The Memphis Grizzlies found themselves in a fight against the Utah Jazz on Oct. 26.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies had to navigate foul trouble while watching their leading scorer get neutralized.
Still, they dug deep. They came up with crucial defensive stops down the stretch and escaped Delta Center with a 110-105 win.
Memphis is now 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 2014 and only the second time in franchise history.
Utah (1-3) played the entire second half without its star frontcourt duo of Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., who both exited with injuries. Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and unlikely reserve center Mo Bamba stepped up; George ended up with a game-high 26 points.
Next up for the Grizzlies
is a matchup Oct. 29 against the Portland Trail Blazers (9 p.m. CT, DAZN-MEM). It will be the first time the Grizzlies will be facing their former franchise star Ja Morant, who was traded in late June in exchange for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Here are three takeaways from the Grizzlies’ win over the Jazz.
Too much fouling
The Grizzlies want to be a physical defensive team, but that aggressiveness needs to be controlled. They have struggled to avoid fouls, and this game was no different.
The team, which finished with 29 personal fouls, is now ranked 28th in the NBA in personal fouls per game at 26.8.
Cedric Coward picked up four in the first half, after Memphis gambled by keeping him on the floor during the second quarter with three. Zach Edey spent much of the game in foul trouble, picking up his fifth early in the third quarter and heading to the bench.
Utah attempted 25 free throws, making 19, and put additional pressure on the Grizzlies' rotation and limiting their ability to maintain their preferred lineups.
The Grizzlies’ physicality can be an advantage, but they must find a better balance between aggressive defense and disciplined play. Otherwise, foul trouble will continue to put them at a disadvantage.
Ty Jerome pushes through
This was Jerome’s toughest game of the season. After his 45-point explosion in the season opener against the Jazz, they made a concerted effort to keep him from getting comfortable offensively.
Jerome didn’t make his first field goal until the second quarter and remained in single digits until late in the fourth. After scoring just seven points through three quarters, he showed why Memphis can trust him in clutch situations.
Jerome scored eight points in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points and a team-high eight assists. Even when his shot wasn’t falling, he made plays when the Grizzlies needed them most.
Showcasing depth
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo has said he doesn’t view the team’s depth as a luxury. Instead, he considers it a necessity over the course of an 82-game season. This game offered a strong example of why that may be the case.
While Jerome struggled to find his scoring rhythm, Memphis received contributions from others to make up the difference.
Coward battled through his foul trouble to finish with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Grant, whose minutes off the bench increased with Coward in foul trouble, had 13 points.
Quinten Post benefited from Edey’s foul trouble, finishing with 12 points while helping Memphis navigate the minutes without its starting center.
Cam Boozer had 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Six Grizzlies players finished in double figures, and the bench outscored Utah's second unit 48-40.
The Grizzlies didn’t need one player to carry the load. Instead, they relied on others throughout the rotation to overcome a difficult matchup on the second night of a back-to-back.
It may not have been Memphis’ prettiest win, but it showed the team can roll up its sleeves, embrace a physical game and find a way to win when things don’t come easily.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Grizzlies overcame foul trouble, Ty Jerome's off night in win vs Jazz
