Game ID: 22400345
Memphis Grizzlies @ Boston Celtics
Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 27 27 35 32 121MEM 31 35 28 33 127
BOS vs MEM ScoutingBOS vs MEM Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 3 since 11/24, returns tonight: 9 min (47% of 18)
BACK Porziņģis back 11/25 after 4, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Scheierman back 11/25 after 9, 5 min since (43% of 12)
BOS availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Scheierman missed 2 since 11/29, returns tonight: 11 min (94% of 12)
BACK Porziņģis back 11/25 after 4, 27 min since (98% of 27)
BACK Kornet back 12/01 after 3, 9 min since (47% of 18)
BOS availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 11/25 after 4, 27 min since (98% of 27)
BACK Kornet back 12/01 after 3, 18 min since (98% of 18)
BACK Scheierman back 11/25 after 9, 8 min since (69% of 12)
BOS availability going into 12/06 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 34 min (110% of 31)
BACK Porziņģis back 11/25 after 4, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Kornet back 12/01 after 3, 19 min since (103% of 18)
BACK Scheierman back 11/25 after 9, 8 min since (69% of 12)
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 12/07 · back-to-backOUT Scheierman missed 2 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/06 after 2, 34 min since (110% of 31)
BACK Kornet back 12/01 after 3, 19 min since (103% of 18)
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 12/12 · 4 days' restOUT Scheierman missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/06 after 2, 32 min since (104% of 31)
BACK Kornet back 12/01 after 3, 16 min since (90% of 18)
BOS availability going into 12/15 · 2 days' restOUT Scheierman missed 4 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (96% of 31)
BOS availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Scheierman missed 5 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/06 after 2, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BOS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 6 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 12/06 after 2, 28 min since (92% of 31)
MEM availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Edey missed 5 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 4 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Morant back 11/25 after 8, 23 min since (76% of 30)
BACK Smart back 11/25 after 4, 19 min since (91% of 21)
BACK Konchar back 11/25 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 12)
NEW Huff 12 to 18 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Edey missed 6 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 5 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Morant back 11/25 after 8, 26 min since (86% of 30)
BACK Smart back 11/25 after 4, 21 min since (102% of 21)
BACK Konchar back 11/25 after 2, 4 min since (30% of 12)
NEW Huff 12 to 18 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Edey missed 7 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 6 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Morant back 11/25 after 8, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Smart back 11/25 after 4, 22 min since (104% of 21)
BACK Konchar back 11/25 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 12)
NEW Huff 12 to 17 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Edey missed 8 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 7 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Morant back 11/25 after 8, 27 min since (91% of 30)
BACK Smart back 11/25 after 4, 23 min since (107% of 21)
BACK Konchar back 11/25 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 12)
MEM availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Edey missed 9 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 8 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Konchar missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 6 since 11/25, out tonight
MEM availability going into 12/08 · back-to-backOUT Kennard missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Edey missed 10 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 9 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Konchar missed 3 since 12/03, returns tonight: 22 min (178% of 12)
OUT Spencer missed 7 since 11/25, returns tonight: 25 min (249% of 10)
MEM availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Kennard missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Edey missed 11 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Williams Jr. missed 10 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 12/08 after 3, 22 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Spencer back 12/08 after 7, 25 min since (249% of 10)
NEW Huff 12 to 17 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Kennard missed 4 since 12/05, returns tonight: 18 min (82% of 22)
OUT Edey missed 12 since 11/19, returns tonight: 24 min (111% of 22)
OUT Williams Jr. missed 11 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Konchar back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (94% of 12)
BACK Spencer back 12/08 after 7, 25 min since (249% of 10)
NEW Huff 12 to 18 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Williams Jr. missed 12 since 11/20, out tonight
OUT Spencer missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 8 min (80% of 10)
BACK Kennard back 12/15 after 4, 18 min since (82% of 22)
BACK Edey back 12/15 after 12, 24 min since (111% of 22)
BACK Konchar back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (94% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 30 and Brown at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 18 a game. Without Edey (9 straight), Williams Jr. (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 16 times a game to Boston's 11 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-1. Call it Boston 117, Memphis 116, Memphis keeping it close.
