Grizz Wrangle Mavericks.

Colin Rafferty –

Your Memphis Grizzlies went into the American Airlines Center and took home a win, in a chippy game late.

A 102-96 win over the struggling Mav’s and the Grizz get their first back-to-back wins of the season.

Santi Aldama continues to play at a high level, posting 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was playing well before Jaren Jackson Jr.’s injury and, now that he is in the starting line-up, he is found a rhythm and shooting well.

His defense has gone up as well, most of defense is just effort and Slim Spain is sure doing his part.

Vince Williams Jr. and Zach Edey were on a mission last night. Williams putting up 10 pts and 10 assists, while Edey had 12 pts and 15 rebounds.

The Grizzlies led in rebounds, assists, steals, and points in the paint. The recipe for a win is getting much clearer.

With all the talk about the team coming out slow, or not up to the task; they have carved out several guys that will help this team once fully healthy.

Cam Spencer is a dog, one of the best shooters in the league, and he lets everyone know it. Santi has become a more complete player, and Cedric Coward is the young gun who brings it every night, although he struggled tonight.

There are the makings of a good team, just got to stay healthy.

The ball movement was great last night again, and when the Grizzlies needed a stop and a score, they would usually get it.

That is easier said than done, because in the game last night Jock Landale who had 7 points, in 5 minutes, left the game early with NECK SORENESS.

Good lord, can we just play 3 games without having someone not finishing a game. Hopefully it is nothing and we can move on.

Despite the Maverick’s coming off the first of a back-to-back, they were in the game for most of it. Credit to them for not letting the Pelicans game wear them out.

The Grizzlies improve to 6-11 on the season, a slow and painful start, but it looks like they are playing better as a team. That can only be a benefit when Ja and Jaren get back.

Even though he didn’t play last night, Ja Morant was in the middle of it, with who of all people? That’s right Klay Thompson.

Thompson had a good night putting up 22 pts on 6-12 from three, but as he has done his entire career, had some words for the Grizzlies and Ja Morant after the game.

This all started, I believe, when Cooper Flagg and Santi Aldama got caught up with each other under the basket, with about 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Santi was on the ground and Flagg tripped over him.

Upon replay it looked like Santi may have grabbed his ankle, but I chalk that up to just trying to make sure he knew where he was, and more importantly that he wasn’t going to get hurt.

This of course had the whole crowd and Mav’s team in an uproar. Santi got called for a Flagrant 1 and the game continued.

Klay was in the middle of it with Vince later, shoving Vince and yapping at each other which ended with technical fouls for both teams.

Thompson, who has been a shell of himself since winning with the Warriors in 2022, had some choice words for Morant after the game. There was a bit of a bruhaha and the players were separated.

This is not news to Grizzlies fans as Klay Thompson has been vocal about his dislike for this Grizz team, and last night he doubled down. Talk, talk, talk, Grizz won, move on. If he was playing better and his team wasn’t bad, he wouldn’t be talking.

I digress; it is a beautiful day the Grizz are now on track to start a winning streak.

As the manager for the Cleveland Indians in Major League II said, “OK, we won a game yesterday. If we win today, it’s called “two in a row”. And if we win again tomorrow, it’s called a “winning streak”… It has happened before!”

It has and the Grizzlies will need everything that they can muster up for the Denver Nuggets, who come in on Monday.

Don’t let anyone take this away from you Grizz fans.

The Grizzlies won, they have a few wins to build on, and the vibe of the team seems to be improving.