{"id":509712,"date":"2026-10-27T17:36:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T17:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/509712\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T17:36:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T17:36:12","slug":"grizzly-grades-memphis-survive-in-sacramento-to-open-3-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/509712\/","title":{"rendered":"Grizzly Grades: Memphis Survive in Sacramento to Open 3-0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Memphis beat Sacramento 123-112 on Sunday<\/a> to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2017-18, just the third time it’s happened in franchise history.<\/p>\n

They did it without Zach Edey, who sat out to manage his ankle on the first night of a back-to-back.<\/p>\n

Sacramento got 37 from Zach LaVine, and the Kings even tied the game with under six minutes left, but Memphis showed, again, that it doesn’t quit.<\/p>\n

From Jerome and his big night to the back of the bench, here’s where every Grizzly landed against Sacramento.<\/p>\n

1. Ty Jerome: A+<\/p>\n

Jerome did not start off hot, as he missed his first five threes before burying the one that mattered, a step-back from the left wing that snapped a 106-106 tie and put Memphis back in control with under five minutes left.<\/p>\n

TY JEROME HAS BEEN HOOPING. pic.twitter.com\/34JgnHJkKr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

He finished with 31 points, a perfect 14-for-14 from the line, six assists and a steal off LaVine that sealed it.<\/p>\n

He now has double figures in all 18 games he’s played for Memphis, a streak that trails only O.J. Mayo’s 25.<\/p>\n

“AND ONEEEEEEEE” pic.twitter.com\/acoNl3teBc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 eric (@EricTweetsNBA) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

That outburst earned him Western Conference Player of the Week honors<\/a> as he has averaged 34.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and six assists through the first three games.<\/p>\n

Your Western Conference Player of the Week @tyjerome_<\/a> \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n

Just getting started \ud83d\ude24\ud83e\udd1f pic.twitter.com\/jkwmFhYJ9R<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a>2. Cedric Coward: A<\/p>\n

After missing the game at Golden State with a wrist injury, Coward looked nothing like a man shaking off rust.<\/p>\n

He drained his first three of the night from the left wing and found the same spot again a few minutes later, finishing three for five from behind the arc.<\/p>\n

Another Triple \ud83d\udc4c<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcca Ced – 3\/3 3FG pic.twitter.com\/ZFSG0PpLiH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Coward’s hustle was impossible to miss, chasing every loose ball and crashing the boards all night.<\/p>\n

He finished with a double-double, 15 points and 11 rebounds, not a bad day back at the office.<\/p>\n

Cedric Coward tonight<\/p>\n

15 PTS
11 REB
6\/11 FG (3\/5 3P)<\/p>\n

Offseason work is paying off \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/QhwinTObVp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SleeperGrizzlies (@SleeperMemphis) October 26, 2026<\/a>3. Jaylen Wells: A<\/p>\n

Wells was the most efficient scorer on the roster, going 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from three for 16 points, and his plus-24 was second on the team, only to Jerome’s plus-27.<\/p>\n

Jaylen Wells no dip three whew pic.twitter.com\/UhU0fu3IwS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 eric (@EricTweetsNBA) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

He’s proven through three games that he can be a three-point threat while guarding the other team’s best player every night. Can he keep it up?<\/p>\n

Read it. Took it. \ud83d\udc4b pic.twitter.com\/yChB0h4UF9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a>
4. Isaiah Stewart: B+<\/p>\n

Stewart’s second game as a Grizzly looked much better than his debut, which was plagued by foul trouble.<\/p>\n

His defense was on full display: he blocked a fast break at the rim on Lavine in the second quarter and got Domantas Sabonis at the rim in the third.<\/p>\n

That’s a BIG N\ud83d\udeab<\/p>\n

Pull up \ud83d\udcf2 https:\/\/t.co\/uu3QzCuPmc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3BzNG4EkDK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

He even rattled in a few top-of-the-key threes that bounced around four or five times before falling. <\/p>\n

His biggest moment came late on offense, drawing a foul and converting the and-one that started Memphis’ decisive 11-0 run right after Sacramento had tied it.<\/p>\n

He finished with a season-high 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes.<\/p>\n

Beautiful ball movement by the Grizzlies. Ty Jerome > Cameron Boozer > Isaiah Stewart pic.twitter.com\/w6Cui7i5BG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Eddie Perez (@CreateHoops) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Stewart will need to get the fouls under control to stay on the floor if he wants to continue to make an impact.<\/p>\n

