GG Jackson scored 30 points, but the shorthanded Grizzlies fell to the Toronto Raptors 128-96 Friday, dropping eight of their last nine games at FedExForum.
GG Jackson scored 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting, but the Memphis Grizzlies, playing despite having 13 players on the injury report, had little answer for the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, falling 128-96 at FedExForum.
Jackson has been a bright spot for the Memphis this season. He made three 3-pointers and shot 7-of-9 on free throws.
"He's improved so much as a finisher — just getting to the rim, bullying guys, and still finishing with a high level of accuracy," Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said of Jackson. "He's looking to make the right play, and if he has a one-on-one situation, it's very difficult to stop. If they rotate over, he's a willing passer."
Iisalo also played Jackson at the point guard spot in stretches, a role Cedric Coward, who finished with 15 points, also sampled. Javon Small added 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
But Memphis committed 20 turnovers that Toronto converted into 28 points, shot 26.2% from 3-point range, and was outscored 21-5 in fast break points — a combination that made a competitive game impossible against a Raptors team fighting for playoff positioning.
Toronto closed the first half on a 13-4 run to lead 59-41 at the break. The margin grew to 31 near the five-minute mark of the third quarter and reached 33 in the fourth.
The circumstances surrounding the Grizzlies have become familiar. By tip-off Friday, Memphis was without Ja Morant (left elbow UCL sprain), Zach Edey (left ankle and elbow surgery recovery), Santi Aldama (right knee surgery recovery), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right fifth finger surgery recovery), Ty Jerome (left ankle sprain), Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells (both right great toe surgery recovery), Walter Clayton Jr. (left hip soreness), and Cam Spencer (low back soreness), among others — forcing Iisalo to integrate players who had been in the program for fewer than 24 hours.
"Today was probably the most challenging situation because neither guy has been in the program before, so everything is basically new," Iisalo said. "We went through a few basic things in the morning, and I thought the effort level was great. But it takes more than one shootaround."
RJ Barrett led Toronto with 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Brandon Ingram added 17 points and seven rebounds. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench as the Raptors snapped a two-game skid.
Memphis has now dropped eight of its last nine games.
The Grizzlies are at Milwaukee on Sunday.