Shooting struggles hurt Memphis Grizzlies in preseason loss against the Orlando Magic

[NOELLOPEZ2]

 

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic would be a "dress rehearsal" before the regular season.

 

The Grizzlies played their best players more minutes than the previous three preseason games, but so did the Magic. After trailing by 18 points, the Grizzlies got within three with 42.5 seconds remaining. Magic guard Terrence Ross fired a wing 3-pointer where he was hit on the hand and fouled by Tillman.

It looked like that would be the dagger before Ross missed one of the free-throw attempts and Ja Morant responded with a 3-point play of his own. Each time Memphis almost broke through, the Magic responded.

The final dagger was a Franz Wagner 3-pointer, as the Grizzlies fell 109-105 on Tuesday night at the Amway Center.

 

Shooting struggles from last season and the first three preseason games continued on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies shot 40% overall and 25% on 36 3-point attempts. If you take away Desmond Bane's four of six night on 3s, the Grizzlies shot 5-for-30 on 3-pointers.

 

Bane, Morant and Dillon Brooks each played 32 minutes, which is close to where they will be in the regular season.

 

Slow start puts Grizzlies in a hole

 

Memphis has gotten off to fast starts for most of the preseason, but that wasn't the case on Tuesday. The Magic started off shooting hot while the Grizzlies had a stretch where they went more than five minutes without scoring. The Grizzlies were down as many as 18 and trailed 31-17 after the first quarter. A 30-point second quarter got Memphis back within seven at the half, but Orlando had a tight grip on the lead. The Grizzlies pulled out another small-ball lineup that featured Xavier Tillman Sr. at center in the fourth quarter that helped make it a one-point game. Konchar knocked down a corner 3-pointer that tied the game at 95 with 2:51 remaining, but Wendell Carter Jr. responded with a 3-point play on the following possession.

Memphis is a strong team I think they will on the top if the regular season start, both bane and Morant will surely play they're best in the upcoming regular season.

 

[ArvindDass]

Preseason is just for fun 😄

[NOELLOPEZ2]

9 hours ago, ArvindDass said:

Preseason is just for fun 😄

Yeah bro Memphis is strong team I'm sure they can get into the playoff this year