The Memphis Grizzlies came into Tuesday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings following a terrible loss on Sunday. Tuesday night, Memphis seemed to run off the rails again.
First Quarter:
The Memphis Grizzlies started off a lot better then Sunday night. The defense was story of the first quarter for both teams. Kobi Simmons and Wayne Selden started the Grizzlies off right on the offensive end, and then Brandon Goodwin continued the charge to finish the first quarter.
Memphis trailed the Kings 23-21 after one quarter. Memphis shot 42 percent from the field, while the Kings shot over 50 percent from the field.
Grizz trail by two at the end of the 1Q: pic.twitter.com/tiBzyKqxeX
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 10, 2018
Second Quarter:
Memphis started to get stagnant on offense due to shots not falling, and that happens for young teams like this. Compare it to their first quarter of execution, and Memphis looked not as bad as Sunday night, but that ball just wasn’t moving offensively.
After trailing by five, the Memphis Grizzlies took a smart time out, and ran a very well executed offensive play that ended in a Deyonta Davis floater. After the floater, Davis found a nice jump shot after a screen and pop at the free throw line.
It was clear that time out was to bring in the young guys and remind them that together this team can beat anyone. Memphis took the lead right back, it was neck-and-neck to end the second quarter.
The Memphis Grizzlies finished the second quarter trailing by only three (42-39). The mood had changed. Defense won each time down the floor. Memphis was not shooting particularly well at 38.1 percent from the field, but the Kings percentage had fallen down to 45 percent at halftime.
HALFTIME: @SacramentoKings 42 | @memgrizz 39@WayneSeldenJr @JordanKobi @YoungIvee and @goodysav have 7PTS apiece. pic.twitter.com/CCLSZCc07F
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 10, 2018
First Half scoring leaders:
Ivan Rabb: 7 points, 3/3 FG, and 4 rebounds.
Wayne Selden: 7 points, and 2 rebounds.
Kobi Simmons: 7 points, in 14 minutes of floor time in that first half.
First Half Highlight:
"NOPE" - @WayneSeldenJr pic.twitter.com/XP9KglU05i
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 10, 2018
Third Quarter:
Similar to the Grizzlies last season, this Memphis team started the third quarter on pins and needles. Trailing by as many as 18 in that third quarter, Memphis had completely lost control of their offense. It wasn’t necessarily the guard play, but the Grizzlies bigs were horrible, and just out muscled by the Kings.
Memphis trailed the Kings 69-51 after three quarters in Las Vegas.
Four Quarter:
The Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter down big to Sacramento, but trimmed the lead down to 10, but Memphis just couldn’t get over the hump. Memphis would fall to the Kings 94-80 after a rough second half.
FINAL: GRIZZLIES 80 | KINGS 94
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) July 11, 2018
Leaders:
RABB 17PTS | 8REB | 2AST
SELDEN 17PTS | 4AST | 3REB
GOODWIN 14PTS | 4AST | 4REB
SIMMONS 11PTS | 3AST
📊:https://t.co/qrVDY5IgmW pic.twitter.com/kGtWLjFtrs
Game Analysis:
The Memphis Grizzlies started off strong in the first quarter, but it seemed after that, this team just started falling apart. Thankfully, it was not fast, but slowly, Memphis, particularly their big men lost their way in this game. Trailing by as much as 19, at least Memphis did not let the wheels fall off of their wagon. One positive note, Selden played a very solid game, and tried to will the team’s late comeback, but it never transpired into anything for Memphis.