Grizzlies overcome late lineup chaos and a deficit, unleashing dominant transition play and star power to dismantle the Bucks.
The Memphis Grizzlies were forced to improvise less than an hour before tipoff and responded with one of their most complete performances of the season.
Memphis turned a late roster disruption into a 125–104 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 26 at FedExForum, riding a second-quarter surge, dominant transition play, and standout nights from Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to improve to 15–16.
The challenge emerged roughly 45 minutes before the opening tip when center Jock Landale was ruled out with right calf soreness. The scratch came on top of existing frontcourt absences, leaving Memphis thin at the position and forcing coach Tuomas Iisalo to rework his rotation on the fly. Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey remained sidelined with injuries, while Olivier-Maxence Prosper was unavailable due to a two-way transfer.
Despite welcoming back Morant and Cedric Coward from nagging injuries, the Grizzlies had to reset their game plan almost immediately.
The early signs were shaky. Memphis fell behind by 10 points in the first quarter before settling in, flipping the momentum before halftime and then steadily pulling away. What began as a sluggish start turned into a wire-to-wire second-half advantage as the Grizzlies overwhelmed Milwaukee with pace, physicality and depth.
The Bucks dropped to 12–19, unable to keep up once Memphis found its rhythm. The stars led the way, but the supporting cast — and an unexpected contributor — helped stabilize the night.
Christian Koloko, signed to a 10-day contract, was thrust into extended duty after Landale’s late scratch. Koloko logged 28 minutes, finishing with four points and three steals while Memphis was plus-23 during his time on the floor. His impact went well beyond the box score, particularly on the defensive end as the Grizzlies protected the paint by committee.
Iisalo addressed the situation afterward, explaining how quickly the plans had to change once Landale was ruled out.
“We weren’t planning for this type of minutes,” Iisalo said. “We were thinking more in terms of what happened in Utah, and it was a complete surprise that Jock wasn’t able to go.”
Later, Iisalo expanded on Koloko’s defensive versatility and poise.
“I was very impressed with his ability to step out and guard different types of guys,” he said. “Christian has made a good impression on us.”
While Koloko’s performance provided needed stability, the outcome was driven by Memphis’ core.
Morant finished with 17 points and 10 assists, shooting 6 of 11 from the field. His return immediately transformed the Grizzlies’ tempo, as Memphis generated 26 fastbreak points — one of its strongest transition outings of the season. Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also delivered key contributions as Memphis steadily widened the gap.
The night also carried significance beyond the stat line for Morant, who continues to navigate a delicate balance with Iisalo following earlier season tension and a one-game suspension. As Morant returned from a four-game absence due to a left ankle sprain, the coaching staff emphasized controlled minutes without sacrificing flow.
Iisalo explained how that balance played out.
“I think both of us were very happy that he was able to express himself fully and then still not have those long stretches where he’s off the court or on the bench,” he said.
Morant, focused on continuity rather than numbers, pointed to the importance of repetition as he works back into form.
“Just getting some more consecutive games under my belt,” Morant said. “Feeling the gym environment, gameplay, game style, physicality — all that goes into rhythm.”
Jackson’s night may have been the most telling indicator of Memphis’ upside. He posted 24 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, continuing a recent surge that has seen his production spike on both ends of the floor. After surpassing 20 points just five times in his first 23 games, Jackson has now done so in five of his last six appearances, while also rebounding and protecting the rim at a higher rate.
Jackson later reflected on his early-season struggles following offseason turf toe surgery.
“I think I was still just recovering from surgery, honestly,” Jackson said. “That probably took a bigger toll on me than I even knew of. I think my whole goal was to just be healthy, so when I got back playing, I didn’t really think anything of it, and I just kind of assumed that I would be exactly who I was immediately.”
For a Grizzlies team still hovering around .500, Thursday’s win offered a glimpse of what is possible when adaptability, star power and depth converge — even when the plan changes minutes before tipoff.