12/01 @ CLE 111-115 — BOS notes
BOS lost 111-115. BOS took 15 more shots (95 to 80), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to CLE's 49%, 17 of 49 from three, and got to the line 19 times to CLE's 25. BOS turned it over 8 times to CLE's 17. Tatum led with 33 (12 of 27, 4 of 9 from three); Pritchard added 24, Porziņģis 21. Q3 was theirs, 35-21, turning a 2-point deficit into a 12-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-76 against them. They led by as many as 14. Pritchard's -11 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs MIA 108-89 — BOS notes
BOS won 108-89. BOS shot 44% (39 of 89) to MIA's 36%, 19 of 55 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIA's 23. The glass went 54-44 for them. Brown led with 29 (8 of 21, 4 of 11 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Pritchard added 25, White 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-20: a lead of 3 became 15, and the lead reached 27. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/04 vs DET 130-120 — BOS notes
BOS won 130-120. BOS shot 48% (45 of 94) to DET's 51%, 21 of 53 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DET's 18 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. Brown led with 28 (10 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Porziņģis added 26, Hauser 20. The hinge was Q1, 39-24: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/06 vs MIL 111-105 — BOS notes
BOS won 111-105. BOS shot 46% (40 of 87) to MIL's 43%, 17 of 53 from three. The glass went 41-51 against them. Tatum led with 34 (12 of 20, 4 of 10 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Brown added 25, Holiday 20. The hinge was Q4, 33-23: BOS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 6. BOS trailed 53-57 at the half and won the second half 58-48. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/07 vs MEM 121-127 — BOS notes
BOS lost 121-127. BOS took 11 more shots (105 to 94), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MEM's 50%, 18 of 60 from three. Holiday led with 23 (8 of 26, 4 of 17 from three); Brown added 22, Pritchard 22. Q3 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 12 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 99-86 against them. Brown's -17 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 26 a game. 4 days' rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Beasley at 19 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 18 times a game to Boston's 11 and the arc, Detroit at 42 percent from three to Boston's 34. Call it Boston 118, Detroit 110.
12/15 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 125, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 18 and Champagnie at 16 a game. Without Kuzma (6 straight), George (4 straight), Kispert (4 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 23 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 108 a night to Washington's 125 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 13. Call it Boston 121, Washington 109, Boston by 12.
12/19 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 20 a game. 3 days' rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vučević at 22 and LaVine at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-2 a night and Chicago minus-5 and the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Chicago's 116. Call it Boston 121, Chicago 113.
12/21 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; LaVine at 28 and Vučević at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Brown at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 116, Chicago 114, Chicago keeping it close.
11/29 vs NOP 120-109 — MEM notes
MEM won 120-109. MEM shot 49% (47 of 96) to NOP's 42%, 12 of 41 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 30. Morant led with 27 (10 of 18, 0 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Jackson Jr. added 23, Aldama 20. The hinge was Q2, 35-28: a lead of 4 became 11, and the lead reached 17. Clarke was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/01 vs IND 136-121 — MEM notes
MEM won 136-121. MEM shot 53% (49 of 93) to IND's 48%, 16 of 46 from three. MEM turned it over 10 times to IND's 15. Jackson Jr. led with 25 (8 of 14, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Morant added 19, Bane 16. The hinge was Q3, 40-23: MEM came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 17. MEM trailed 62-68 at the half and won the second half 74-53. Bane was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/03 @ DAL 116-121 — MEM notes
MEM lost 116-121. MEM took 16 more shots (97 to 81), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to DAL's 48%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 14 times to DAL's 44. MEM turned it over 19 times to DAL's 25. The glass went 39-49 against them. Morant led with 31 (11 of 22, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Bane added 19, Jackson Jr. 16. Q3 was theirs, 38-22, turning a 3-point deficit into a 13-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 99-78 against them. They led by as many as 15.
