NBA Power Rankings: Suns, Heat remain on top, put Grizzlies as contenders, too — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

The Grizzlies are third, is it time to consider them legit contenders?

NBA Power Rankings: Suns, Heat remain on top, put Grizzlies as contenders, too — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

NBA Power Rakings: Suns stay on top, barely, with Heat, Grizzlies close — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

The Jazz and Celtics are surging up the rankings as well.

NBA Power Rakings: Suns stay on top, barely, with Heat, Grizzlies close — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

NBA Power Rankings: Suns still on top, Grizzlies second, Celtics climbing — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Boston is the hottest team in the league thanks to their elite defense.

NBA Power Rankings: Suns still on top, Grizzlies second, Celtics climbing — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Three Things to Know: Warriors struggled for answers for Morant, Grizzlies who have arrived — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Morant was electric, but the Grizzlies are a deep and good team.

Three Things to Know: Warriors struggled for answers for Morant, Grizzlies who have arrived — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Warriors, Grizzlies battle to the end in potential playoff preview — Marin Independent Journal

MEMPHIS — Gary Payton II proved in training camp that he deserved a roster spot. It didn’t take long to establish that he would outplay his 15th spot on the roster. But never has his value to the Golden State Warriors been clearer than Tuesday night inside FedEx Forum, even in a 116-108 loss. When…

Warriors, Grizzlies battle to the end in potential playoff preview — Marin Independent Journal

Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane: Ja Morant belongs in debate of NBA’s best point guard — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Ja Morant is a star.

Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane: Ja Morant belongs in debate of NBA’s best point guard — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Three Things to Know: Ja Morant is NBA’s most entertaining player — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

His relentless attacks on the rim, his body control in the air, his passing — you simply cannot take your eyes off him.

Three Things to Know: Ja Morant is NBA’s most entertaining player — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Watch Ja Morant answer Booker 3 with driving game-winner for Grizzlies — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Ja Morant has the best body control in the air of any player in the game today.

Watch Ja Morant answer Booker 3 with driving game-winner for Grizzlies — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Alvin Gentry on Kings’ 25-point loss to Grizzlies: ‘Most disappointed I’ve been in 34 years in the NBA’ — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry returned from coronavirus protocols… just in time to oversee Sacramento losing by 25 to the Grizzlies yesterday.

Alvin Gentry on Kings’ 25-point loss to Grizzlies: ‘Most disappointed I’ve been in 34 years in the NBA’ — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

GRIZZLIES 98, RAPTORS 91

TORONTO RAPTORS
POSTGAME NOTES

FINAL SCORE: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 98, TORONTO RAPTORS 91

DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2021 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout)

 FINAL SCORERECORDHIGH POINTSHIGH REBOUNDSHIGH ASSISTS
Memphis9811-10Jackson Jr. – 25Melton – 10Jones – 6
Toronto919-13Siakam – 20VanVleet- 9Siakam – 5
KEY RUN

The Grizzlies entered the fourth quarter leading by three (70-67), and began the frame on a 14-6 run to extend their lead to 11 points (84-73) with 8:01 remaining.

KEY STAT

Memphis outrebounded Toronto 54-44, including 18-11 on the offensive glass, and held a 26-17 advantage in second chance points.

RAPTORS NOTES:

  • With the loss, Toronto falls to 9-13 this season and 2-8 at home … The Raptors will continue a season-long seven-game homestand (Nov. 28 – Dec. 13) Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
  • Pascal Siakam finished with team highs of 20 points and five assists, and added six rebounds in 29 minutes… Siakam has now scored 17+ points in six straight games (Nov. 19-30).
  • Scottie Barnes recorded 19 points (8-16 FG, 3-6 3PT), seven rebounds and a season-high four blocks in 38 minutes … Barnes is now averaging 18.5 points over the last four (Nov. 24-30).
  • Yuta Watanabe finished with a season highs of 11 points (4-9 FG, 3-8 3PT) and six rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench … Watanabe missed the first 18 games of the season with a left calf strain.
  • Toronto tallied a season high-tying nine blocks in the loss.

