Grizzlies – Cavaliers: one last minute of madness!

And 11! The only lineup to keep up with the Nuggets’ hellish run, Memphis posted its 11th straight win with a 115-114 victory over the Cavaliers. After scoring as many as 19 points early, Ja Morant’s teammates almost bit the dust against the Cavaliers, however without Donovan Mitchell. Thanks to a super Darius Garland, Cleveland took control at the end of the 3rd quarter (91-89).

The Grizzlies responded with a 7-0 run to get back in front, but the Cavaliers responded right back with a 9-0 run! Result: 74 seconds from the end, Evan Mobley kept the Cavaliers in the lead (114-111). Ja Morant made two shots, and the Grizzlies came back within a unit (114-113). That’s when the game gets crazy.

Covered by Jaren Jackson Jr. Darius Garland and then the Cavaliers failed to make a throw-in behind. Grizzlies defense is awesome!

Even better, after Ja Morant’s missed shot, Steven Adams, with two hands, put the decisive tap (115-114). There were 16 seconds left, no time-out, and Darius Garland was responsible for the 3-pointer. He looked for the first shot, but Dillon Brooks stuck it, and he again tried to find space after a relay to a teammate. Same position, and Dillon Brooks covers it! Memphis wins by the slimmest of margins for its 11th straight victory!

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

– The franchise record is equivalent. This 11th straight victory equals a franchise record established exactly one year ago by the same group! A common point in all its successes: the team always scores 115 points and more.

– Defense is the difference maker. The Grizzlies have great defensemen, like Jaren Jackson Jr and Dillon Brooks, and they made the difference in the final seconds by countering Darius Garland. Like this Cavaliers throw-in sanctioned by the referees, Memphis suffocated Cleveland in the final seconds.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Steven Adams. A double-double and the winning basket as he battled the Mobley-Allen pair all night!

✅ Santi Aldama. The ideal joker with his 3-point skill and even his defense. He offered himself a “Rider” to counter-attack, unfortunately refused.

✅ Jaren Jackson Jr. Mistakes limited his playing time but his defensive activity was insane (4 blocks, 2 interceptions!). He is everywhere!

✅⛔ Darius Garland. An almost perfect match and we can even say that he dominated Ja Morant. But we also remember that he was countered in his last two attempts.

⛔ The Cavaliers bench. Like a Kevin Love suffering from a sore thumb, the replacements didn’t carry much tonight. Where has Cedi Osman been since the start of the season?

THE FOLLOWING

Memphis (31-13) : Friday trip to the Lakers.

Cleveland (28-18) : welcoming the Warriors on Friday.