Game ID: 22501019
Boston Celtics @ Memphis Grizzlies
Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MEM 27 27 34 24 112BOS 29 26 29 33 117
BOS @ MEM ScoutingBOS @ 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.
MEM availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Clarke missed 34 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Coward back 3/03 after 7, 22 min since (86% of 26)
BACK Jerome back 3/03 after 2, 24 min since (107% of 23)
NEW Small 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 19 to 27 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/13 · back-to-backOUT Clayton Jr. missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 35 since 12/22, out tonight
NEW Mashack 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Jackson 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Small 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 19 to 27 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Clayton Jr. missed 3 since 3/10, returns tonight: 26 min (105% of 25)
OUT Clarke missed 36 since 12/22, out tonight
NEW Mashack 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 19 to 25 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Jackson missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 26 min (120% of 22)
OUT Clarke missed 37 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 26 min since (105% of 25)
NEW Mashack 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Small 20 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 19 to 25 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Clarke missed 38 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 23 min since (92% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 26 min since (120% of 22)
NEW Mashack 22 to 27 min over the last 4
MEM availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Rupert missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Mashack missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 39 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 24 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 26 min since (120% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 25 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Rupert missed 3 since 3/18, returns tonight: 30 min (97% of 31)
OUT Coward missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Mashack missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 40 since 12/22, out tonight
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 24 min since (94% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 25 min since (115% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 25 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Coward missed 3 since 3/20, returns tonight: 27 min (104% of 26)
OUT Mashack missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Clarke missed 41 since 12/22, not on tonight's roster
BACK Rupert back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Clayton Jr. back 3/16 after 3, 25 min since (98% of 25)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 27 min since (124% of 22)
NEW Prosper 19 to 26 min over the last 5
MEM availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Mashack missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Rupert back 3/23 after 3, 30 min since (97% of 31)
BACK Coward back 3/25 after 3, 27 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Jackson back 3/18 after 2, 27 min since (127% of 22)
NEW Small 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 19 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/10 after 2, 1 min since (7% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW González 14 to 19 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/10 after 2, 7 min since (40% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/10 after 2, 7 min since (40% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 28 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 3 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 29 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 4 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 26 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/25 · 2 days' restOUT Vučević missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 5 since 3/14, out tonight
NEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Walsh missed 6 since 3/14, returns tonight: 28 min (159% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 24 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Vučević missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Walsh back 3/27 after 6, 28 min since (159% of 17)
NEW Scheierman 18 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jerome at 23 and Jackson at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Vučević (6 straight), Walsh (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Memphis minus-9 and the defense, Boston allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 127. Call it Boston 117, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.
3/12 vs DAL 112-120 — MEM notes
MEM lost 112-120. MEM shot 42% (41 of 98) to DAL's 48%, 14 of 48 from three. MEM turned it over 10 times to DAL's 19. The glass went 38-60 against them. Wells led with 23 (7 of 15, 3 of 7 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Jackson added 20, Small 19. Q3 was theirs, 30-21, the deficit cut from 11 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 99-82 against them. Rupert's -19 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ DET 110-126 — MEM notes
MEM lost 110-126. MEM shot 43% (38 of 89) to DET's 54%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 24 times to DET's 18 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 33-52 against them. Small led with 23 (6 of 9, 4 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Jerome added 21, Spencer 19. Q1 was theirs, 35-37, but the other 3 periods went 89-75 against them. Burton's -24 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 @ CHI 107-132 — MEM notes
MEM lost 107-132. MEM shot 45% (39 of 86) to CHI's 52%, 14 of 39 from three. The glass went 37-47 against them. Coward led with 17 (7 of 13, 2 of 7 from three); Wells added 16, Hendricks 16. Q1 was theirs, 27-29, but the other 3 periods went 103-80 against them. Clayton Jr.'s -35 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 vs DEN 125-118 — MEM notes
MEM won 125-118. MEM shot 43% (42 of 98) to DEN's 49%, 16 of 49 from three, and went to the line 32 times to DEN's 22 — 25 points from the stripe to their 17. MEM turned it over 10 times to DEN's 19. Jerome led with 21 (8 of 15, 5 of 8 from three); Prosper added 19, Jackson 16. The hinge was Q3, 39-31: from level to 8 ahead. Wells was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/20 vs BOS 112-117 — MEM notes
MEM lost 112-117. MEM shot 47% (42 of 90) to BOS's 45%, 14 of 43 from three, and got to the line 17 times to BOS's 30. The glass went 35-57 against them. Burton led with 23 (7 of 13, 5 of 9 from three); Jerome added 16, Prosper 14. Q3 was theirs, 34-29, turning a 1-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 88-78 against them. Clayton Jr.'s -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ball at 22 and Knueppel at 20 a game. Without Salaün (8 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jerome at 19 and Small at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Without Rupert (2 straight), Mashack (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-14 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 123. Call it Charlotte 121, Memphis 110, Charlotte by 11.
