Grizzlies 117, Jazz 111: Three Key Takeaways

Jaren Jackson scored 26 points while Desmond Bane chipped in 24 as the Memphis Grizzlies held off the Utah Jazz, 117-111. Kelly Olynyk led all scorers with 28 points in a losing cause.

The Jazz were gut-punched out of the gates when it was announced All-Star Lauri Markannen was out with knee soreness an hour before tip-off, followed by Collin Sexton going down with a hamstring injury in the first quarter. However, the Jazz made it a game despite being down by 24 points in the first half.

Led by Olynyk, Jordan Clarkson, and Ochai Agbaji, the Jazz cut the lead to just three points with 53 seconds left in regulation. But it was too little too late, thanks to some clutch free throw shooting from Memphis to seal the deal.

What did we learn in Utah’s last game heading into the All-Star break? Let’s break it down.

Jazz Nation Holding its Breath

Jazz fans will have to wait and see what the future beholds on the injury front in regard to Sexton and Markkanen. The one that is of more concern is Sexton’s hamstring.

Utah’s starting point guard has missed time with the same injury this year, and with only 23 games left in the season, the Jazz can’t afford Sexton to be on the shelf for too long.

Jazz Newcomers Contribute

Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones saw the court for the first time in a Jazz uniform and performed well. Toscano scored seven points on 3-for-5 shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds.

Also, Jones contributed seven points on 3-for-4 shooting. The pair most likely won’t be permanent fixtures in the rotation, but it was good to see the newcomers ready to play when called upon.

Olynyk Turns in His Best Game

Utah’s starting power forward seems to have found his footing after a rough January. Since the trade deadline, Olynyk has averaged 16.8 ppg while hauling in eight rebounds per game. Utah will need this type of production from Olynyk moving forward to have a shot at the postseason.

Agbaji is another player to keep an eye on. The 2022 first-round pick’s production has been uneven this year, but on Wednesday night, he showed up with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Utah’s role players have been stepping up since the departure of Mike Conley and Malik Beasley.

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