Much like their recent domination of the Milwaukee Bucks in recent years that has extended through this season, the Memphis Grizzlies have an even bigger dominance on the San Antonio Spurs dating back to the 2020-21 season.
The Grizzlies defeated the Spurs for the third time last night, this time at home with one more game left to play between the teams this season. The Grizzlies are averaging 132.3 points per game in their three matchups against their divisional rivals this season.
The Spurs have reinforcements on the way after acquiring point guard De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings this past weekend in a three-team trade. Considering the Spurs were able to keep their core intact, adding the 2022-23 Western Conference All-Star will help them close their gap on the Grizzlies.
Until then, the Grizzlies dominance has rang alarms after a decade of being on the wrong side of the domination in this series.
The Grizzlies have won 16 of 17 against the Spurs
The Grizzlies-Spurs rivalry has been a one-sided affair for much of its existence with the Spurs leading the all-time series 75-41. However, the 'Grz Nxt Gen' era of the Memphis Grizzlies has flipped the script of the old guard.
The Spurs have been in somewhat of a rebuilding phase since Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the 2018-19 season, which signaled the end of their five championships era that began with Tim Duncan in the 1998-99 season.
During Jaren Jackson Jr.'s rookie season (2018-19) and Ja Morant's rookie season (2019-20), each iteration of the Grizzlies split the season series 2-2 with the Spurs. However, after the Spurs defeated the Grizzlies in their first game of the regular season in December 2020, the Grizzlies won 13 games in a row in the series from January 2021 to March 2024.
Included in that streak is a 29-point comeback victory the Grizzlies completed on the road in San Antonio on March 17, 2023. Last season's Grizzlies team was hobbled but still found a way to defeat a young Spurs team three times before the Spurs stopped the streak with a 102-87 win in Memphis on April 9, 2024.
While the Spurs are battling for a play-in spot this season, as they currently sit in the 12th spot with a 21-26 record, their struggles have continued against the Grizzlies. De'Aaron Fox might be the engine that changes that as he is usually a tough matchup for Ja Morant.
Adding him with pending phenom Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs and Grizzlies might be ready to battle for Western Conference supremacy beginning as early as next season. Until then, the Grizzles remain in control of this series and the standings for the foreseeable future.