The Memphis Grizzlies are flying!
They extend their league-best win streak to 11 games with a 116-108 win over the Timberwolves.
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Ja Morant flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 20 points to go along with five rebounds. Desmond Bane led the way for the Grizzlies outscored with 21 points, while the team received a number of contributions across the board, including 48 bench points.
With the win, they are in sole possession of third place in the Western Conference standings and three games out of the No. 1 seed.
Let’s dive into some of the key numbers behind their hot streak.
11: A franchise first
The Grizzlies’ 11-game streak is the longest in franchise history, three clear of their previous best of eight, which came in 2015 during the Grit and Grind Era.
They haven’t just been beating up on bad teams either, they’ve shaken up the Western Conference standings with key wins over contending teams, including the Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers (twice), as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers.
MORE: Morant’s game-winner lifts Grizzlies past Suns
Overall, the Grizzlies have won 21 of their past 25 games.
Their next opponent? Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.
1: Crashing the glass
The Grizzlies have been the best rebounding teams all season and during the streak, they’ve kicked it up a gear, punishing teams on both the offensive and defensive glass.
They lead the league in rebounds per game (52.3), offensive rebounds (15.3) and second-chance points (20.7), and sit second in rebound percentage (52.6), outhustling teams on a nightly basis.
Big man Steven Adams leads the team, averaging 9.4 boards a night, but they’re doing it by committee, with seven different players averaging at least 4.0 rebounds per game 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
During their 11 game stretch, the Grizzlies have the third-ranked defense in the league, giving up just 104.8 points per 100 possessions, behind only the Mavericks and Knicks in that span.
This season, they’ve leaned on the defensive end, especially in the stretch of games Morant missed and they lead the league in steals (10.2) and blocks (6.3) per game on the season.
Ja for MVP?
When you say it out loud, it sounds crazy, but the Grizzlies point guard is giving big 2011 Derrick Rose vibes.
MORE: Where does Morant rank among best point guards?
Ja Morant scored 15 points in the 1st quarter tonight. He also scored 18 points in the 3rd quarter against the Warriors on October 28th. No other player has multiple 15-point quarters against the Warriors this season. pic.twitter.com/luvEtgDewc
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 12, 2022
During the Grizzlies run, he’s looked like the best player in the league, being named Western Conference Player of the Week in consecutive weeks, averaging 29.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 53 percent shooting from the field and 53 percent shooting from the 3-point line.
During the streak, the Grizzlies also lead the league in points in the paint ( 62.2 ), with Morant second only to Giannis Antetokounmpo in points in the paint in that span at ( 17.6 ), while leading the league fastbreak points per game ( 5.8 ).
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