Going into Thursday night’s game, just about nobody predicted the Memphis Grizzlies to beat the Clippers. The Clippers were one of the hottest teams in the league and the Grizzlies had been showing their youth in recent games, dropping some bad ones to strong NBA squads.
But whether the Clippers underestimated the Grizzlies or the Grizzlies just had a great game, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were not ready for what they experienced on Thursday night. This team was clicking on all cylinders.
It was just a win, the Grizzlies completely dominated Los Angeles. A team that has two of the best players in the league and is a consistent winner was made out to look like a roster full of children. Memphis was hitting threes, completing alley-oops, and scoring at will. The final score was what we predicted, but in reverse.
Tyus Jones may have made the difference for the Memphis Grizzlies
If I had told you that the Memphis Grizzlies would beat the Los Angeles Clippers with Tyus Jones as the team’s leading scorer, you might not have believed me. But that’s what happened.
He started the game red-hot, making his first 6 buckets. He wouldn’t look back, missing a couple, but finishing the game having shot 9-11 from the field and 2-3 from 3-point range. He was as “on fire” as an NBA player can get.
You have to give props to Taylor Jenkins for getting the ball into Jones’ hands after his hot start. The team riding his shooting streak is a huge reason why they were able to get an early lead and maintain it through the end of the game.
But what does this game mean for the rest of the season?
Well, for starters, the emergence of Tyus Jones isn’t something that anybody was actively seeking out. One spot that Memphis is already secure at was the point guard position. But having depth behind Ja Morant can be critical when you’re facing talented teams in this league. The Grizzlies do not want to be one of those teams that takes a beatdown when their star is off the floor.
So this game from Tyus Jones gives us hope that he could be one of the league’s best sixth men. Maybe not this year, but at some point.
Jones may seem old compared to some of the talent on this roster, but it’s important to remember that he’s only 24-years old. He still has room to improve his game massively and if he can keep producing, he could help the Memphis Grizzlies become an NBA powerhouse.