Mike Conley Leads Memphis Past Utah
Mar 8, 2019, 8:51 PM | Updated: 9:01 pm
Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on December 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley showed why the Utah Jazz sought after him at the trade deadline with a big game against the Utah Jazz.
The Ohio State-product finished with a team-high 28 points and completed a double-double with 11 assists in the Grizzlies’ 114-104 victory.
It was widely reported during in the time around the NBA trade deadline that the Jazz were heavy bidders in acquiring Conley from Memphis. However, the deadline on Jan. 7 passed without a deal and Conley remained in Memphis.
You stan.
We stan.
We all stand for Mike Conley Jr. pic.twitter.com/XnY2PP9KkS— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 9, 2019
While Jazz fans may have been wishing that Conley was on the Jazz bench during the game, they probably would have settled for any point guard.
Ricky Rubio, Raul Neto and Dante Exum all were ruled out with various injuries before the game, leaving Utah without a true point guard in the contest.
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As a result, Donovan Mitchell was shifted to primary ball-handling duties while Royce O’Neale took Mitchell’s typing off-ball position in the starting lineup.
Mitchell gave a strong performance with a game-high 38 points while O’Neale had 10, but it wasn’t enough to overcome what Conley was able to offer in Memphis’ win.
The distribution and team-play definitely favored Memphis as the Grizzlies racked up 31 assists on 46 made field goals.
Jonas Valanciunas on 🔥 getting tonight's @BassProShops #TrophyGame pic.twitter.com/ZoADMjaJQ0
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 9, 2019
While Conley did his thing on the perimeter, the big guys for Memphis also did a terrific job. Jonas Valanciunas scored 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting and veteran big man Joakim Noah grinded out seven points and eight rebounds in his first start in over two years.
Next Up
The Jazz will look to regroup at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
