Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while reserve Ziaire Williams added 17 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies secure a narrow 107-106 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night. The win marks the third consecutive victory for Memphis.
Luke Kennard also had an impressive night, contributing 15 points, all of which came from 3-pointers, and six assists. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 27 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 20 points and nine rebounds. Franz Wagner finished with 18 points, although Orlando has now lost seven of their last nine games.
Unfortunately, Orlando’s Jalen Suggs suffered a bruised left knee in the first quarter and was unable to return to the game. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said that the injury will be re-evaluated once the team returns to Orlando.
The Grizzlies took control of the game in the third quarter, building the first double-digit lead, which they extended to 11 points in the fourth. However, the Magic rallied behind Banchero, who scored 12 points in the final period. A 3-pointer from Banchero with 2:54 remaining in the game cut Memphis’ lead to 105-103. Wagner’s two free throws with 28.7 seconds left brought the Magic within one point (107-106).
With the Magic having the final possession, they had a chance to win the game. The ball came in to Banchero, who passed to Joe Ingles for a 3-point attempt from the left wing. It bounced out.
“I trust Joe to hit that shot. I thought it was going in. It looked good, but it rattled out,” said Banchero. Mosley said that Banchero’s pass to Ingles was one of the options that Orlando drew up in the huddle during the final timeout. “I don’t know if you can ask for a better look at the end of the game,” Mosley said.
Commenting on the game’s final moments, Jackson said that he knew the Magic’s final shot could be a heartbreaker because Memphis wouldn’t have time to respond. He also mentioned that Ingles’ shot looked like the ball “was in slow motion.”
Memphis improved its home record to 5-15, while the Grizzlies are 13-12 in away games. Kennard has been asked to take on a more significant role in running the offense with Ja Morant out for the season and two other Memphis point guards, Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose, also injured. The Grizzlies had a total of 30 assists.
“We’ve been telling each other to continue to play with the pass. Continue to move the ball. I think we’ve done a really good job over the past few games,” said Kennard. Williams was 7 of 10 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from outside the arc, as Memphis made 15 of 41 3-pointers (36.6%).
The teams exchanged leads in the first half, while the Magic dealt with foul trouble for Banchero, who picked up three in the first quarter, and the injury to Suggs. There were 12 lead changes and 10 ties before halftime. An 18-7 push by Memphis to close the half gave the Grizzlies a 68-59 lead, the largest for either team at that point.
