No NBA Cup spot, but Memphis Grizzlies continuing recent upward trend

The first two Memphis Grizzlies games of this four-game road trip have had a somewhat similar script.

After mounting a double-digit comeback on Nov. 26 against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Grizzlies were at it again while taking on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Memphis trailed by 16 points before defeating the Clippers 112-107 on Nov. 28 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

The Grizzlies (8-12) have now won four of their past five games. Those wins have all come against teams with records under .500, but the Clippers (5-14) regardless are a talented squad led by Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

Memphis finished its NBA Cup group play with a 3-1 record but didn’t advance to the knockout stage because of point differential.

Here is how the Grizzlies knocked off the Clippers and what comes next.

Ramping up the defense

The Grizzlies couldn’t stop Harden or Leonard in the first half. But they changed the game with their defense in the third quarter, though Leonard still finished with a game-high 39 points, including 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Memphis held the Clippers to 18 points and five made field goals in the third. As a result, the 13-point halftime deficit was trimmed to three.

Defense and effort have played roles in the Grizzlies’ recent success. The Clippers were held to 42.7% shooting.

Coming up clutch

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 24 points, and he saved his best work for the fourth quarter, with 11 points and making five of his six shot attempts.

With Ja Morant remaining sidelined because of injury, Jackson used isolation drives to get to his spots in the paint and finish with both hands. He also knocked down a 3-pointer to keep the defense honest.

Jackson wasn’t alone in the clutch. Guard Cam Spencer scored eight points in the fourth quarter and knocked down two 3-pointers.

Spencer’s 10 total points were part of a 47-15 Grizzlies advantage in bench points.

What’s next?

The Grizzlies needed a blowout win to secure a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. After the Phoenix Suns lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder by four points on Nov. 28, the Grizzlies needed a 31-point win, which means they won't advance. As a result, they have two games added to its schedule.

The Grizzlies will host the Utah Jazz at FedExForum on Dec. 12, then they’ll go on the road on Dec. 15 for another game against the Clippers.

If there is a silver lining in not advancing in the NBA Cup, it's that the Grizzlies get two of the Western Conference’s worst teams added to their schedule, instead of a would-be matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: No NBA Cup, but Memphis Grizzlies rally to beat Los Angeles Clippers