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The Memphis Grizzlies are flying!
They prolong their league-best win streak to 11 video games with a 116-108 win over the Timberwolves.
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Ja Morant flirted with a triple-double, ending with 16 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds, whereas Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 20 factors to go together with 5 rebounds. Desmond Bane led the best way for the Grizzlies outscored with 21 factors, whereas the group obtained plenty of contributions throughout the board, together with 48 bench factors.
With the win, they’re in sole possession of third place within the Western Convention standings and three video games out of the No. 1 seed.
Let’s dive into a number of the key numbers behind their scorching streak.
11: A franchise first
The Grizzlies’ 11-game streak is the longest in franchise historical past, three away from their earlier better of eight, which got here in 2015 in the course of the Grit and Grind Period.
They have not simply been beating up on dangerous groups both, they’ve shaken up the Western Convention standings with key wins over contending groups, together with the Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers (twice), in addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers.
MORE: Morant’s game-winner lifts Grizzlies past Suns
Total, the Grizzlies have gained 21 of their previous 25 video games.
Their subsequent opponent? Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.
1: Crashing the glass
The Grizzlies have been one of the best rebounding groups all season and in the course of the streak, they’ve kicked it up a gear, punishing groups on each the offensive and defensive glass.
They lead the league in rebounds per sport (52.3), offensive rebounds (15.3) and second-chance factors (20.7), and sit second in rebound share (52.6), outhustling groups on a nightly foundation.
Huge man Steven Adams leads the group, averaging 9.4 boards an evening, however they’re doing it by committee, with seven totally different gamers averaging a minimum of 4.0 rebounds per sport in Morant, Jackson, Desmond Bane, De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, Brandon Clarke and John Konchar, who snagged a career-high 17 rebounds off the bench in a win over the Wolves.
3: Locking it up
Throughout their 11 sport stretch, the Grizzlies have the third-ranked protection within the league, giving up simply 104.8 factors per 100 possessions, behind solely the Mavericks and Knicks in that span.
This season, they’ve leaned on the defensive finish, particularly within the stretch of video games Morant missed and so they lead the league in steals (10.2) and blocks (6.3) per sport on the season.
Ja for MVP?
Whenever you say it out loud, it sounds loopy, however the Grizzlies point guard is giving big 2011 Derrick Rose vibes.
MORE: Where does Morant rank among best point guards?
Ja Morant scored 15 factors within the 1st quarter tonight. He additionally scored 18 factors within the third quarter in opposition to the Warriors on October twenty eighth. No different participant has a number of 15-point quarters in opposition to the Warriors this season. pic.twitter.com/luvEtgDewc
— ESPN Stats & Data (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 12, 2022
Throughout the Grizzlies run, he is appeared like one of the best participant within the league, being named Western Convention Participant of the Week in consecutive weeks, averaging 29.4 factors, 6.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 53 p.c taking pictures from the sphere and 53 p.c taking pictures from the 3-point line.
Throughout the streak, the Grizzlies additionally lead the league in factors within the paint ( 62.2 ), with Morant second solely to Giannis Antetokounmpo in factors within the paint in that span at ( 17.6 ), whereas main the league fastbreak factors per sport ( 5.8 ).
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