Grizzlies Beat Up Trail Blazers.

Colin Rafferty –

Your Memphis Grizzlies have improved to 11-13 on the season with last night’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, 119-96.

The Grizzlies defense held the Blazers to just 20 points in the 1st quarter, while they scored 40 and wouldn’t look back.

The Blazers did give a good effort in the 3rd, scoring 32 and holding the Grizzlies to 26, but the damage had been done. The Blazers followed it up with 18 in the 4th.

This was the first time the Grizzlies have faced the Blazers and the young man they drafted then traded his rights, for Cedric Coward.

Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Yang Hansen was the Grizzlies pick, a 7’1” Center from China, and he looked like a normal human next to Edey. Most do, but even at 7’1” is insane.

This is now back-to-back games the Grizzlies have held teams to under 20 points in the fourth quarter, along with holding teams under 100.

This team is vibing and they are getting wild contributions from the bench. 69 points is just awesome, they are building some momentum as the year wraps up.

Santi Aldama had 22 points and 7 rebounds, Jock Landale added 15 pts, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, KCP got into the action with 16 pts, 2 reb, 5 assists, and Cam Spencer posted 12 points, even though he was 1-5 from three-point land.

The Grizzlies ended the night with 7 players in double figures. They had more rebounds, assists, steals, points off turnovers, points in the paint, and fast break points. It was truly a full team effort.

Despite fouling out, Zach Edey had 12 pts, 10 reb, and 3 assists. Jaylen Wells continues to shoot well, and Cedric Coward is a true NBA starter.

There are pieces on this team that look good.

Jaren is still struggling but his defense is getting better, and he had fewer silly fouls than the previous few games. It is frustrating to watch, no doubt, but he is a good player and will get out of this funk.

There was some drama, even though the Grizz held the lead most of the game, when Deni Avdija clearly looked to trip Cedric Coward while he was making his way back down the court and Avdija was on the ground.

Ja had words for him, telling him, I can only assume, to not do that again.

The Grizzlies have found a little bit of their swagger back, the beginning of the season was rocky to say the least, but they have found their stride, and this might be awesome when Ja and the other guards getting back.

They will have the next four days off, as the rest of the NBA Cup games are being played out in Vegas.

This is a good time to get some rest, get a little healthy, and reset your mind for this push at the end of the year. It has been relative bad teams the Grizz have played recently, but you have to get the wins you are supposed to.

They have done that, so continue to do that and the ship may have been turned around.

The next game is on Friday against the Utah Jazz, who are 8-15 on the season and are coming off losses to the Knicks and the Thunder.

UPDATE: Ja Morant was listed as DOUBTFUL yesterday, but I would expect to see him suit up on Friday against the Jazz.