Cedric Coward Details What Changed in Best Preseason Performance With Grizzlies

Cedric Coward reached double figures for the first time this preseason Friday night, scoring 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting at FedExForum.

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Hornets 117-98 in the exhibition finale and finished the preseason 3-1. Coward added 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 26 minutes. His only 3-point attempt went in, and he made both of his free throws.

Kris Murray started in place of Jaylen Wells, who had opened each of the first three preseason games with the first unit and came off the bench Friday. Murray came to Memphis on June 29 in the same trade that brought in Jerami Grant. Ty Jerome, Cameron Boozer, and Zach Edey joined Coward and Murray in the starting lineup.

Memphis outscored Charlotte 27-18 in the second quarter. Jerome ended the half with a pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer off a pass from Coward, and the Grizzlies went to the locker room ahead 50-38.

Coward said the group reset during a timeout.

"Stuck together," Coward said. "We came back in the timeout, understanding what we need to do to be better, what we need to do to get back on track."

Boozer, the third overall pick in June, finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds, both team highs. He went 9-of-10 at the free-throw line. His 29 minutes led the team.

Jerome had 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals in 22 minutes. Charlotte turned the ball over 24 times, and Memphis finished with 14 steals.

The Grizzlies played three preseason games in five days to open October, then went seven days without a game before the finale.

Memphis won two of the first three, including a 104-100 win on Oct. 9 in which Javon Small made two free throws with 0.7 seconds left.

In the Oct. 5 opener, Coward started and had 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 18 minutes.

At media day on Sept. 28, Coward said he spent the summer working on consistency at both ends. He said the good plays in that first week came in stretches.

"I kind of think I wasn't being, like, completely myself in a way," Coward explained. "I think, like, I made good plays [in] stretches, but I think it's all about being reliable and consistent. So, honestly, just making sure I came in, was true to myself, and made sure I was reliable and consistent for the whole game."

Coward was the 11th overall pick in 2025. He started 47 of his 62 games as a rookie, and his per-game line was 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He made the All-Rookie First Team.

Coward received votes as a 2026-27 breakout candidate in NBA.com's annual GM Survey this week. Memphis has until Oct. 31 to exercise the 2027-28 team option on his rookie-scale contract.

The Grizzlies went 25-57 last season and missed the playoffs.

Wednesday's opener is one of 82 for Coward, and he is hoping for more than that.

"To continue to get better," Coward said. "We're going to dial into the film, figure out what we can work on from this game. Get our bodies right and get prepared for Utah."

Memphis hosts the Utah Jazz at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies then leave for a four-game, seven-day road trip, which opens Oct. 23 against the Golden State Warriors.