Grizzlies erase 16-point deficit fueled by Jaren Jackson Jr.'s second-half dominance and a pivotal rebounding performance.
The Memphis Grizzlies refused to let their NBA Cup slate end quietly, erasing a 16-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-107 on Friday night at Intuit Dome.
Memphis finished group play 3-1 in West Group B, winning for the fourth time in five games, but was eliminated from wild-card contention on point differential after the Phoenix Suns posted a stronger margin.
The Grizzlies surged behind a dominant second half from Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 16 of his 24 points after halftime. Memphis outscored the Clippers 62-44 across the final two quarters, overcoming a first half in which Kawhi Leonard and James Harden threatened to put the game out of reach.
Los Angeles received 39 points from Leonard in 29 minutes and 23 from Harden, but the Clippers’ offense sputtered late and their home struggles continued. Friday marked their sixth straight loss at Intuit Dome and their 12th defeat in the past 14 games.
Memphis shot 44.3% overall and 42.5% from beyond the arc while dominating the glass with a 53-39 rebounding advantage. The difference-maker was rookie center Zach Edey, who matched his career high with 21 boards — 13 of which came in the first half — to go with five points.
Vincent Williams Jr. added 16 points and Santi Aldama supplied 13 off the bench as part of a 47–15 advantage from the Grizzlies’ reserves. Memphis also received 13 from Jaylen Wells and double-digit production from Jock Landale, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cam Spencer.
Los Angeles built a 63-50 halftime lead by hitting six first-quarter 3-pointers and shooting 6-for-9 from long range to open the game. But that rhythm vanished after the break as the Clippers shot just 20% in the third quarter. Memphis trimmed the deficit to 81-78 entering the fourth, then seized its first lead early in the final period on a bucket from Cedric Coward.
The momentum held as Memphis hit five fourth-quarter 3-pointers, including back-to-back makes from Spencer and Landale that capped a 14-4 run and pushed the lead to 103-95 with 4:18 left. Leonard kept the Clippers within reach with a flurry in the final minute, but Wells hit four late free throws — including two with 2.2 seconds left — to close it.
Afterward, Edey said the win reflected a team finally stabilizing as players return to the lineup.
In describing the experience of matching up with another traditional big, he offered his perspective.
“It’s always cool kind of going against him and seeing where I back up,” Edey said. “He’s someone I looked at in college… I always try to go improve.”
As Memphis stacked another strong outing, Edey noted the locker room mood.
“Man, feeling great. We’re feeling great,” he said.
Edey also emphasized how critical the second unit has become during this stretch of improved play.
“Our bench has been big time every game,” he said. “We got a really deep team… it just kind of speaks—speeds volumes—to the type of team we have.”
Caldwell-Pope echoed that sentiment while reflecting on the group’s chemistry.
“It’s starting to put a lot of it together,” he said. “The chemistry is starting to feel like we out there playing together and not just a lot of one-on-one.”
He identified one factor above all.
“Effort, I would say,” Caldwell-Pope said. “We also helping each other out on the court… just playing for each other.”
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo agreed, pointing to the same shift.
“It’s starting to put a lot of it together,” Iisalo said. “The chemistry is starting to feel like we out there playing together.”
He credited the second unit for changing the game.
“The first unit came out a little slow… So the second unit, we kind of knew what our job was: come into the game, get the energy going, and try to sustain that.”
The Grizzlies (8-12) head to Sacramento on Sunday seeking their fourth road win in a row.