Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez had contrasting feelings about their teams’ performances over the weekend.
Jenkins was pleased with the Grizzlies’ balanced effort in their win over the Philadelphia 76ers, while Fernandez was displeased with multiple aspects of Brooklyn’s fourth loss of the season.
The Grizzlies aim for a third straight win, and the Nets hope to rebound from a tough performance when the teams meet in Brooklyn on Monday for the second time in less than a week.
The Nets secured a 119-106 win in Memphis on Wednesday, but since then, the Grizzlies have produced their best defensive showings of the opening weeks, despite the absences of Desmond Bane (oblique) and Marcus Smart (ankle). They cruised to a 122-99 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks a night after losing to the Nets, followed by a 124-107 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.
The Grizzlies led by as many as 25 points against the 76ers, outscoring them 70-34 in the paint and shooting a season-best 55.2 percent from the field. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 27 points, Jay Huff added 20 points, and Ja Morant finished with 18 points and 12 assists for his fifth double-double of the season.
The Nets had few bright spots in their 106-92 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Fernandez watched his team allow the Pistons to shoot 68.8 percent in the paint and get outrebounded 47-27. It was the fifth time the Nets were outrebounded this season, though the previous margins were much smaller.
In addition to the rebounding issues, the Nets were held to their lowest point total of the season after averaging 118.3 points in their first six games. Brooklyn shot 45.1 percent from the field but only 29 percent (9-of-31) from three-point range and a season-worst 61.3 percent (19-of-31) from the free-throw line.
Cameron Johnson led the Nets with a season-high 26 points, with 22 of those coming in the first half. Cam Thomas was held to 17 points, shooting 6-of-17 after averaging 28.2 points in Brooklyn’s first six games.
The Nets will attempt to regroup with a different lineup. Ben Simmons is unlikely to play the second night of the back-to-back set after undergoing back surgery in March. Nic Claxton, who missed the preseason with a hamstring injury and has yet to start, also may sit out after missing 8 of 12 free throws on Sunday.
