The Memphis Grizzlies enter their game Thursday night against the visiting Sacramento Kings intent on snapping a five-game losing streak.
If the Grizzlies are to be successful in winning for the first time since Nov. 7 against Dallas, they must solve their fourth-quarter collapses.
In a 108-100 loss Saturday at Cleveland, the Grizzlies scored only 16 points in the final quarter. On Tuesday at San Antonio, they managed only 14 in the fourth quarter of a 111-101 loss.
Having star guard Ja Morant out with a calf injury hasn’t helped the offensive production, but Memphis scored 40 points in the third quarter against San Antonio to take an 87-86 lead into the fourth.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said the late breakdown was “just the lack of execution.”
In addition to Morant being sidelined, the Grizzlies have none of their other point guards available. Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), Ty Jerome (calf) and Javon Small (toe) also are out with injuries.
And now, forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who averages 17.9 points and 5.3 rebounds a game, is listed as doubtful for Thursday’s game with a sprained right ankle.
Against the Spurs, Jackson had 18 points but did not score in the fourth quarter. He and big man Zach Edey combined to go 0-for-9 shooting in the final quarter, with three turnovers.
“We were playing winning basketball for a long time (against San Antonio), the type of winning basketball consistent winners play, which is winning without making shots,” Iisalo said. “And that’s by playing solid defense and rebounding well and not turning the ball over.
“We had 14 turnovers, but we compensated with 21 offensive rebounds. That’s the way winning teams play. They find a way to win. We’ve got to carry (that effort) to the fourth quarter where we are (allowing) the level of play to drop dramatically.”
Memphis led 101-100 with 3:13 left but did not score the remainder of the game, going 0-of-6 shooting with a pair of turnovers. San Antonio finished on an 11-0 run.
In addition to enjoying a 59-38 advantage on the boards against the Spurs, who were playing without injured 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, the Grizzlies outscored San Antonio 22-2 on second-chance points.
“The defense is improving rapidly,” Iisalo said. “We just have to step up offensively.”
A bright spot for the Grizzlies has been the rapid development of rookie guard Cedric Coward. He led the team with 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Spurs and could emerge as one of the NBA’s leading candidates for Rookie of the Year honors.
“Cedric is making huge strides,” Iisalo said.
Sacramento’s struggles have been more pronounced than those of the Grizzlies. The Kings dropped their seventh straight game Wednesday night, 113-99 at Oklahoma City, the franchise’s longest losing streak since 2021-22. The Kings are off to their worst start (3-12) since going 2-13 to open the 1990-91 season.
Still, Sacramento trailed by only six midway through the third quarter against the Thunder, who have an NBA-best 15-1 record.
“There are always points in it you’re not happy with, but I thought the level of (competition) and the things we talked about in practice were way better,” Kings coach Doug Christie said. “There are moments you want to go back and improve, but, overall, I thought it was good.”
The Kings are expected to have power forward Keegan Murray against Memphis. Murray is set to make his season debut as he returns following left thumb surgery in October to address a torn ligament.
Murray, entering his fourth NBA season, averaged 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds last season while shooting 45.1% from the field, including 37.2% from beyond the arc.
