Yeah... fans throughout the league will understandably be upset about this one. Last night, the Grizzlies lost 147-101 to the Utah Jazz in a highly anticipated battle of two tanking teams. Just like the Grizzlies, Utah has been tanking, and they just picked up their first win since March 19. The Grizzlies simply did not make an effort to win the game, and it truly showed.
Matt John of The J Notes highlighted it hours before the game, but Brian Windhorst referenced the matchup as "The Tanking Super Bowl" and a game that neither team wanted to win. For context, a Grizzlies win would've decreased their chances of picking in the top 4 by 7%, and a Jazz win would've decreased their top 4 odds by 10%.
The Grizzlies lost the game but improved their draft odds significantly
The Grizzlies ran a six-man rotation that included Adama Bal, Lucas Williamson, Dariq Whitehead, and Toby Okani, who are all currently on 10-day contracts. The rest of the rotation was completed by Rayan Rupert and Jahmai Mashack, who both have two-way contracts. Javon Small and Taj Gibson were available so the Grizzlies could have a minimum of eight players; however, neither one played a single minute. Dariq Whitehead got off to a strong start early but was benched before ultimately returning in the 4th quarter with the game out of reach.
The loss understandably drew some frustration from the rest of the league; however, the Grizzlies simply did what they have to do to successfully boost their new rebuild. The Grizzlies are now tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the 6th best lottery odds and would have at least a 34.5% chance at picking in the top 4 with a loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
While no Grizzlies fan hoped to be in this position so soon after a great 2021-22 season, the team is putting itself in a better position to reload with a stacked 2026 NBA Draft.
The game also produced a ton of surprises in the box score
Simply put, this was a shocking game for lots of reasons. Probably the most shocking thing was there being three triple-doubles in the same game for the first time in NBA history. For the Grizzlies, Jahmai Mashack recorded his first-ever triple-double (technically a quadruple-double with 10 turnovers) as he had 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 14 assists.
Bez Mbeng had his first triple double of his career, recording 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Former Grizzly John Konchar also had a triple double with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. They became the first duo in NBA history to have triple-doubles off the bench in the same game.
Kennedy Chandler, who was previously selected by the Grizzlies, also had a strong game against his former team, recording 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists. Everyone on the Jazz scored in double figures, including 30 points for Blake Hinson and 23 for Ace Bailey. Utah simply had more available NBA talent, and the scoreline clearly reflected that.
It will be interesting to see how both teams evolve, especially after the blockbuster Jaren Jackson Jr. trade at this past deadline. For now, the Grizzlies got a massive boost in their draft positioning, and the hope is for the team to get some good luck on May 10.