Cedric Coward Explains What Close Games Are Showing About Grizzlies

Cedric Coward was called for his fourth foul with 2:53 remaining before halftime Monday night at Delta Center. He played 19:27 in the second half.

He finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, his second straight double-double, as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 110-105 to stay unbeaten at 4-0.

Coward went 4-of-4 from 3-point range and added 3 assists and a steal. He played a team-high 31:29 and was plus-8.

Ten of his 11 rebounds came on the defensive end.

Coward had 7 points and 3 rebounds in 12:02 before halftime. He opened the scoring with a 25-foot step-back 3 off a Cameron Boozer pass 10 seconds into the game.

In the third quarter, he scored 6 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 8:56. His 24-foot 3-pointer off a Ty Jerome pass at 10:32 put Memphis up 61-57.

His 25-footer in transition off a Cam Spencer pass with 1:40 left in the period made it 87-71, the Grizzlies' largest lead.

With 8:18 left in the game, Coward hit a 26-foot 3-pointer off another Boozer pass for a 98-86 lead. He was called for his fifth foul at 7:32 and stayed on the floor.

Utah got within 102-101 on a Keyonte George floater and free throw at 3:37 and within 106-105 on a Mo Bamba dunk with 1:01 left.

Coward said everybody on the floor was telling each other the Grizzlies were good in every situation.

"Trusting each other," Coward said in a walk-off interview after the game. "We all were saying it at the last minute. It's like, we love games like these because it shows what we're made of. If you're gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk."

Jerome made both free throws with 11.6 seconds left for the final margin.

Coward missed Friday's 111-108 win at Golden State with a left wrist sprain after the Grizzlies listed him as doubtful.

He returned Sunday at Sacramento with 17 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Memphis won 123-112.

In the Oct. 21 opener against Utah, Coward had 7 points and 7 rebounds. Through three games, he has 40 points and 29 rebounds and is 8-of-11 from 3-point range.

Portland took Coward with the 11th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Memphis acquired his rights that night for the draft rights to Yang Hansen, a 2028 first-round pick from Orlando, and two second-round picks.

As a rookie last season, Coward averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 47.1% from the field. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team.

The Grizzlies' reserves outscored Utah's 48-40 on Monday. Jerami Grant scored 13 off the bench, and Quinten Post had 12, including 9 in the third quarter.

Coward said Memphis sees the reserves do this every day in practice.

"Some people look at it as starters and bench, but we got one through 15, 18, really, that can come in and play at any given time," Coward explained. "Most of these guys, they deserve to play as many minutes as the starters do. Honestly, it was just one thing led to another. We see it every day in practice, and they came in [and played] great."

The Grizzlies visit Portland on Thursday at 9 p.m. CT.