3/23 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jerome at 19 and Small at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Rupert (3 straight), Coward (2 straight), Mashack (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-13 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 112 a night to Memphis's 123. Call it Atlanta 121, Memphis 113.
3/25 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 127, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Jerome at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Coward (3 straight), Mashack (4 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Fox at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-13 a night and Memphis minus-11 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 110 a night to Memphis's 127. Call it San Antonio 121, Memphis 113.
3/27 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Jerome at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Without Mashack (5 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-14 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Memphis's 126. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/12 @ OKC 102-104 — BOS notes
BOS lost 102-104. BOS shot 40% (35 of 87) to OKC's 48%, 13 of 42 from three. Brown led with 34 (10 of 25, 1 of 4 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Pritchard added 14, Scheierman 11. Q2 was theirs, 31-29, but the other 3 periods went 75-71 against them. They led by as many as 12. Queta's -11 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 vs WAS 111-100 — BOS notes
BOS won 111-100. BOS shot 44% (41 of 93) to WAS's 44%, 12 of 46 from three. The glass went 55-38 for them. Queta led with 24 (11 of 13); Tatum added 20, Brown 16. The hinge was Q2, 35-14: a lead of 2 became 23, and the lead reached 30. White was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
3/16 vs PHX 120-112 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-112. BOS shot 49% (39 of 80) to PHX's 45%, 17 of 40 from three. Brown led with 41 (10 of 20, 2 of 5 from three, 19 of 21 at the line); Tatum added 21, White 21. The hinge was Q2, 34-29: BOS came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 4. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/18 vs GSW 120-99 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-99. BOS shot 48% (44 of 92) to GSW's 40%, 14 of 39 from three. The glass went 49-39 for them. Brown led with 32 (11 of 20, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Tatum added 24, Pritchard 19. The hinge was Q1, 36-23: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/20 @ MEM 117-112 — BOS notes
BOS won 117-112. BOS shot 45% (40 of 89) to MEM's 47%, 11 of 42 from three, and went to the line 30 times to MEM's 17 — 26 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 57-35 for them. Brown led with 30 (10 of 23, 2 of 5 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Garza added 22, Pritchard 19. The hinge was Q4, 33-24: BOS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 5.
3/22 vs MIN — 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 114 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and Tatum at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Vučević (7 straight), Walsh (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Randle at 23 and Dosunmu at 18 a game. Without Edwards (3 straight), Reid (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Minnesota plus-2 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to Boston's 32. Call it Boston 115, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/25 vs OKC — 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 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Vučević (8 straight), Walsh (5 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Sandfort (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 38 percent from three to Boston's 32. Call it OKC 112, Boston 110, Boston keeping it close.
3/27 vs ATL — 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 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brown at 33 and Tatum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Vučević (9 straight), Walsh (6 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 21 and McCollum at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 117 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Atlanta plus-3. Call it Boston 116, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/29 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ball at 22 and Miller at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 16 a night. Without Salaün (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Pritchard at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Vučević (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 41 percent from three to Boston's 35 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-16 a night and Boston plus-11. Call it Charlotte 113, Boston 110, Boston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSBS B. Scheierman
DW D. White
GO Gonzalez
HG H. González
JB J. Brown
JT J. Tatum
LG L. Garza
NQ N. Queta
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
MEMCS C. Spencer
DJ D. Jarreau
JS J. Small
JW J. Wells
OP O. Prosper
TB T. Burton
TH T. Hendricks
TJ T. Jerome
WC W. Clayton Jr.
BOS/MEM 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
Jaylen Brown has 30 points as Celtics rally to defeat Grizzlies 117-112
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Luka Garza added a season-high 22 points and the Boston Celtics used a fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-112 on Friday night.
Payton Pritchard added 19 points for the Celtics, who have won four straight. The win kept Boston in second place in the East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Knicks who held on for a 93-92 victory over Brooklyn earlier Friday night.
Tyler Burton , who signed a 10-day contract with Memphis on March 12, led the Grizzlies with 23 points, a career-high. Ty Jerome added 16 points and seven assists. Javon Small and DeJon Jarreau finished with 13 points each.
Memphis was able to stay close through three quarters as Boston struggled shooting, converting only 40% of its shots entering the fourth. Turnovers also plagued the Celtics.
Memphis held a 103-102 lead with 5:33 left, but Boston went on a 10-point rally to end the Grizzlies hopes.
The Grizzlies, who snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 125-118 victory over Denver on Wednesday night, are limping their way through the season's final weeks. Memphis was again short-handed with nine players on the injury list, including several players already undergoing season-ending surgeries.
In contrast, the main absent Celtic was Nikola Vucevic who missed his seventh straight game with a fractured right ring finger.
Both teams struggled from outside the arc through much of the first half, which kept the score low and the Grizzlies close. Until the 4-minute mark of the second quarter, both teams had converted only a trio of 3-pointers each. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum missed his first eight shots.
Brown's 16 points helped Boston carry a 55-54 lead into the half.