What a 49-point win against the Rockets means for Memphis Grizzlies
By Justin Lee
When one looks at the Memphis Grizzlies game’s score, they might assume Jaren Jackson Jr. was back and in the lineup. However, he won’t be back until after the NBA All-Star break.
Even without him, Memphis was able to beat an injury-riddled Rockets team by 49 points. No, that was not a typo. Forty-nine points in the Grizzlies biggest win of the season, and one could say they are proving they can win dominantly within a few years.
Even in a win with a margin as large as this one, the Grizzlies did not have one player who just stood out amongst the rest. In fact, seven players finished in double-digit scoring. Five of those seven were on the bench for Memphis.
Every win counts for the Memphis Grizzlies in a shortened season
This win had some meaning behind it, as does every game in a shortened season. The Grizzlies handed the Rockets their 11th straight loss for starters, making that the worst losing streak in the NBA on the season.
Memphis used this game as a way to bounce back from their last game against the Los Angeles Clippers, in which they saw themselves losing by 20 points, just after winning by 28 to the same team.
Let’s not forget how the season ended last year for the Grizzlies. A play-in game with the Portland Trail Blazers ultimately determined the fate of Memphis’s post-season. After losing that one, they were forced to leave the bubble early.
Getting to a .500 record after this latest win will help the Grizzlies to make the playoffs. Sitting at 15-15, they are now four games behind Golden State, who sits at the Western Conference’s eighth spot.
A team effort in a win like this one only means good things for such a young team. Going into more detail, here is how the Grizzlies are affected by a huge win like this one.