Jaren Jackson Jr Wills Memphis Grizzlies to Victory in Legendary Fashion
Already performing as one of the NBA’s top rookies, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. elevated his game to a new peak on Friday while visiting the Brooklyn Nets.
Through three quarters on Friday evening in a road matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, the Memphis Grizzlies were able to command a five-point lead.
The Grizzlies’ troubles as of late would continue in the game’s second half, especially in the final quarter where Memphis squandered away their lead and would trail leading into the final moments of regulation.
The youthful Nets had Memphis’ veterans gasping for air. Thankfully the Grizzlies’ freshest of legs — 19-year-old rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. — had a few extra bursts of energy in his aresenal after carrying the squad through those first three quarters of action.
The scoreboard read 111-104 in favor of the Brooklyn Nets after guard Spencer Dinwiddie drove through the lane for a right-handed layup with 33.0 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
This felt like the dagger that would put another mark in the loss column for the Memphis Grizzlies, but Jackson Jr. had other plans in mind.
Without calling for a timeout, Memphis pushed the ball after the Dinwiddie bucket. Mike Conley kicked the pass out to Jaren and he launched the three-point attempt. Splash! Whistle!
Jaren Jackson Jr. knocked down the triple, plus was fouled on the attempt. He would make the ensuing free-throw shot for a much-needed four-point play. The score was then 111-108 — Brooklyn’s lead. This forced the meeting into a one-possession game.
As the Nets placed the ball inbounds on their half of the court with 24.1 seconds left in regulation, the Grizzly tandem of Jackson Jr. and Marc Gasol collapsed onto Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell.
Something magical happened at this point. Things played into the Grizzlies’ favor in the clutch. In taking just 1.1 seconds off the clock, Jaren swiped at the basketball, knocking it off Russell’s knee. Out of bounds it went — Grizzlies’ ball!
In their last possession, Memphis quickly went to work coming out of the timeout. It took the Grizzlies just four passes and six seconds later to find their man — the rookie — for the game-saving shot attempt.
It was a deep, but good, look from the perimeter. Nothing but net! Jaren Jackson Jr. had tied the game at 111, but 15.4 seconds read on the game clock. He had total confidence in taking the big shot. “Triple-J” did not shy away from the moment, and rather, he welcomed it.
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The Memphis Grizzlies would play a great defensive possession to end regulation, disallowing the Nets to get off a shot attempt. Coming from seven points down to tying the game in under 30 seconds, the rookie took control of the evening.
Through two thrilling overtime periods, Memphis finally pulled away from the Brooklyn Nets. The game ball from the 131-125 victory definitely goes to JJJ, though Mike Conley put up an All-Star performance (37 points to go with five rebounds and 10 assists) throughout and made multiple clutch buckets in the fourth quarter and overtime periods, too.
This game had all the signs of another blown second half lead, which has been the unfortunate Grizzly trend as of late during their three-game losing streak.
Jaren Jackson Jr. was looking like a multi-year NBA veteran on the hardwood on Friday. If there was any doubt about his superstar potential leading up to Friday’s game, any and all of it is now erased. He continues to prove that the Memphis Grizzlies’ Front Office made the right Draft choice in selecting him with their fourth overall pick.
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This has been a major week for Jaren after posting a game consisting of seven blocks to his name, which garnered plenty of national attention for himself. Now, to finish the month of November, he has certainly made a case for NBA Rookie of the Month honors.
Jackson Jr. finished the night with 36 points (13/22 shooting), eight boards, and two assists in 43 minutes. He was a game-high +13 in the contest and managed to collect just four fouls and one turnover. Jaren is quickly making strides in his game and finding ways to overcome issues that were limiting his minutes in the season’s first few weeks.
Though the points total is nice, which put him amongst elite and legendary company, it was the defensive poise plus confidence displayed that were the most intriguing factors behind this star performance by the Grizzlies rook.
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The Memphis Grizzlies improved to 13-8 on the season and are back to their winning ways as they head into Sunday’s road meeting versus the Philadelphia 76ers.