Tuomas Iisalo Credits Live Groups as Javon Small, Taylor Hendricks Deliver

Javon Small and Taylor Hendricks combined for 41 points Saturday night, and Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo traced both performances to work the two have kept doing on game days.

Small had 19 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds in 29:48 as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-110 at FedExForum. He went 5-of-11 from the field, 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line with 1 turnover. His 3 3-pointers tied Cam Spencer for second on the team behind Cedric Coward's 4. Hendricks scored a career-high 22 on 9-of-13 shooting with 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Even on game days, Iisalo said, players are doing live play in what the staff calls live groups. He said the idea is to keep a thread going so players are still improving during the season and do not lose what they built over the summer by only watching others play.

"We've used this term, but it's a testament to their hard work," Iisalo said.

"They've been working extremely hard and we have a ton of confidence in them and they have a ton of confidence in themselves," Iisalo continued. "So very, very happy with that."

When their number is called, Iisalo said, the two are going to be ready.

Memphis selected Small with the 48th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of West Virginia, and he is on a two-way contract. Hendricks, the ninth overall pick by Utah in 2023, came to Memphis in a trade with the Jazz on Feb. 3, 2026.

Small also caught an alley-oop from Coward, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Memphis had seven double-figure scorers, 34 assists, and 14 turnovers.

Memphis opened the season with six straight wins, four of them on the road. The Grizzlies then lost three in a row, 135-134 to New Orleans on Nov. 2, 107-103 to Indiana on Nov. 4, and 128-97 to Oklahoma City on Nov. 6, all at home.

They won 118-102 at Toronto on Nov. 9 and lost 123-118 to Denver at home on Nov. 11. On Friday, they won 142-111 at New Orleans.

"I'm happy for the whole group, and it's also in the bigger picture, like to start the season 9-4 and started 6-0, then run into some difficulties, which always happens because the other teams, they adjust," Iisalo explained. "And then comes the next phase where you have to then adjust."

"I see also a lot of things we're doing much better than we were doing in those first six games, but that's also a necessity because the other teams are also getting better as the games progress," Iisalo added.

Iisalo said Brooklyn was coming off two days off, while Memphis was on the second night of a back-to-back and had flown in from New Orleans. Brooklyn fell to 3-9.

"I'm very, very proud of our group," Iisalo said. "And I think our group can be very proud of themselves of how they handled this."

"We have a good time when we're together off the court, but on the court, guys are always locked in and giving everything they have," Iisalo continued.

Memphis played without Zach Edey, who was ruled out before tip-off, as well as Jerami Grant, Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Quinten Post, and Richie Saunders. GG Jackson left after 2:52, and Iisalo gave a postgame update on Jackson that included further testing.

The Grizzlies have won two straight since the loss to Denver.