The Memphis Grizzlies are learning the benefits of giving this season.
When Memphis hosts the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, the Grizzlies will be seeking their sixth consecutive win and their 10th in their past 13 games. Their November success has been the result of an unselfish, team-oriented approach. The Grizzlies enter Saturday leading the NBA with 30.4 assists per game.
Memphis dished out 36 assists on 47 made baskets in Friday’s 120-109 home victory over New Orleans.
“The ball movement (was) great,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “I think we had nine or 10 guys with two or more assists — or 10 out of 11 guys (with) an assist, which is great.”
Ja Morant, who missed Wednesday’s home win against Detroit due to a bruised knee, led the Grizzlies with seven assists against New Orleans, and Marcus Smart had six off the bench. Despite being limited to 10 games this season, Morant leads the team with 9.1 assists per game, followed by Scotty Pippen Jr. (5.7) and Smart (4.1).
“When the ball’s moving, it’s about getting everyone involved,” Pippen said. “It makes it a lot of fun to play with everyone. So, I feel like that’s (when we are) the most dangerous, when everyone’s touching the ball and everyone feels aggressive.”
Friday’s win marked Memphis’ first NBA Cup victory in the second year of the event. The Grizzlies had lost their first seven games of NBA Cup group play.
As for Indiana, the Pacers were eliminated from contention for the NBA Cup knockout round with their 130-106 home loss Friday to Detroit. Indiana is 0-3 in Cup play.
The Pacers had won three straight games — all at home — before being overpowered by the Pistons. Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 21 and 19 points, respectively.
While the Pacers have struggled during the first two months of the season, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said several of his younger players have shown signs of contributing at a significant level, including second-year forward Jarace Walker.
Walker, 21, finished with 10 points and notched five of the team’s nine steals off the bench on Friday.
Additionally, third-year guard Bennedict Mathurin, 22, has excelled in a starting role and is averaging 17.7 points per game, while Quenton Jackson, 26, has averaged 10.3 points in his past three games.
“(Walker) went in there (Friday against Detroit) and decisively stepped into shot and he was physical,” Carlisle said. “Right now is a time for guys like Jarace and Q (Jackson) and Ben (Mathurin) to experience what it’s like to have this kind of responsibility and respond as best they can.”
Mathurin is second on the team in scoring behind Siakam (19.9 points per game), while Haliburton’s 16.6 scoring average ranks third.
Sunday’s game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. Indiana and Memphis split last season’s two meetings, with each squad winning at home.
–Field Level Media