Cedric Coward scored 23 with 9 rebounds, but Indiana beat the Grizzlies 107-103 after leading 32-24 through one quarter. Memphis is 6-2, has lost two in a row, and sits fourth with a Thunder game coming in two days.
How did Memphis lose to a Pacers team with five players out?
Indiana played without Tyrese Haliburton, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ben Sheppard, Johnny Furphy and T.J. McConnell, and still won. The Pacers led 32-24 after the first quarter, and Memphis spent the night chasing. Andrew Nembhard scored 22 with 4 assists. A short-handed opponent took the early lead at home, and that stings more than the four-point margin.
Who played well for the Grizzlies?
Cedric Coward. He finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, nearly double the 12.8 points he averaged through six games before this one. That earns an A. He was the one Memphis player who matched Nembhard's scoring, and he did it while pulling down rebounds. Without him the margin would have been wider.
Who was on the floor when it was decided?
Cameron Boozer, GG Jackson, Kris Murray, Ty Jerome and Zach Edey closed the last five minutes. Indiana answered with Aaron Nesmith, Braden Smith, Ivica Zubac, Jarace Walker and Pascal Siakam. Siakam is averaging 21.4 points over seven games, and that group held the lead at the finish. Memphis had the size on the floor but could not turn it into stops.
What does the loss do to the Western Conference race?
Memphis fell from second to fourth at 6-2, with a two-game losing streak after opening 6-0. The cushion is still decent: no games behind the sixth seed, and 2.5 games ahead of the eleventh. At the current pace the Grizzlies project to 62-20, though eight games is a small sample. One bad week did not undo the start.
Who is available for Thursday against the Thunder?
Isaiah Stewart is listed with a right knee issue and an estimated return of November 6. Scotty Pippen Jr. is out with a back issue, with the same estimated date. By our count, 5 of 7 Grizzlies listed as day-to-day this season missed the next game, so treat those dates carefully. Pippen was giving Memphis 16.0 minutes a game.
What was the score of the Grizzlies-Pacers game?
Indiana beat Memphis 107-103 on November 4. Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 23 points.
Where do the Grizzlies stand in the West after losing to Indiana?
Memphis is 6-2 and fourth in the West, with a two-game losing streak. The Grizzlies are even with the sixth seed in games back.
