NBA Playoffs: The Grizzlies strike all the right notes in a shock win over the Jazz

Salt Lake City, Utah - The Memphis Grizzlies did not follow the script in their shock 112-109 victory over the top-ranked Utah Jazz in the NBA playoffs.

Ja Morant bagged 26 points in the Memphis Grizzlies' shock win.
Ja Morant bagged 26 points in the Memphis Grizzlies' shock win.  © IMAGO / Agencia EFE

Utah secured sole possession of the best record in the NBA for the first time in franchise history, having topped the Western Conference with a 52-20 record.

But in the continued absence of All-Star Donovan Mitchell (ankle), the Jazz were upstaged by the eighth-seeded Grizzlies in Sunday's opener on home court.

Dillon Brooks (31 points), Ja Morant (26 points) and Jonas Valanciunas (15 points and 13 rebounds) fuelled the visiting Grizzlies in Utah.

NBA MVP award finalists named as contenders battle it out for league honors
NBA NBA MVP award finalists named as contenders battle it out for league honors

Brooks became the sixth player in the last 10 postseasons to score 30-plus points in his playoffs debut, joining Devin Booker (2021), Luka Doncic (2020), Kyrie Irving (2015), Anthony Davis (2015) and Damian Lillard (2014).

Kyle Anderson also registered a Grizzlies single-game playoff record with his six steals, surpassing the previous mark set by Mike Conley – who now plays for the Jazz – in 2013.

The Jazz were led by Bojan Bogdanovic (29 points), Conley (22 points and 11 assists) and Rudy Gobert (11 points and 15 rebounds).

Cover photo: IMAGO / Agencia EFE

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