Grizzles vs Pelicans
We picked this game to highlight as its a potential 1st round matchup and Ingram is a good test for Thybulle. Going into this game Memphis had won 9 straight and 15 of 17 with 7 of them coming after the all star break.
With the trade earlier in the year of Ball they handed the PG job over to the young Kira Lewis. It was obvious that he can't guard Ja who in 10 minutes had 10 points and 6 assist. The first quarter ended up 12. With 3 minutes to go in the 2nd Memphis switched to a big lineup playing Clarke at 3 with Jaren and Jonas at the 4/5. When the move was made they were up 9 and ended the half up 16. So the suggested lineup worked.
Thybulle was matched up on Ingram and guarded him tight. It worked as Ingram was 3 of 16 at the half. The 3rd quarter ended with Memphis up 15. Things didn't go well in the 4th and New Orleans had came back quickly. Lewis hit back to back 3's and with 3 minutes to go in the game had the lead by 1.
Then Memphis went on a 7-0 run after that Stefan hit a layup, Ja scored then Mullin hit a huge 3. Just like that with 1:35 to go Memphis was back up 6. With under 40 seconds to go and up they ran everyone's favorite play "floppy". Mullin hit the 3 and the lead was 6. Coach Jenkins stuck with the "cigar lineup' despite the late run and it ended up paying off for a narrow win.
Thybulle played amazing defense and showed why the trade was made for him. Ingram finished the game with a dreadful 5 of 24 from the field and 16 points. The young Lewis played well scoring 30 on 11 of 23 shooting. Zion scored 23 with not much else in the stat column so you will live with that.
Ja was unbelievable 36 point, 15 assist and even had 5 rebounds. Mullin wasn't far behind him after a red hot start got quiet until the two late 3's. He finished with 30 points. All 3 big guys controlled the boards and I think that's Jaren career high. Stefan went to the FT line 12 times hitting 10. The bench wings didn't shoot well.