GRIZZLIES NOTES:

  • With the win Memphis improves to 11-10, including 4-5 on the road … Tonight’s victory also snaps a seven game winless streak in Toronto – the Grizzlies did defeat the Raptors in Tampa last season … Memphis returns home to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.
  • The Grizzlies led wire-to-wire – their largest lead of the night was 17 points midway through the second quarter.
  • Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 25 points, six rebounds and a season-high five blocks in 34 minutes … Jackson Jr. has now blocked at least one shot in a career-high 17 consecutive games – this marks the longest streak by a Grizzlies player since Marc Gasol recorded 22 straight games with a block during the end of the 2010-11 season and beginning of the 2011-12 campaign.
  • Desmond Bane tallied 23 points (8-16 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-3 FT) and seven rebounds in 33 minutes … Tonight marked the third time this season Bane tied a career high with five three-pointers … Bane scored 20+ points for the fifth times this season. 
  • Dillon Brooks recorded 17 points, four rebounds and career high-tying four steals in 33 minutes … Brooks has scored in double digits in all eight appearances this season … He missed the first 10 games this season recovering from a fracture to his left hand.

GRIZZLIES-RAPTORS PREGAME NOTES

• The Toronto Raptors (9-12) continue a season-long seven-game homestand (Nov. 28 – Dec. 13) Tuesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies (10-10) at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto has lost consecutive games and three of its last four. Fred VanVleet scored 23 points as the Raptors rallied to beat Grizzlies 126-113 in Memphis last week (Nov. 24). The Grizzlies led 71-59 at the half. The Raptors have won seven of the last eight meetings vs. Memphis.
Pascal Siakam recorded 18 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists Sunday vs. Boston. Siakam has now scored 17+ points in five straight games (Nov. 19-28). He is averaging 21.0 points an
shooting .494 (38-77) from the field, including 40 percent (8-20) from beyond the arc, during this stretch.
Gary Trent Jr. (78) and Fred VanVleet (76) currently rank second and third respectively, in the NBA in deflections. Trent Jr. is also fourth in the NBA in steals per game (2.05) and has recorded multiple steals in
12-of-20 games played this season. VanVleet has led the league in deflections per game each of the past two seasons. Toronto leads the NBA in deflections (19.8) and ranks second in steals (9.6) this season.
• Rookie Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 37 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston – his fifth 20-point game of the season. Barnes currently leads all rookies in scoring
(15.2), rebounds (8.3) and minutes (35.3), and ranks third with a .485 field goal percentage (117-for-241). He has paced Toronto in scoring five times, rebounds on seven occasions and assists in four games.
Scottie Barnes is the first Raptors rookie to have five 20-point games since Charlie Villanueva reached the 20-point mark 12 times during the 2005-06 season. Damon Stoudamire hold the franchise record with
37 20-point outings as a rookie in 1995-96.
• Fred VanVleet scored a team-high 27 points (8-16 FG, 5-10 3PT, 6-7 FT) Sunday against the Celtics. He has now scored 20+ points in three consecutive games (Nov. 24-28). VanVleet is averaging a team-high
25.3 points, while shooting .529 (27-51) from the field and .444 (12-27) from beyond the arc, over the last three. VanVleet has scored 20+ points a team-high nine times this season.
• Toronto has dropped four in a row (Nov. 5-28) at Scotiabank Arena for the first time since Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, 2013. The Raptors will play 10-of-13 games at home in December.
• The Raptors announced Sunday Goran Dragic is taking some time away from the team to manage a personal matter. There is no definite timeline, and we will update as appropriate.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4

MIN: 35.3 REB: 8.3 AST: 3.3 STL: 1.1 TO: 2.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 15.2
• Recorded 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston.
• Tied with Precious Achiuwa for the team lead with three double-doubles.
• Leads all rookies in scoring (15.2), rebounds (8.3) and minutes (35.3), and ranks third with a .485 field goal pct.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43

MIN: 33.2 REB: 7.2 AST: 3.6 STL: 0.8 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 17.7
• Finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five assists in 38 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston.
• Has scored 17+ points in five consecutive games (Nov. 19-28), averaging 21.0 points during this stretch.
• Missed the first 10 games (Oct. 20 – Nov. 5) of the season recovering from left shoulder surgery.
.
C – PRECIOUS ACHIUWA #5

MIN: 25.7 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.2
• Tallied six points and a team-high nine rebounds in 36 minutes of action Nov. 28 vs. Boston.
• Leads all sophomores in rebounding (8.1); has grabbed 10+ rebounds four times this season.
• Averaging 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 25.7 minutes in 14 games as a starter.
G – SVI MYKHAILIUK #14

MIN: 25.7 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.2
• Contributed 12 points, a season-high eight rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes Nov. 28 vs. Boston.
• In three starts this season, averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 35.8 minutes.
• Has scored in double figures five times, inlcuding a season-best 16 points Oct. 30 at Indiana.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 25.7 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.2
• Scored a team-high 27 points Nov. 28 vs. Boston; added six rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes.
• Averaging 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 38.0 minutes during 13 games in November.
• Leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.1), has logged 40+ minutes in five games this season. .

