Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 7 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies sign Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Jacob Gilyard, and waive Kennedy Chandler

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a multi-year contract.

In related moves, the Grizzlies signed guard Jacob Gilyard to a two-way contract and waived guard Kennedy Chandler.

Lofton Jr. (6-8, 275) was named the 2022-23 NBA G League Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.5 minutes in 17 regular season games (15 starts) for the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate. The 20-year-old, who originally signed a two-way contract on July 1 following his sophomore year at Louisiana Tech, has made 23 appearances as a reserve for the Grizzlies and has averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.9 minutes.

Gilyard (5-9, 160) competed in 31 regular season games (25 starts) for the Memphis Hustle this season and averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, a league-leading 9.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 30.4 minutes. The 24-year-old, who set an NCAA Division I record for steals during his collegiate career at Richmond, recorded double-digit assists 22 times and posted eight double-doubles for the Hustle.

Chandler (6-0, 171) made 36 appearances as a reserve for the Grizzlies this season. The 20-year-old was selected 38th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Tennessee.

The latest on the Grizzlies

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The next time the Memphis Grizzlies will play at home will be in the 2023 playoffs. There are still three more games left on the regular season schedule, starting with Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Memphis (50-29) is two games ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Since Wednesday’s game is the second night of a back to back, the Grizzlies will likely be missing a couple of rotation players.

Ja Morant returns to action for Grizzlies

Ja Morant is back. And anyone who likes exciting basketball is better for it. Via the Commercial Appeal:

A storybook finish was in the making when the Memphis Grizzlies hosted the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

The electric FedExForum was magnified with the return of Ja Morant after serving an eight-game suspension. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said he wanted to keep Morant in the low 20s of minutes. His math worked out perfectly when Morant entered the game with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter after playing 19 minutes.

Morant entered the game with a lineup that included Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard and Santi Aldama, and the Rockets’ defense had no answers. The Grizzlies pulled away in the final minute to secure a 130-125 victory against the Rockets.

The Grizzlies are 45-27 this season, which is the 2nd best record in the Western conference.

Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks suspended one game for receiving 18th technical foul of season

Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 18th technical foul of the 2022-23 season, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game.

Brooks received his most recent technical foul with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ 112-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on March 20 at FedExForum.

Brooks will serve his suspension March 22 when the Grizzlies play host to the Houston Rockets at FedExForum.

Ja Morant close to a return for Grizzlies

The Grizzlies should have Ja Morant back in action any day now. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Ja Morant addressed his Memphis Grizzlies teammates and coaches Monday after serving an eight-game suspension.

Since the Grizzlies didn’t having a morning shootaround, Morant took part in a playgroup, which is when the team gets low-minute players and assistant coaches to simulate game action through five-on-five play.

“Trying to get as much full-court action as possible, that was the main goal,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said.

The Grizzlies are “hopeful” that Morant can return Wednesday, Jenkins said. Memphis will practice Tuesday, where Morant will get his first work with the full team ahead of Wednesday’s home game vs. the Rockets.

FULL ARTICLE

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant suspended eight games by NBA

NBA STATEMENT REGARDING MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES’ JA MORANT

The NBA announced today that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended eight games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. The discipline is in response to Morant’s live streaming of a video on March 4 in which he is holding a firearm in an intoxicated state while visiting a Denver area nightclub. Morant will be eligible to return for the team’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, March 20.

A meeting took place today in the NBA’s New York offices between NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Morant to discuss Morant’s conduct. NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio, among others, attended the meeting.

The league office conducted an investigation of the March 4 incident. Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the league did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period. The investigation also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility, and the Colorado authorities did not find sufficient cause to charge Morant with a crime.

“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” said Silver. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.”

Warriors continue to lose road games, fall to Grizzlies

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Dillon Brooks was driving to the rim while Draymond Green, the Golden State Warrior who publicly told the world that Brooks is holding the Memphis Grizzlies back, was waiting.

Brooks went into the body of Green and finished a layup with his left hand as the FedExForum crowd screamed while the two elite defenders stood face to face.

Brooks got the better of the face-off, and his team got the advantage in the matchup. The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 131-110 at FedExForum on Thursday night.

Memphis (39-26) spent most of the night leading by double digits. Each of the five Grizzlies starters scored in double figures, led by 22 points from Tyus Jones. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points apiece.

The Grizzlies remained without the services of Ja Morant and Steven Adams in this contest.

Dillon Brooks suspended, Donovan Mitchell fined

Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has been fined $20,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

After missing a layup and falling to the floor, Brooks initiated the altercation by striking Mitchell in the groin area in an unsportsmanlike manner. Mitchell then escalated the situation by throwing the game ball at and pushing Brooks, after which both players continued to physically engage with one another.

Brooks was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, and Mitchell was given a technical foul and ejected.

The incident occurred with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter of the Cavaliers’ 128-113 victory over the Grizzlies on Feb. 2 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Brooks will serve his suspension Sunday, Feb. 5 when the Grizzlies play host to the Toronto Raptors.

Grizzlies center Steven Adams injured, out with PCL sprain in right knee

Memphis Grizzlies center Steven Adams has been diagnosed with a PCL sprain in his right knee, which was sustained during the January 22 game against the Phoenix Suns.

Adams is expected to be sidelined 3-5 weeks.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “the injury was suffered on the last play of Sunday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. Adams didn’t play Monday against the Sacramento Kings due to knee soreness but was seen limping as he left the locker room following the Grizzlies’ loss.”

Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane close to return

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The Memphis Grizzlies could get an early Christmas present as Desmond Bane was upgraded to questionable on Thursday ahead of the team’s matchup at the Phoenix Suns Friday (9 p.m., Bally Sports Southeast/ESPN).

Bane has missed 17 games since being out with a sprained right toe suffered on Nov. 11. On Dec. 7, the Grizzlies said he’d miss at least three-to-four additional weeks as he began a gradual re-loading protocol.

The Grizzlies are 19-11 this season, which ties them with the Denver Nuggets for the best record in the Western conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2022-23 are Ja Morant at 27.0 PPG, Bane at 24.7 PPG, Dillon Brooks at 18.0 PPG, and Jaren Jackson Jr. at 16.4 PPG.