Grizzlies Stage Second-Half Comeback to Top Jazz 123-114
MEMPHIS, TN — The Memphis Grizzlies found themselves in a familiar kind of hole on Friday night at FedExForum, trailing the Utah Jazz by double digits at halftime. But a sharp second-half adjustment — powered by standout performances from Olivier-Maxence Prosper, GG Jackson, and a 10-assist night from Cam Spencer — fueled a 68-47 run over the final two quarters to seal a 123-114 victory in front of 16,112 fans. Memphis moved to 21-33 on the season, while Utah dropped to its own losing position after a game it controlled for much of the first half.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Jazz Set the Early Tone — UTAH 32, MEM 28
Utah came out with energy and purpose in the opening period, building an early lead and closing the first quarter ahead 32-28. The Jazz moved the ball crisply and attacked the paint with purpose, while Memphis struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm. The four-point deficit wasn’t alarming, but the Grizzlies’ defensive breakdowns were a cause for concern heading into the second frame.
Second Quarter: Jazz Extend the Lead — UTAH 35, MEM 27
The second quarter was more of the same — and arguably worse for Memphis. Utah outscored the Grizzlies 35-27 in the period to push its halftime advantage to 67-55, a 12-point cushion. The Jazz were executing at a high level offensively, and Memphis could not string together consecutive stops. At the break, the situation looked challenging for the home side.
Third Quarter: Memphis Shifts the Momentum — MEM 32, UTAH 21
The halftime adjustments paid immediate dividends for Memphis. The Grizzlies came out of the locker room with noticeably sharper defensive intensity and began to attack Utah’s defense with more aggression. Memphis outscored the Jazz 32-21 in the third quarter to trim what had been a double-digit deficit down to just two points heading into the fourth. The swing in the quarter — 11 points in Memphis’s favor — was the turning point of the game.
Fourth Quarter: Grizzlies Close It Out — MEM 36, UTAH 26
Memphis carried its third-quarter momentum all the way through the final 12 minutes. The Grizzlies posted their best offensive quarter of the night with 36 points while holding Utah to just 26, completing the second-half comeback and pulling away for the final margin of 123-114. The home crowd at FedExForum got progressively louder as Memphis turned a deficit into a convincing finish.
Key Performers
Olivier-Maxence Prosper — Memphis Grizzlies | Game-High Rating Leader
Prosper was the standout performer of the night, finishing with a game-high 23 points that earned him the top ESPN rating among all players in this contest. The young forward was productive on both ends of the floor and was at his best when Memphis needed it most — in the second half. His ability to create offense and stay engaged defensively made him the engine of the Grizzlies’ comeback.
GG Jackson — Memphis Grizzlies
Jackson delivered a strong complementary performance with 20 points, giving Memphis a reliable second scoring option alongside Prosper. His offensive contributions in the second half helped sustain the Grizzlies’ rally and kept Utah’s defense from loading up on any single player.
Cam Spencer — Memphis Grizzlies
Spencer may not have led the team in scoring, but his 10 assists were a critical piece of the Memphis offensive puzzle. That playmaking total helped the Grizzlies finish with 29 team assists on 45 made field goals — a sign of ball movement and collective effort rather than individual isolation. Spencer’s court vision was a quiet but important factor in the second-half surge.
Lawson Lovering — Memphis Grizzlies
Center Lawson Lovering contributed a team-high 11 rebounds, anchoring the Grizzlies on the glass. Memphis finished the game with 45 total rebounds, and Lovering’s interior presence was essential in limiting second-chance opportunities for Utah down the stretch.
Utah’s Leading Scorer: 24 Points
Utah’s top scorer put up 24 points to lead the Jazz — the highest individual scoring total in the game — but it wasn’t enough to overcome Memphis’s second-half defensive and offensive turnaround. The Jazz as a team shot competently, but their inability to generate offense in the third quarter proved to be the difference.
Game Analysis
This game broke down into two distinct halves with very different stories. Utah played its best basketball in the first two quarters, combining efficient offense with good defensive execution to build a 12-point lead. The Jazz outscored Memphis 67-55 in the opening half, suggesting they had a legitimate path to a road win.
The shift came at halftime. Memphis made clear adjustments — tightening defensively and improving ball movement on the offensive end. The Grizzlies shot 48.9% from the field for the game and went 12-of-33 from three-point range (36.4%), numbers that reflect a team that found its rhythm after a slow start. The 29 assists on 45 made baskets point to an offense that was sharing the ball and creating high-quality looks, particularly in the second half.
Memphis did leave some points on the table at the free throw line, converting just 21 of 33 attempts (63.6%), which is an area the team will need to address in future contests. Still, the Grizzlies’ ability to flip the script so decisively after the break speaks to their competitive resilience, even in what has been a difficult season overall.
For Utah, the collapse in the third quarter — surrendering 32 points after scoring 35 in the second — was the decisive blow. The Jazz could not sustain the energy and execution that had fueled their first-half lead, and by the time the fourth quarter arrived, they were chasing a deficit they could not close.
Context and Standings Implications
With the win, Memphis improves to 21-33 on the season, including a 12-15 home record and 9-18 mark on the road. The Grizzlies are well outside playoff contention in the Western Conference, but performances like this — especially the young energy provided by Prosper and Jackson — offer genuine reasons for optimism about the team’s development trajectory. Both players have shown the ability to step up in meaningful moments, which is encouraging for a franchise that is investing in youth and the future. Utah, meanwhile, continues to navigate its own rebuilding process, and Friday’s second-half collapse in Memphis represents a missed opportunity to pick up a road victory. For both teams, the standings may not reflect playoff aspirations, but games like this carry developmental value that will matter in seasons ahead.
