Key Stat of the Night
- The Hawks shot 40 percent from 3-point range while the Grizzlies were limited to 22.2 percent (10-of-45) from deep. The Grizzlies’ second-unit was held to (.095) from 3-point range.
Key Run of the Night
- The Grizzlies went on an 11-2 run to open the fourth quarter, but the Hawks immediately responded with a 16-2 run of their own to even the score. It was Hawks rookie Sharife Cooper that put the Grizzlies away in the final two minutes, as Atlanta finished off a 19-5 run and earned the victory. Cooper accounted for 12 of the Hawks’ final 14 points.
Game Recap
Sharife Cooper and Skylar Mays sparked a fourth-quarter scoring run to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Memphis Grizzlies 91-87 Saturday at FedExForum. It marked the Hawks’ first win this preseason and the Grizzlies’ first loss.
Cooper was the X-factor for the Hawks in the fourth quarter, scoring all 10 of his points in the final frame. Mays also made both of his shots to help Atlanta close the game on a 19-5 run. John Collins notched a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 18 points while Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama scored 16 points each. Xavier Tillman Sr. finished with six points and 11 rebounds.
The frontcourt duo of Tillman and Clarke found success early with the two scoring the team’s first nine points before a De’Anthony Melton 3-pointer. Rookies Ziaire Williams and Aldama came off the bench to help launch a 14-6 run as the Grizzlies took a 22-21 lead after one quarter.
The Grizzlies used quick ball movement to spread the wealth on offense and keep a 40-37 lead over the Hawks at halftime. Bane lit up the third quarter with 13 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting, but Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 11 points in the quarter helped tie the score at 64 at the end of the third period.
Memphis scored seven straight points to take a 10-point lead (82-72), the largest of the game by either team, with 6:59 remaining in the game before Atlanta’s final burst.
Next Game
The Grizzlies will be back in FedExForum to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Oct. 11, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT. Fans can tune in to Bally Sports Southeast or listen live on 92.9 FM ESPN.
Team Quotes
Team Notables
- The Memphis Grizzlies will finish their preseason home schedule inside FedExForum on Monday against Detroit.
- Entering tonight, the Grizzlies were outscoring their opponents by an average of 19.0 points in the first halves.
- Memphis came in outrebounding its opponents by 19.5 per game (55.0 to 35.5)… The Grizzlies finished with 55 rebounds again tonight… Memphis ranked eighth in the NBA last season in rebounds per game (50.3).
- The Grizzlies and Hawks split the 2020-21 season series, 1-1, with the road team winning each game.
- Memphis out-scored Atlanta 45-32 in points in the paint... last season the Grizzlies finished fourth in the NBA in points in the paint with 55.0 per game.
Player Notables
- Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 18 points to go with three rebounds, two assists and a block. Bane was 5-for-5 in the third quarter for 13 points. Bane entered tonight shooting 55.6% from long range this preseason.
- Brandon Clarke rung up 16 points with six rebounds, three assists and two blocks on 7-of-11 shooting.
- Santi Aldama scored 16 points (7-of-14 FG) with nine rebounds and an assist.
- Xavier Tillman Sr. finished with six points and 11 rebounds to go with four assists and two steals.
- John Collins and Danillo Gallinari both recorded double-doubles as Collins put together 16 points and 12 rebounds while Gallinari notched 11 points and 10 rebounds.
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