Winners and Losers: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Miami Heat

Winner: The Other Starters

We’ve already mentioned the exceptional play from Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks, and the less-than-exceptional play from Jaren Jackson Jr., but the play of Kyle Anderson and Jonas Valanciunas needs to be mentioned as well.

Kyle Anderson was electric in this game, and if it hadn’t been for Ja Morant’s performance, he probably would’ve notched the player of the game award for this scrimmage. Anderson grabbed 13 points on 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 75 percent shooting from 3-point range, while also recording 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 24 minutes.

Meanwhile, Jonas Valanciunas recorded 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 assists on 41.7 percent shooting from the field. Valanciunas was also a key part of the Grizzlies play down low, and carried Memphis through any minor shooting slump that they might of had.

It should be mentioned that Valanciunas’ performance wasn’t all stellar, as he did record 4 turnovers and find himself and former-Grizzly Jae Crowder locked in a little shoving match late in the third, but Valanciunas retained his composure through both of those valleys and was able to power his way out into even better performances.

Overall, this game was a phenomenal one for Memphis, and if the Grizzlies can keep up this rate of play throughout their eight seeding games, they are going to be one of the biggest teams in the bubble.