Cedric Coward Explains How Grizzlies Plan to Wear Teams Down

The Memphis Grizzlies host the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, two days after the New Orleans Pelicans beat them 135-134 in overtime at FedExForum. The Oklahoma City Thunder come in Friday, making it three home games in five days.

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said after Monday's loss that some players logged very heavy minutes and that Tuesday's practice would have to be handled carefully.

Jaylen Wells played 34 minutes against New Orleans, and Isaiah Stewart logged 27:34 off the bench. Cedric Coward played 31 minutes and finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.

At shootaround Wednesday, Coward said players bought in on their own to arriving in shape, and he credited the coach as well.

"You can kind of see it out on the court," Coward said. "We usually wear teams down. It didn't happen, unfortunately, yesterday. It didn't happen, but, or two days ago, whenever we played. But ultimately, that's our plan is to outwork the opponent."

"To be able to play, you have to be in well-conditioned shape," Coward continued. "Honestly, great shape the way we play. It's get up and down. Coach did a good job. Everybody did a good job buying in, even on their own, to making sure they were coming in in shape to play the way we wanted to play."

New Orleans outscored Memphis 41-33 in the third quarter and led by nine late in regulation.

Ty Jerome then scored 9 straight points. His last basket tied the game at 124 with 4.6 seconds left, and the Grizzlies took the fourth quarter 29-24.

Jerome finished with 40 points. Zion Williamson had 9 of his 25 in overtime, and Jeremiah Fears hit both of his free throws with 7.3 seconds to go for the Pelicans' winning margin.

On Oct. 23 at Golden State, the Grizzlies scored the last 17 points of a 111-108 win.

Eight days later, they carried a 108-80 lead into the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings and won 136-105. The bench scored 81 points that night.

The Grizzlies lead the NBA at 123.0 points per game. Their net rating of plus-12.7 is second in the league, according to Basketball-Reference.

The 6-0 start matched the 2014-15 Grizzlies for the best in franchise history. Memphis went 25-57 last season and missed the playoffs, finishing 13th in the Western Conference.

Coward has played in six of the seven games. He missed the win at Golden State with a left wrist sprain and returned two nights later at Sacramento.

He is averaging 28.7 minutes, up from 25.8 as a rookie, and he played a team-high 31:29 in the Oct. 26 win at Utah after picking up his fourth foul with 2:53 left in the first half.

Scotty Pippen Jr. is out Wednesday with a lumbar disc herniation, and the Grizzlies said he would be reevaluated in three weeks. Quinten Post is questionable with an ankle injury.

Pippen and Post each missed the last two games.

Wednesday's game against Indiana airs locally on DAZN, with the radio call on 92.9 FM ESPN. Memphis and Oklahoma City tip off at 7 p.m. CT Friday at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies then leave for Toronto, where they play Monday at 6:30 p.m. CT.