Grizzlies dominate inside battle, defeat Washington Wizards in Tyus Jones’ return to Memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies had a chance to be the bullies on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards.
Frontcourt depth issues and injuries led to Washington starting Kyle Kuzma at center. Kuzma is listed at 6-foot-10, but he’s spent most of his career playing the two forward spots.
The Grizzlies dominated the battle on the glass and in the paint. That production translated in several areas as Memphis defeated the Wizards 109-97 at FedExForum.
Trey Jemison dominated the center matchup and finished with a career-high 24 points. GG Jackson added 19 points for the Grizzlies (23-43) off the bench.
The Wizards (11-54) got a strong shooting performance from Corey Kispert, who knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 22 points. Kuzma led Washington with 24 points.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
That’s winning basketball
Production came in bunches for the Grizzlies. With only nine players available, Memphis needed guys to be ready. Seven Grizzlies scored at least five points in the first half, including the entire four-man bench. Jordan Goodwin and John Konchar were the lone two exceptions, and they led the Grizzlies in rebounding.
The Grizzlies were the deeper team and finished with a huge advantage in bench scoring. Whether it was rebounding, paint scoring or second-chance points, Memphis’ path to winning looked similar to the past two seasons.
Playing without Jaren Jackson Jr.? No problem
With Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined, it opened up a starting spot at center, and Trey Jemison was ready for the moment. Jemison stepped into the starting spot and had the best NBA game of his career. He made his first six shots while showcasing his athleticism around the rim on both ends with powerful dunks and altering shots at the rim. He was loud with his defensive communication and energetic after making offensive plays. Maybe Jemison had some extra juice playing against his former team, but his performance against the Wizards is something to build on.
Welcome back Tyus Jones
A tribute video was displayed on the big screen early in the first quarter of Tyus Jones and his moments with the Grizzlies. Jones didn’t take a look at the video until near the end, when he acknowledged the Grizzlies crowd that gave him a standing ovation.
On the floor, Jones struggled to find his shot. As expected, he didn’t turn the ball over much and added nine assists. Jones shot 1-for-9 and scored four points.
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What's next
The Grizzlies have a quick turnaround with a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Charlotte beat the Grizzlies last month in a game right after the trade deadline. Most of Charlotte's production came from players that had been recently required. The Grizzlies shouldn’t be caught off guard this time.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies dominate inside battle vs Washington Wizards
