Javon Small and Taylor Hendricks combined for 41 points Saturday night as the “Memphis Grizzlies” defeated the “Brooklyn Nets” 129-110 at FedExForum.
Small finished with 19 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds while shooting 5-of-11 from the field.
Hendricks added a career-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting alongside 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo traced both standout performances to continuous work during game-day live groups.
Iisalo explained that the strategy aims to prevent players from losing summer progress by only watching others play.
“We’ve used this term, but it’s a testament to their hard work,” Iisalo said, according to the Grizzlies reporting.
“They’ve been working extremely hard and we have a ton of confidence in them and they have a ton of confidence in themselves,” Iisalo continued in the team coverage.
Memphis improved its season record to 9-4 following the victory over Brooklyn.
The team previously opened the campaign with six consecutive wins before experiencing mid-season difficulties.
“I’m happy for the whole group, and it’s also in the bigger picture, like to start the season 9-4 and started 6-0, then run into some difficulties, which always happens because the other teams, they adjust,” Iisalo stated per the franchise site.
The matchup arrived on the second night of a back-to-back for Memphis after flying in from New Orleans.
Brooklyn dropped to 3-9 overall after falling short in Memphis.
The Grizzlies played without several key contributors, including Zach Edey, who missed his second straight game.
Edey was ruled out prior to tip-off “as the center missed another contest” according to team announcements.
Memphis also managed the physical toll of the schedule “by turning to roster depth and energy” per regional reports.
Furthermore, GG Jackson departed the game early due to a left-foot injury.
Iisalo addressed Jackson’s status afterward “by noting the situation looked relatively serious” pending further medical testing.
Memphis has now won two consecutive games since losing to Denver.
Cedric Coward also contributed to the victory with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
The Grizzlies registered 34 total assists in the team effort.
Iisalo praised his squad for maintaining focus despite the challenging schedule.
“I’m very, very proud of our group,” Iisalo concluded in the postgame remarks.