The Memphis Grizzlies pulled out a surprise victory over the title-hopeful Milwaukee Bucks Thursday evening by a final score of 113-110, thus giving the club a two-game win-streak as they head into the upcoming All-Star break.
Already significantly undermanned without the likes of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart leading into the affair, it was revealed mere hours before tip-off that Taylor Jenkins' squad will also be without star big Jaren Jackson Jr., as he was sidelined due to a quad injury.
In the end, however, these core player absences fortunately didn't seem to have a negative impact on their on-court play, as Ziaire Williams's scoring escapades (27 points) and Vince Williams Jr.'s flirtation with a triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists) served as main catalysts in the upset victory.
Of course, serving as a driving force alongside these aforementioned talents was rookie phenom GG Jackson, who once again dropped in 20-plus points off the pine.
Electrifying on the offensive end, the 19-year-old's efforts became so insufferable for the Bucks that, on numerous occasions throughout his 30 minutes of action, he was seen being guarded by superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As his 58.8 percent overall shooting clip and 60.0 percent clip from deep would suggest, Jackson's scoring efforts were virtually unstoppable, though, per the wing's own admission, the Greek Freak himself tried to get a bit more physical to try and alter his flow as he told reporters in a post-game presser that the two-time MVP resorted to pinching him when on defense.
Memphis Grizzlies wing GG Jackson calls out Giannis for pinching
"I think it was after [Patrick Beverley] got on me and I had drove to the lane and got a lay-up. And Giannis, it was a deadball situation, and he was trying to nudge me. I was just standing there trying to talk to coach and he was like nudging me in my back, like pinching my sides and stuff and I was just telling him, I was like ' Bro, my core's not that strong yet, like, that stuff hurts [so] stop.'"GG Jackson
BIG TIME @_ggjackson pic.twitter.com/eBnpSmbnWE
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 16, 2024
Despite these tactical efforts by the former Defensive Player of the Year, the Grizzlies wing seemed to be unfazed, as he wrapped up the night with 27 points, 1 rebounds, and 1 block, thus showing that, be it against role players or the league's all-time elite, Jackson is capable of showing out on any given night.
With this, over his last six games heading into All-Star Weekend the rookie has posted sensational averages of 20.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from deep.
Coming up on a much-deserved break, Jackson noted that he'll be heading home to South Carolina where he'll be spending his off-time with family and friends.