The Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday by 51 points. Yes, you read that correctly.
Only two players on the Grizzlies scored in double figures: Ja Morant (17) and Marvin Bagley III (17). Desmond Bane had a plus-minus of -51 and Jaren Jackson Jr. shot 35.3% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc.
Advertisement
Memphis will look to rebound in Game 2, which is on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Thunder will look to build on their dominant Game 1 performance.
As expected, the national media destroyed the entire Grizzlies team on Monday for their pitiful showing on Sunday, but Kendrick Perkins of ESPN went out of his way to call out Jackson Jr.
Perkins’ take on Jackson Jr. turned heads, as people went after the former big man on social media.
Perkins, who won the 2008 championship with the Boston Celtics, has never been one to mince words and that trend will likely continue for the 2025 playoffs.
Jackson Jr. averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks for the Grizzlies in the regular season while shooting 48.8% from the field, 37.5% from 3 and 78.1% from the free-throw line.
Advertisement
He made his second All-Star team.
Memphis Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. on the floor© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Jackson Jr. does have a history of struggling to shoot the ball in the playoffs. In 24 career postseason games, the Michigan State product is shooting 38.9% from the field and 32.6% from 3.
The Thunder had the best record in the NBA during the regular season. The only way Memphis will upset OKC is if Morant and Jackson Jr. put up superstar numbers.
Related: Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Under Fire for Bench Actions in Thunder Loss