INJURY REPORT

OG Anunoby (Left Hip; Pointer) – Out
Khem Birch (Right Knee; Swelling) – Out
Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out
Gary Trent Jr. (Right Calf; Contusion) – Questionable


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES PREVIOUS STARTING LINEUP
2021-22 Regular Season Record When Using This Starting Lineup: 1-0
SF # 24 6-6 ½ 220 Previous Game 21 PTS 6 REB 1 AST 2 STL 0 BLK 21:11
 Selected 45th overall in 2017 NBA Draft after guiding Oregon to the school’s first
Final Four since 1939.
 Averaged career highs in points, assists, steals and free throw % in 2020-21.
 25.8 PPG in first career playoff series (2021 First Round vs. Utah); 31 PTS in Game
1 win set franchise record for a career playoff debut.
DILLON BROOKS
Oregon / Canada 5
5th Season
PPG: 18.6 RPG: 3.6 APG: 2.3
PF # 13 6-11 242 Previous Game 17 PTS 9 REB 0 AST 0 STL 2 BLK 22:12
 Selected fourth overall in 2018 NBA Draft after freshman year at Michigan State.
 2018-19 All-Rookie First Team selection.
 Career-high 43 PTS (9 3PM) on 12/13/2019 vs. Milwaukee; first player in NBA
history with 9+ 3PM in a game while under 21 years old.
JAREN JACKSON JR.
Michigan State / USA 4
4th Season
PPG: 15.0 RPG: 5.7 APG: 1.0
C # 4 6-11 265 Previous Game 3 PTS 12 REB 4 AST 1 STL 3 BLK 20:43
 Selected 12th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft.
 Sixth in NBA history in career FG% (.591).
 Averages 3.5 OREB/G for his career (4.1 OREB/G since 2016-17 season).
 One of four New Zealand-born players in NBA history.
STEVEN ADAMS
Pittsburgh / New Zealand 9
9th Season
PPG: 6.6 RPG: 8.0 APG: 2.8
SG # 22 6-6 215 Previous Game 18 PTS 5 REB 2 AST 0 STL 1 BLK 26:25
 Selected 30th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
 Named 2020-21 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
 Led all rookies last season in 3-point percentage (.432), the third-highest rookie
3P% since 2009-10 (Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum).
DESMOND BANE
TCU / USA 2
2nd Season
PPG: 15.6 RPG: 3.9 APG: 2.0
PG # 21 6-0 ¼ 196 Previous Game 6 PTS 3 REB 8 AST 0 STL 0 BLK 23:49
 Selected 24th overall in 2015 NBA Draft.
 Third player in NBA history to lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio in three
straight seasons (Muggsy Bogues, Chris Paul).
 Named 2015 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading Duke to the national title.
TYUS JONES
Duke / USA 7
7th Season
PPG: 6.2 RPG: 2.1 APG: 3.3
SF # 24 6-6 ½ 220 Previous Game 21 PTS 6 REB 1 AST 2 STL 0 BLK 21:11
 Selected 45th overall in 2017 NBA Draft after guiding Oregon to the school’s first
Final Four since 1939.
 Averaged career highs in points, assists, steals and free throw % in 2020-21.
 25.8 PPG in first career playoff series (2021 First Round vs. Utah); 31 PTS in Game 1 win set franchise record for a career playoff debut.

BEAR NECESSITIES
 The Memphis Grizzlies close out the month of November with their first trip north of the border in nearly three years, as the team finishes its two-game season series with the Toronto Raptors… Memphis’ last visit to Toronto came on Jan. 19, 2019 (a 119-90 Raptors victory).
 Toronto, 2-7 at home but 7-5 on the road, defeated Memphis 126-113 in the teams’ first meeting this season on Nov. 24 at FedExForum.
 The Grizzlies won their previous road matchup with the Raptors on May 8, 2021, in Tampa, Florida, but are seeking their first victory in Toronto since Feb. 20, 2013… The Raptors have taken the last six tilts played in Toronto.
Mississauga native Dillon Brooks, who has scored in double figures in all of his seven appearances this season, scored a
team-high 21 points in Memphis’ 128-101 home win over the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 28… It was Memphis’ first game
this season without leading scorer Ja Morant, who sustained a left knee sprain in the first quarter on Nov. 26 vs. Atlanta.

Ja Morant suffered knee sprain, Grizzlies announce, will miss time — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

There is no timeline for his return, but it will be shorter than it would have been after knee surgery.

Ja Morant suffered knee sprain, Grizzlies announce, will miss time — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports