No team in the NBA has felt the devastation of injuries more than the Memphis Grizzlies this season.
The core players listed on their injury report entering Monday’s game against Brooklyn — Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke and John Konchar — would probably be enough to earn a seventh seed or better in the playoffs regardless of conference. Jaren Jackson Jr. was their lone available starter. And the Nets, who are just now enjoying the flexibility that comes with a healthy team, thought they had it bad.
The Grizzlies were awfully vulnerable. They entered as losers of 10 of their past 12 games, which meant this was a matchup the Nets absolutely had to have. The Milwaukee Bucks were upset by Memphis when they visited FedExForum on Feb. 15. But Brooklyn did not get caught napping on Monday night, running away with an easy 111-86 victory.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak and gave Ollie his first triumph as interim head coach. With everything the team has dealt with in recent weeks, it had to feel good, even if their opponent was lightyears from elite. But a win is a win, and Brooklyn (22-35) will take whatever it can get with 25 games left. It needed a game like this.
It desperately needed a night like this. Ollie got the game ball and a gatorade shower.
“They got me good,” Ollie said. “All my other coaches left me out to dry, stayed in the back. I should’ve known something then, when they stayed in the back and got out the way. So it was a good moment in the locker room.
Dennis Schröder led seven Nets in double figures with 18 points (3-of-4 from 3-point range), two rebounds and five assists. Jackson led Memphis with 16 points but did so on a 2-for-12 clip.
Ben Simmons, who was listed as questionable entering the night because of leg soreness, played 14 minutes off the bench and contributed four points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Nets, who enjoyed their second-largest halftime lead on the road against a Western Conference opponent all-time (26), scored over 100 points for the first time since Feb. 13. They went 12 days without eclipsing the century mark, in a league that seemingly favors offense, for those keeping track at home.
There was a lot to like at both ends of the court on Monday night. Brooklyn shot 48.9%, limited Memphis to 38.7% shooting, knocked down 16 treys, had 26 points in transition and tallied 32 assists on 44 made field goals. But there was a concerning moment late.
The Nets never trailed, led as many as 30 points and allowed a season low in points. But there was a concerning moment late.
Cam Thomas, Brooklyn’s most dangerous scoring threat, limped off with 7:23 left after landing awkwardly on his right ankle. The Nets led 97-73 at that point. Thomas was escorted back to the locker room by team trainers during an ensuing timeout and did not return. Ollie wisely began to clear his bench shortly after.
Thomas’ status going forward will obviously be something to monitor in the coming hours. The Nets will finish up their four-game road trip on Tuesday night in Orlando. Simmons has not played in back-to-backs since returning from a 38-game absence on Jan. 29.
According to reporters on the scene, Thomas was seen in the locker room after the game with his injured ankle wrapped and a noticeable limp.
