Tuomas Iisalo Credits Grizzlies’ ‘Second Camp’ for Sharper Play in Hornets Win

The Memphis Grizzlies forced 24 turnovers Friday night and beat the Charlotte Hornets 117-98 in the preseason finale at FedExForum.

The Grizzlies finished the preseason 3-1. Memphis had not played in seven days. Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said the team used that week as a second training camp, in postgame comments posted by Grind City Media.

"The stuff that I said in the locker room and also said to the coaches, something we've said over the years, better to have tired legs and good habits than bad habits and fresh legs," Iisalo said. "And the amount of work the guys have been putting in, I know that everybody's very tired in that locker room because we basically ran a second camp this week here at home, but see the level of execution really pick up, the communication, the physicality."

"And we overall, almost all the way up until the end, we did also a good job against a very strong rebounding team," Iisalo continued.

Before that week at home, Memphis held media day at FedExForum on Sept. 28 and spent Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 at Belmont University in Nashville for training camp.

Three exhibitions came in a five-day span after that: a 132-123 win in Atlanta on Oct. 5, a 122-118 loss at home on Oct. 7, and a 104-100 win in Chicago on Oct. 9.

Iisalo was talking about a Charlotte team that pulled down 46.1 rebounds per game last season, according to Fox Sports' matchup page, about four more a night than Memphis.

The Grizzlies outrebounded the Hornets 42-35 on Friday. Memphis' defensive rebounding edge was 31-24, and each side had 11 on the offensive end.

In his own Grind City Media video, Zach Edey said the Grizzlies want games to get physical.

"That's just how we want to win games," Edey said. "We want to out-compete people. We want to kind of make it dirty, make it like a slugfest, get those rebounds, control the paint, get more possession[s than] the other team. That's what we did today."

The Hornets shot 31-of-75 and made 10 of their 33 3-point tries. Memphis came up with 14 steals.

Cameron Boozer said most of his assignments this preseason have been forwards who play like guards, in his own Grind City Media video.

"I feel pretty good, guarding guys who are 6-8, 6-10, basically guards," Boozer said. "So, also, those are all great players, so it's been a lot of fun matching up with them and just getting out there and competing."

After a Royce O'Neale 3 made it 17-6 Charlotte with 4:24 to go in the first quarter, Memphis scored 17 of the next 20 points, much of it with reserves on the floor, and never trailed again.

By halftime, the Grizzlies were up 50-38. Charlotte didn't get within 12 again.

Memphis had 26 assists on 37 field goals and committed 19 turnovers of its own.

Charlotte made 26 of 30 free throws. Memphis, whistled for 30 fouls, shot 31 of its own.

Iisalo wants more poise from his players in how they react to what's being called.

"And now the last hurdle remains: how do we keep teams off the free-throw line?" Iisalo explained. "That's one of the things where we've got to show better poise and better recognition during the game what's being called and not allow to or not bail the other team out."

Iisalo is going into his second full season as head coach. Memphis promoted him to interim coach in March 2025 and gave him the full-time job that May. The Grizzlies finished 25-57 a year ago.

Iisalo moved Kris Murray into the starting lineup Friday. Jaylen Wells, who opened the first three preseason games with the starters, came off the bench.

Before Friday's game, Iisalo said GG Jackson II tweaked his ankle Oct. 9 and would be day-to-day. Jackson did not play against Charlotte.

Boozer finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds, with 9 of the points coming at the foul line.

Ty Jerome added 17 points and 3 steals, while Cedric Coward, who had not scored 10 points in any of the first three exhibitions, put up 13 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

Charlotte has been without Coby White, who has a strained left calf, since camp.

The Hornets finished 1-3 in the preseason, and Hannes Steinbach, a rookie coming off the bench, led them Friday with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Memphis opens the regular season at home against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. CT.

Iisalo's team leaves two days later on a four-game road trip that runs through Oct. 29.