Memphis went into Portland tied 58-58 at halftime and left with a 21-point win and a 5-0 record. The second half was all bump and bite: two runs worth 23 unanswered points and a bench that never stopped swinging.
Where did Memphis actually break Portland?
It happened late in the third. With Memphis up 77-75 and four minutes left in the quarter, the Grizzlies ripped off 10 straight to make it 87-75, and Portland called timeout at 85-75. They carried a 91-83 lead into the fourth. Then from 98-89 at 8:43 they scored 13 in a row to reach 111-89 by 5:31. Two Portland timeouts in that stretch changed nothing. The lead topped out at 24.
How good was Cameron Boozer's triple-double?
Good enough to earn an A. He had 18 points, 12 boards and 12 assists in 28 minutes, shot 6 of 10, went 4 of 5 from deep, turned it over twice and finished +20. ESPN called it the first triple-double of his career, and The Athletic noted that only one player has ever posted one at a younger age. The jumper was the question mark on the 19-year-old. One night at 4 of 5 is a start toward an answer.
Who else earns a grade?
Isaiah Stewart gets an A: 18 points on 7 of 10 in 16 minutes, +18, eight of them in the fourth, and a spot in the group that closed it. Cedric Coward gets a B-plus for 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. GG Jackson gets a C, with 12 and 7 on 4 of 12. Cam Spencer posted the best plus-minus at +21. Zach Edey made 6 of 8 for 13 but had the worst mark, -4.
What happened to Ja Morant in his return?
ESPN reported that Morant left with a hamstring injury. Before that he had 14 points on 6 of 14 shooting in 23 minutes and was -7. Memphis never needed to win the Morant matchup to win the game. Deni Avdija did the heavy lifting for Portland with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, but he went 0 for 4 from three and was -9.
What does 5-0 mean with the Kings at FedExForum Saturday?
Memphis sits second in the West, three games clear of 11th. Sacramento comes in 0-5 and lost to the Grizzlies 123-112 at home on Oct. 25. The Kings are without Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell. Quinten Post is day-to-day with a right ankle issue and is expected back Oct. 31. After the Kings come the Pelicans, the Pacers, and then the Thunder in a Cup game.
Did Cameron Boozer get a triple-double against the Trail Blazers?
Yes. Boozer had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the 124-103 win at Portland on Oct. 29, the first triple-double of his career.
When do the Grizzlies play the Kings?
Memphis hosts Sacramento on Oct. 31 at FedExForum. The Grizzlies are 5-0, and they beat the 0-5 Kings 123-112 on Oct. 25.
