Jones, Brooks power Memphis to 128-103 win over Atlanta

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tyus Jones had 22 factors and 11 assists, Dillon Brooks added 18 factors and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Atlanta Hawks 128-103 on Monday evening in a sport during which each groups had been with out key starters.

Santi Aldama scored 16 factors and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15 factors and a career-best eight blocks for Memphis, which gained its sixth straight and moved inside a half-game of Western Convention-leading New Orleans.

Memphis was capable of outscore Atlanta within the paint 72-42, whereas handing out 36 assists.

“It’s infectious,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins stated of Jones dealing 11 assists. “I feel we had eight guys with two-plus assists. That’s guards. That’s bigs.”

Defensively, with Jackson rejecting pictures, it has improved the Memphis protection after he missed the opening 14 video games recovering from low season proper foot surgical procedure.

“He’s modified our protection singlehandedly,” Jones stated. “He impacts the ball and impacts what (opposing) offensive gamers even suppose.”

De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 19 factors, and Aaron Vacation completed with 15. Jalen Johnson added 14 factors and 9 rebounds. AJ Griffin, who scored the successful basket on the additional time buzzer towards Chicago on Sunday, had 13 factors because the Hawks misplaced for the fourth time in 5 video games.

“They established, set and managed the tempo proper from begin to end. That they had nice ball motion all evening lengthy,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan stated.

Each groups had been lacking their main scorers. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant sat out with proper thigh soreness, whereas his counterpart — Atlanta’s Trae Younger — was coping with decrease again tightness after enjoying 42 minutes in Sunday’s win towards the Bulls.

Younger’s absence meant Atlanta was down 5 of its six prime scorers, together with Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic. McMillan stated such absences “are all the time a problem.”

“They simply pounded us within the paint,” McMillan stated noting the 72-42 Memphis benefit. “They had been simply sooner, stronger, higher. They did what you want to do when a workforce is coming in limping.”

Memphis, which led 62-51 at halftime, dominated the third quarter, outscoring Atlanta 40-25 and lengthening the benefit to as many as 31 factors within the body.

TIP-INS

Hawks: Trent Forrest, who began his first sport of the season towards the Bulls on Sunday, began in Younger’s spot. … Jalen Johnson’s 14 factors was a career-high for the second-year participant out of Duke. … Onyeka Okongwu grabbed 10 rebounds.

Grizzlies: Made their first 9 pictures, together with 5 from past the arc. … Jackson had 4 blocks within the first quarter. … Jones had a season-high 4 3-pointers.

JACKSON’S DEFENSE

Jackson’s eight blocks not solely had been a private greatest, but additionally tied the Grizzlies’ franchise file. Jones stated the 6-foot-11 ahead “impacts the sport on the defensive finish like only a few individuals on this league.” Jones went on to name Jackson “the anchor.” Rookie guard Kennedy Chandler had one other title — savior. “He helped me out about two instances from getting beat,” Chandler stated.

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Jones had a breakaway within the second half, and the bench rose considering the 6-foot guard would dunk. As a substitute, he softly transformed the layup catching the good-natured ribbing of his teammates. “They need a dunk out of me. I’ve informed them I’m performed dunking. I solely shoot floaters,” Jones stated.

UP NEXT

Hawks: Play the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday

Grizzlies: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday

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