The Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks are not rivals as they only face each other twice per season but their games seem to make it to the national stage. For the second straight season, the Grizzlies and Bucks played a marquee game on national TV with the Grizzlies winning both games.
Last season the Grizzlies defeated the Bucks on TNT in both teams' last game before the NBA All-Star break in what was a lost season for the Grizzlies. Last night, the Grizzlies defeated the Bucks on ESPN 132-119 after outscoring them by 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Their recent victory continued a streak for the Grizzlies against their opposing conference foe that seems improbable considering the Bucks have a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Grizzlies have won seven straight against the Bucks
The Grizzlies have officially gained big brother status over the Bucks after erasing a 10-point second-half deficit to win by double-digits on the road. The victory also marked their third straight victory at the Bucks' home arena, Fiserv Forum.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has played some of his best games against the Milwaukee Bucks throughout his career, including scoring 37 points on seven made threes in their February 2nd victory. Going back to the 2022 season, Jaren Jackson has averaged 34.3 points in his last four games at the Milwaukee Bucks home arena, including scoring at least 35 points in his last three appearances.
His career-high in points was also against the Bucks during his second season when he scored 43 points in a loss to the Bucks in 2019. The Bucks have only defeated the Grizzlies twice in their 11 games since that December 2019 game.
The two games last season ring the most alarms as the Grizzlies were missing the majority of their team for the first battle in February. GG Jackson and Ziaire Williams scored 27 points each and Vince Williams Jr. secured a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to defeat a healthy Bucks team.
Santi Aldama and GG Jackson were the only current healthy Grizzlies players to make an appearance in that game. Their final matchup last season was dominated by Jaren Jackson Jr., leaving the Milwaukee Bucks in limbo about their status as an Eastern Conference contender.
Their first battle this season resulted in the Grizzlies leading by as many as 31 points en route to a 122-99 win led by a Ja Morant triple-double. The Bucks will have to wait another season to get a crack at snapping their skid against the Grizzlies unless they meet in the NBA Finals.