SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey posts 14 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks but the Utah Jazz hold on for a 97-95 overtime win in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Edey set the tone for the Grizzlies to start the game. The rookie pulled in 6 rebounds, finished a layup in traffic and produced two blocks in the opening 6 minutes of play.
Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. was the yin to Edey's yang throughout the game. The point guard put up 14 points in the first half helping the Grizzlies to an 11-point lead at the break.
Despite a slow first half Keyonte George and the Jazz clawed their way back into the game in the second half. Utah were also able to keep Edey for the second and third quarters and eventually led by 2 at the end of the third.
But the Purdue star woke up in the fourth, scoring 6 of his 14 points in final 5 and a half minutes of the game including a dramatic bucket in the final seconds.
With the Grizzlies down by 1 in the final 5 seconds of the game Edey had a golden opportunity to put the game away with an easy put-back jam but the rookies clanged his attempt off the rim and the Grizzlies had to foul.
Jazz rookie Isaiah Collier hit both free throws to extend the lead to 3. Memphis got the ball back with 3 seconds on the clock and the Jazz fouled Jake LaRavia with .8 seconds on the clock. LaRavia hit the first free throw and purposefully missed the second. On his second attempt the ball perfectly stayed on the rim and Edey looking for redemption tipped the ball in for the game-tying bucket.
The Jazz locked in and outscored the Grizzlies 7-5 to secure a 97-95 overtime win.
George led all scorers with 30 points while Pippen Jr. led the Grizzlies with 21 points and 5 rebounds.
Despite the loss there are plenty of positives for the Grizzlies to take away from the game.
- Edey fit right in to the Grizzlies offense and was the best defensive player on the court tonight.
- After an impressive 2023-24 campaign with Memphis Pippen Jr. was once again the calming presence Memphis needed as he went toe-to-toe with George.
- LaRavia did not shoot well from 3-point range but he still finished with 18 points.
- Rookie Cam Spencer, who signed a 2-way contract with Memphis before the game, shot 3-5 from 3-point range for 11 points and the finished with highest +/- for Memphis (+4).
The Grizzlies will run it back on Tuesday as they take on former Memphis Tiger David Jones and the Philadelphia 76ers at 5 p.m. CT.