After a strong second quarter, the Memphis Grizzlies pull out a home win against the tanking Phoenix Suns.
In a game between two of the Western Conference’s worst teams, the Memphis Grizzlies used a 42-point second quarter to build a lead against the Suns. Despite a late-game surge, they were able to hold on to win, 120-109. Tyreke Evans led the team in scoring with 27 points, while Marc Gasol registered a double-double. The Grizzlies move to 18-31 on the season, while the Suns drop to 17-34.
Takeaways
- Tyreke Evans continues to raise his trade value
After missing time due to illness, Tyreke Evans came back to lead the team in scoring, in what could be his last game in FedEx Forum as a Grizzlies player. Evans looked extremely confident tonight, and as the trade deadline looms, every strong game from him makes his trade value skyrocket.
- Bench contributions led the way
Memphis’ bench outscored the Suns’ bench by a significant margin tonight. Not only did they outscore the bench, they also shot 3-pointer’s at a much more effective clip than the Suns (50 percent vs. 30.4). On a night the Suns were shorthanded, the Grizzlies took advantage to cruise to an early lead behind strong bench contributions from Tyreke Evans and Deyonta Davis.
- Wayne Selden might be pretty good
Full disclosure: I wrote that Wayne Selden wasn’t untouchable. Since then, he has shown off a much improved 3-point shot, and he’s also showcased his defensive potential in a way I hadn’t seen this season. Selden continues to impress for the Grizzlies, and he should be considered one of the core pieces for the future of this franchise.
Next: Conley's injury points to a larger problem
What’s next?
The Grizzlies go on the road to face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, immediately followed by Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons(??????) on Thursday night — assuming he’s ready to play. They won’t return to Memphis until February 7th, the day before the trade deadline.