NBA: Grizzlies blow by shorthanded Hawks
FILE – Tyus Jones #21 of the Memphis Grizzlies gestures during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on November 02, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. The Memphis Grizzlies won 111-106. Alika Jenner/Getty Images/AFP
Tyus Jones had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists, and the host Memphis Grizzlies won their sixth straight game, earning a 128-103 victory over the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
Jones was 8 for 14 from the field, including four 3-pointers, to go along with three steals. He topped the 20-point mark for the third time this season and for the second time in four games.
Dillon Brooks added 18 points, Santi Aldama had 16 and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15 points, seven rebounds and a career-high eight blocked shots. The Grizzlies had seven players score in double figures.
MAKE DAT 8. A NEW CAREER HIGH FOR @jarenjacksonjr https://t.co/gJuAdVF2LS pic.twitter.com/sH0rvgWaMJ
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 13, 2022
The Hawks were playing without four starters: leading scorer Trae Young (back), leading rebounder Clint Capela (left Achilles), John Collins (left ankle) and Dejounte Murray (left ankle), as well as top reserve Bogdan Bogdanovic (injury management).
De’Andre Hunter, the lone regular starter in the lineup, scored 19 points. Aaron Holiday scored 15 and Jalen Johnson added 14 points and nine rebounds. AJ Griffin and Frank Kaminsky each scored 13 points.
Memphis grabbed an early 27-17 lead, but the Hawks scored 10 straight points to tie the game. From that point, the Grizzlies took the momentum and never relinquished it. Memphis finished the first quarter on an 8-2 run and led 35-29 going into the second quarter.
The Grizzlies got 10 points from Aldama in the second and led 62-51 at the half. After Aldama’s 3-pointer at 3:04 put Memphis ahead 55-45, the Grizzlies never led by fewer than 10 points the rest of the game.
The Grizzlies played without Ja Morant (right thigh), Steven Adams (right ankle) and Desmond Bane (right big toe).
It was the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Atlanta had won two straight in Memphis.
Atlanta continues its three-game road trip on Wednesday at Orlando. Memphis completes its five-game homestand on Thursday against Milwaukee.
