The Utah Jazz secured a decisive 133-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in a game marked by an outstanding first-half performance. Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz with 20 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
In the first half, Clarkson and Markkanen played pivotal roles, each going 4-for-4 from 3-point range. They combined for 35 points on 12-of-15 shooting, helping the Jazz establish a commanding 79-46 lead at halftime. The 79 points scored in the first half were the second-most in the franchise’s 50-year history, coming just two points short of a franchise record.
Collin Sexton, a Jazz reserve, led all scorers in the game with 23 points and contributed six assists.
Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Jazz’s dominance in the first half. The Grizzlies are currently facing challenges, having lost their first five games of the season, partly due to the absence of their star player, Ja Morant, who is suspended for the first 25 games.
The Jazz found their rhythm and secured the win by shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field while limiting the Grizzlies to 36.5 percent shooting. Utah excelled in 3-point shooting, making 22 of 43 attempts (51.2 percent), compared to the Grizzlies, who struggled with a 14-for-54 performance (25.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
John Collins contributed 16 points, and Kelly Olynyk had 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for the Jazz.
Utah set the tone early, with Markkanen scoring a technical free throw and a 3-pointer in the opening seconds of the game, putting the Jazz ahead 4-0.
Memphis initially kept the game close, but the Jazz took control with an 8-0 run that broke a 9-9 tie, featuring 3-pointers from John Collins and Jordan Clarkson.
The first quarter ended with a dominant Jazz performance, as they scored 14 consecutive points, including multiple 3-pointers. This run gave them a 42-19 lead entering the second quarter.
Utah extended its lead during the second quarter with a 10-1 run, going up 57-32, followed by an 11-0 run for a 71-39 lead. The Jazz achieved their largest lead of the season, going up by 35 points at 78-43 late in the first half.
Although the Grizzlies made efforts to stage a comeback in the second half, they were unable to close the gap, and the game ultimately ended with the Jazz securing a convincing 133-109 victory.
