The Memphis Grizzlies have dropped four of their six games since returning from the NBA All-Star break. Two of their four losses have come in their last two home games against the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in heartbreaking fashion.
Knicks forward OG Anunoby connected on the go-ahead three with 5.3 seconds remaining to defeat the Grizzlies on Friday night. The following night saw Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox spoil Jaren Jackson Jr.'s 42-point night with a game-winning jumper with 2.6 seconds remaining.
Now losers of six of their last 10 games, the Grizzlies find themselves fallen to the Western Conference's fourth seed for the first time since December 6th, 2024. While the team has enjoyed success for the majority of this season, they have fallen back to their old ways in a category that has haunted them in the past.
The Grizzlies have shot a combined 15-69 from three in their last 2 games
The Grizzlies' struggles in past seasons stemmed from their performance from behind the three-point line. They ranked 17th and 23rd in the NBA in three-point percentage during the 2021 - 2022 and 2022 - 2023 seasons, respectively.
Before their game against the Knicks, the Grizzlies shot 37.3% as a team, which ranked seventh in the NBA at that time. They entered that matchup coming off a 20-48 performance in their overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns despite Ja Morant's 1-12 shooting from three in that game.
However, a 4-31 performance from three against New York proved pivotal in the Grizzlies' one-point defeat despite leading the majority of the game. Their best three-point shooters, Luke Kennard and Desmond Bane, combined to shoot 0-8 against the Knicks.
Ja Morant, a career 31.4% shooter from three, has especially struggled shooting 4-32 from three in the Grizzlies' first five games after the All-Star before missing last night's loss to the Spurs.
Without Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and others the Grizzlies shot 11-38 from three against the Spurs to fall down to 11th in the NBA at 36.8% from three. Considering the two-game sample size, this could be considered a mirage.
Memphis has seven players shooting at least 35% from three, and two players that shot over that mark last season that are still working way back after missing the majority of the season due to injury in GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr.
This is bad timing, as the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers have surpassed them in the standings. However, the Grizzlies are tied with the Lakers and only trail the Nuggets by one game for the two-seed.
While the timing may be inopportune, the Grizzlies are still in range to regain the West's second seed and remain one game ahead of the Houston Rockets for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They have a month to gain the rhythm needed to play their best at the right time.