He picked up five on Sunday to go with the four he had against Golden State.<\/p>\n

5. Cameron Boozer: B<\/p>\n

Boozer’s double-double, 16 points and 11 rebounds, came with some fight attached.<\/p>\n

Second time around, Cameron Boozer made sure it counts \ud83d\udcaa#NBAHighlights<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L4XM6AjqhX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Precious Achiuwa gave him trouble all night, stripping him twice and backing him down for a bucket of his own.<\/p>\n

Boozer shot a rough 6-for-21 from the field, but he made a few plays that mattered, throwing down a slam off a Jerome drop-off and another off a Wells feed that put Memphis up nine late in the fourth.<\/p>\n

Check on the rim \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/AKsIzKGWAa<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The rookie has continued to show he’s a favorite of head coach Tuomas Iisalo, averaging 34 minutes a game, four more than would have led last year’s team.<\/p>\n

6. Cam Spencer: B-<\/p>\n

Spencer gave Memphis jolt it needed off the bench, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the first half and hitting a three that snapped a Kings run in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

Cam Spencer corner threeeeee pic.twitter.com\/tKaXZ0SiFV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 eric (@EricTweetsNBA) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The second half wasn’t as kind, a missed logo three and a drive that got stripped and turned into points the other way.<\/p>\n

His minus-16 was the worst mark on the team, but if Spencer can keep providing a spark off the bench when called upon, he’ll keep seeing the floor.<\/p>\n

If the shot stops falling, that’s a different story. He’s shown some defensive lapses too.<\/p>\n

7. Jerami Grant: C+<\/p>\n

Grant’s box score won’t jump off the page, but his defense did.<\/p>\n

He finished with three stocks: a swat on LaVine’s three-point try to end the first quarter and another block on Achiuwa’s layup attempt in the second.<\/p>\n

He finished with five points, five rebounds and three assists on 2-for-8 shooting in 22 minutes.<\/p>\n

Stops \u23ed\ufe0f Front of the Rim \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/85u5XvM4ca<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a>8. Scotty Pippen Jr.: C<\/p>\n

Pippen Jr. had moments on both sides of the court.<\/p>\n

He finished a wide-open transition layup off a Jerome feed and hit a three off a Wells steal in the first half, but then threw a no-look pass directly into LaVine’s hands for a Monk dunk in the fourth and blew two close finishes at the rim.<\/p>\n

\u2708\ufe0f\u2708\ufe0f\u2708\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/hTEXXBVFQP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His potential has flashed this season. So has his inconsistency.<\/p>\n

9. Quinten Post: C-<\/p>\n

Post had his share of rough patches, and he was not the first big man off the bench this outing.<\/p>\n

Taylor Hendricks took his usual sub spot in the middle of the first quarter instead.<\/p>\n

When Post did get in, he gave up an offensive rebound that led to a bucket and lost a board off a missed free throw that should have been an easy possession.<\/p>\n

But his offensive touch showed up late, grabbing two offensive rebounds and tipping them back in for points.<\/p>\n

Earned it. \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n

Q4 Action \ud83d\udcf2 @_daznus<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/5OXZ8k5yD1<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Post isn’t out there to be a rim protector, but he’ll need to produce consistently on offense if he wants the rotation to stop shuffling under him.<\/p>\n

10. GG Jackson: C-<\/p>\n

Jackson’s handle through the first three games has not been what it was in the preseason.<\/p>\n

He lost control of the ball on more than one drive, got called for a double dribble in the second quarter and had the ball stripped on a put-back attempt.<\/p>\n

Precious went coast to coast \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/4jdB6XxihD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) October 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His best sequence came on a coast-to-coast spin to the rim that drew a foul, though he made just one of the two free throws that followed.<\/p>\n

11. Taylor Hendricks: D+<\/p>\n

Hendricks played his first minutes of the season and didn’t make much of an impression.<\/p>\n

He came in for Post off the bench in the first quarter and missed both of his three-point attempts.<\/p>\n

His defense wasn’t much better either, as he posted the second-worst plus-minus on the team at -15.<\/p>\n

Expect him to get more run when opposing teams roll out a more agile backup big, but the shot needs to start falling for the minutes to stick.<\/p>\n

The Grizzlies take on Utah tonight in a rematch in Salt Lake City<\/a>, after beating the Jazz at FedExForum on October 21, 123-103: Let’s see who studied.
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