maintained a presence in the game — avoiding a collapse similar to the past several games. The GG Jackson show continued from both outside the arc and in the paint. They also were aggressive defensively to try to force stops and start cycles. They were tied at 57 at halftime.
The 3rd quarter was the Ziaire Williams vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo show. Who would’ve guessed? Williams scored 17 points in the quarter — showcasing stellar confidence on his 3-pointer, and slithering his way into mid-range jumpers off the dribble. The Grizzlies couldn’t get an answer for Giannis, as he bullied his way to the basket. A late Grizzlies surge, punctuated by a bully-ball Lamar Stevens and-1, gave them a 94-85 lead going into the 4th quarter.
The 4th quarter started rocky, as the Bucks rattled off a 18-6 run to regain control of the game. The Grizzlies generated good looks, but their legs were lost a bit. However, they found their groove, as GG Jackson hit 2 huge three’s. The Grizzlies also connected on an and-1 alley oop between Santi Aldama and Ziaire Williams to raise the lead to 5. The Grizzlies had a scare with empty possessions and 2 Malik Beasley 3’s in the final seconds, but they put together a big stop to seal a 113-110 win.
Core 4 takeaways
GG Jackson continues his stellar play. The Grizzlies’ teenager is dazzling and contributing towards winning basketball now. He tied his career-high with 27 points and drilled his personal-best 6 three-pointers. Everything just comes in the flow. Off the bounce, he’s smooth with his gather step on his way to the bucket — and there’s even room for him to grow as a driver. From 3, his range has been deep, and he’s letting it fly confidently regardless of who’s guarding him. His confidence never wavers, and he’s not afraid of the moment. The Grizzlies got something with GG Jackson.
Ziaire Williams’ best game of his career. Ziaire Williams has had great games in more critical situations before, but this performance may be his most complete of his career. He was in such a flow off the dribble and from 3, even drilling a sweet step-back corner 3 over Giannis. Defensively, he was locked in — coming away with 3 steals, and setting the tone in slowing down Damian Lillard. I don’t know what’s in store for Williams going forward, but this is a damn good tone-setter for his post All-Star Break plans.
Vince Williams is an energizer bunny. Vince Williams is just go, go, go. He’s flying around for rebounds (career-high 12 rebounds), driving and cutting to the basketball, handling initiation responsibilities, and wreaking havoc defensively. All while playing 34 minutes — after playing 35 or more minutes in each of the past 5 games. And he hopped on a plane to Indiana for the Rising Stars game afterwards! And he doesn’t seem tired! He needs the All-Star break to recharge. Main point though, Williams has emerged as a glue guy for the Grizzlies, one with an “Energizer Bunny” motor.
Team’s playing so hard, and it’s a thrill. Everyone wrote the Grizzlies off with their injuries last month. And sure, postseason hopes may be zapped. However, they’re still competing. It makes the basketball fun, even with the plethora of impact players out of the fold. It’s a testament to the players’ care factor, and to Taylor Jenkins and the coaching staff having them prepared as the rotation and roster shuffles. While people will write this season as “lost” or a “tank,” their competitiveness will redefine this as a “gap year,” as it emphasizes their Grizzlies standard.
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