Bear Necessities
The Memphis Grizzlies tip-off a back-to-back starting Saturday against the Orlando Magic at FedExForum and ending Sunday on the road against the Houston Rockets… Memphis is 7-4 on the first night of a back-to-back. The Grizzlies defeated the Magic in the first matchup this season, 135-115, on Feb. 5 at Amway Center…
Ja Morant had 33 points in three quarters, reaching double-digit scoring in each period, for Memphis, which outrebounded Orlando 62-38… The Grizzlies are seeking their first season series sweep of the Magic since the 2014-15 season. Memphis is scoring 18.2 second chance points per game, the highest second chance scoring average in the last 25 seasons since the NBA began tracking the stat in the 1996-97 season.
Ja Morant is averaging 45.3 points in his last three games and 40.0 points in his last five… His scoring totals over those three-game (136) and five-game spans (200) are both franchise records. Ja Morant is averaging 48.0 points in his last two home games (44 on Feb. 16 vs. Portland, 52 on Feb. 28 vs. San Antonio). Ja Morant is averaging 27.8 points, the fourth-highest scoring average for a player in his age-22 season since the NBA/ABA merger leading into the 1976-77 season… Morant trails only Shaquille O’Neal (29.3 in 1994-95), Carmelo Anthony (28.9 in 2006-07) and Kobe Bryant (28.5 in 2000-01) and ranks just ahead of Kevin Durant (27.7 in 2010-11). Steven Adams has 67 more offensive rebounds than any other NBA player this season.
Series Records and Current Streaks vs. Opponent (Regular Season)
Overall: 25-25 (Won 1) Home: 17-8 (Won 1) Last Win: 2/5/22 Last Home Win: 4/30/21
Connections
Grizzlies forwards Brandon Clarke and Killian Tillie and Magic guard Jalen Suggs played at Gonzaga. Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones and assistant coach David McClure and Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. played at Duke. Grizzlies forward/centers Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman Sr. and Magic guard Gary Harris all played at Michigan State. Grizzlies wing Ziaire Williams, TV analyst Brevin Knight and Magic center Robin Lopez all played at Stanford.
