Scotty Pippen Jr. is providing the Memphis Grizzlies with the boost and direction they need whenever star guard Ja Morant is sidelined. Such was the case on Saturday night in the team’s road win over the Atlanta Hawks, and it could be again on Monday when the Grizzlies take on the Los Angeles Clippers at home.
Memphis Grizzlies:
- With Ja Morant in Memphis resting a sore back—an injury he sustained during the team’s lopsided victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday—Pippen stepped up against Atlanta as he has throughout the season.
- Pippen scored 22 points and dished out nine assists as the Grizzlies posted a wire-to-wire win against the Hawks.
- If Morant is unable to play on Monday, Pippen will guide the NBA’s highest-scoring offense, which averages 123.1 points per game.
- The Grizzlies dominated Golden State 144-93 and were up by as much as 29 points in the third quarter against Atlanta. They scored a season-high 73 first-half points against the Hawks and have made 45 three-pointers in consecutive games, one off the NBA record. They set a franchise record with 27 three-pointers against Golden State.
- Memphis has won 12 of its past 14 games, with Pippen’s play being key. He is normally part of a Memphis bench that ranks first in the NBA in scoring. In the victory over Golden State, Santi Aldama contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.
Los Angeles Clippers:
- The Clippers are coming off a split of a two-game series in Dallas. After winning Thursday’s game 118-95—played without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving—the Clippers lost 113-97 on Saturday. Irving returned and had 15 points and six assists.
- Norman Powell led the Clippers with 28 points and remains a strong candidate to become a first-time All-Star. He is averaging a team-best 23.9 points per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the floor and 47.2 percent from beyond the arc following the offseason departures of Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
- The Clippers have yet to see Kawhi Leonard take the court this season due to a right knee injury. Leonard won’t play on Monday but is with the team and has been participating in recent contact practices. He could return later in the week.
Key Players to Watch:
- Memphis Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr., Ja Morant (if available), Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard (status pending), Terrance Mann
With both teams dealing with key player absences, this matchup will test their depth and resilience. Fans can expect an exciting game as the Grizzlies aim to continue their strong play and the Clippers seek to find consistency.