12/05 vs SAC 115-110 — MEM notes
MEM won 115-110. MEM shot 48% (38 of 80) to SAC's 40%, 13 of 38 from three. MEM turned it over 22 times to SAC's 13, and SAC turned those into 11 steals. Bane led with 18 (6 of 10, 2 of 4 from three); Smart added 18, Aldama 15. The hinge was Q4, 29-24: from level to 5 ahead. Huff was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/07 @ BOS 127-121 — MEM notes
MEM won 127-121. MEM shot 50% (47 of 94) to BOS's 40%, 15 of 33 from three. Morant led with 32 (11 of 20, 4 of 6 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Jackson Jr. added 27, Clarke 18. The hinge was Q2, 35-27: a lead of 4 became 12. Bane was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/08 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 123, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 20 and Brogdon at 17 a game. Without Kuzma (4 straight), George (2 straight), Kispert (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Morant at 23 and Jackson Jr. at 21 a game. Without Kennard (2 straight), Edey (10 straight), Williams Jr. (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 35 percent from three to Washington's 29 and the defense, Memphis allowing 116 a night to Washington's 123. Call it Memphis 121, Washington 112.
12/13 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 22 and Jackson Jr. at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Kennard (3 straight), Edey (11 straight), Williams Jr. (10 straight). 4 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 23 and Schröder at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Thomas (6 straight), Williams (3 straight), Clowney (7 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been minus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-7 and the line, where Memphis takes 25 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 20. Call it Memphis 120, Brooklyn 109, Memphis by 11.
12/15 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without James (2 straight), Hayes (8 straight), Vanderbilt (19 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Morant at 25 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Kennard (4 straight), Edey (12 straight), Williams Jr. (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 39 percent from three to the Lakers' 32 and the glass, where Memphis has been minus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it Memphis 118, the Lakers 112.
12/19 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Morant at 22 and Jackson Jr. at 22 a game. Without Williams Jr. (12 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Kuminga at 21 a game. Without Moody (2 straight), Post (13 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the line, where Memphis takes 27 free throws a game to Golden State's 17 and the defense, Golden State allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 116. Call it Memphis 118, Golden State 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MEMBC B. Clarke
DB D. Bane
JH J. Huff
JJ J. Jackson Jr.
JL J. LaRavia
JM J. Morant
JW J. Wells
MS M. Smart
SA S. Aldama
SP S. Pippen Jr.
BOSDW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
MEM/BOS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Ja Morant scores 32 to help Grizzlies beat Celtics 127-121 and snap 10-game losing streak in Boston
BOSTON -- — Ja Morant had 32 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a 10-game losing streak in Boston with a 127-121 win over the Celtics on Saturday night.
Jaren Jackson Jr . added 27 points and nine rebounds for Memphis, which won in TD Garden for the first time since Nov. 27, 2013. The Grizzlies have won eight of their last nine.
Jrue Holiday had 23 points for the Celtics, who went 18 for 60 from the 3-point line. Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard each finished with 22 points.
The Celtics erased a 14-point, third-quarter deficit, taking a 97-94 lead early in the fourth. Memphis rallied and led 117-115 with less than four minutes to play. The Grizzlies then scored seven straight to get it back up to 124-115 and were able to close it out.
Marcus Smart played in TD Garden for the first time since being dealt to Memphis as part of the three-team trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston in 2023. He played 19 minutes but was only 1 of 11 from the floor, finishing with three points.
Takeaways Grizzlies: Morant had one of his best all-around efforts since returning from his hip injury last month. He showed explosiveness offensively, throwing down a double-clutch reverse dunk . He also facilitated for his teammates in the halfcourt, a solid sign in just his sixth game back.
Celtics: The Celtics lost for the first time this season on the second night of a back-to-back (4-1).
Key moment Smart checked into the game at the 8:50 mark of the first quarter and acknowledged a standing ovation from Celtics fans, stopping to wave to the crowd.
Key stat Memphis outscored Boston 64-40 in the paint.
Up next The Grizzlies visit the Washington Wizards on Sunday. The Celtics host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.