Grizzlies Turn to Depth, Energy for Back-to-Back Against Nets

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 142-111 on Friday night at Smoothie King Center. Twenty-four hours after that tip-off, they host the Brooklyn Nets.

Saturday's game at FedExForum starts at 7 p.m. CT and is the second game of a back-to-back.

Memphis is a very connected group that likes to spend time together, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said after Friday's game.

"The biggest thing is just to bring the energy," Iisalo said. "Our play style and our whole team, how we want to represent ourselves and the city of Memphis, is based on energy, and energy and enthusiasm, and those are somewhat physical things, but they're also just about how you present yourself and what type of energy you're bringing to the team on those."

"So we will need great energy from everybody, from the coaches, players, staff," Iisalo continued. "We already had one tough one in Utah, I believe, and that was our first back-to-back, and we saw what that chemistry can help in that situation. So that's one thing."

Memphis' first back-to-back came on the road Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. The Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 123-112 on the first night and won 110-105 at Utah the next.

Saturday's is the second, and the first with the second night at home. Memphis is 2-4 at FedExForum this season and 6-0 on the road.

Brooklyn comes in 3-8, and Memphis is 8-4. Saturday's game is the Grizzlies' 13th of the season, and six of their first 12 were played at FedExForum. The Nets lost 124-121 at Atlanta on Nov. 7.

No Grizzlies player logged 30 minutes Friday. Cedric Coward played the most at 29:50, Ty Jerome played 28:35, and Jaylen Wells played 26:47. Memphis has not played at FedExForum since Wednesday's 123-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Zach Edey was listed out Friday for left ankle injury management and Quinten Post for concussion protocol, and Isaiah Stewart started at center. Stewart said at shootaround Friday that the Grizzlies have a "next man up" mentality with both out.

Stewart finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 20 minutes. Taylor Hendricks came off the bench for 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Scotty Pippen Jr. (lumbar disc herniation) was also inactive Friday.

Iisalo did not know after the game who would be available Saturday.

"The other thing is we have depth in our roster," Iisalo said. "Don't know what the playing situation will be for tomorrow, who will be available, but that's the good part. We have a lot of guys who are hungry, as we saw in the end."

The Grizzlies' reserves scored 76 points Friday. Jerami Grant had 22, GG Jackson and Cam Spencer had 14 each, and Hendricks and Javon Small had 10 apiece. Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 6 in the final 1:47.

Spencer said in his walk-off interview that the Grizzlies have to defend home court.

"We got to defend home court," Spencer said. "Obviously come out with good energy, the back-to-back. No excuses."

Spencer was a plus-35 in 24 minutes Friday. He went 3-for-5 from deep and 5-for-5 at the line, and he had 5 assists, including the pass on Small's late layup that gave Memphis 10 double-figure scorers.

Memphis plays three of its next four games on the road after Saturday. The Grizzlies visit the Washington Wizards on Monday and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, and play at Minnesota on Nov. 21.