The Memphis Grizzlies cruised to a 128-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night, led by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 39-point performance. Jackson set the tone early, dominating on both ends to help Memphis secure their fourth win in five games, moving them to a 6-4 record.
Jackson’s scoring was complemented by Scotty Pippen Jr., who recorded his first career triple-double with 11 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
Rookie Zach Edey also contributed, scoring 14 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and blocking two shots. Edey’s presence in the paint, alongside Jackson, posed significant challenges for Washington, as the Grizzlies leveraged their size advantage to control the boards and consistently score in the paint.
The Wizards, now at 2-5, struggled to keep pace as they fell behind by double digits early and were unable to recover. Kyshawn George led Washington with 17 points, while veteran Jonas Valanciunas added 16.
Washington committed 13 first-half turnovers, allowing Memphis to build a lead that reached 20 points by the second half, effectively sealing the game.
With injuries affecting several key players, Washington’s lineup featured multiple rookies, including second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly, whose inexperience contributed to the team’s high turnover rate.
In a tense moment with 3:50 left in the third quarter, Memphis rookie Edey tangled with Wizards’ center Valanciunas in the paint, resulting in a shoving match and double technicals for both players.
Memphis’s bench proved crucial, outscoring Washington’s reserves and providing steady contributions. Santi Aldama and Luke Kennard added 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Jay Huff scored 12 points, hitting all five of his free throws to round out the Grizzlies’ well-rounded offensive output.
Corey Kispert added 14 points for Washington, but Memphis’ pace and size advantage ultimately wore down the Wizards’ frontcourt, limiting their effectiveness. Brandon Clarke and Jake LaRavia added physicality off the bench, contributing to Memphis’s strong defensive stance.
