Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was asked following a recent string of lackluster performances if the team’s offensive approach under new coach Tuomas Iisalo was to blame.
Jackson quickly brushed the question aside and simply said it was a matter of his shots not falling.
He’s been proven correct in recent games, and he’ll look to keep his resurgence going as Memphis plays host to the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
Since having to answer queries regarding his offensive output, Jackson appears as if he’s returned to the form that has made him a two-time NBA All-Star.
In back-to-back road wins against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jackson has been dominant. He scored 31 points with five blocks against the Clippers and followed with a 28-point, 12-rebound, three-block effort against the Timberwolves.
“Jaren’s been in his spots for a while now, and that’s why we’re like, it’s just a matter of time before he gets going, and he got it going against the Clippers,” Iisalo said. “He’s now playing with a lot of confidence.”
Jackson had previously gone five straight games scoring 15 or fewer points.
“I think our spacing around him and also getting him into those actions has been better, the spacing has been better and we’ve been getting more dynamically into those actions,” Iisalo added.
While injuries continue to plague the Grizzlies — from big man Zach Edey to a collection of the team’s backup point guards — they did welcome one veteran back. Forward Brandon Clarke made his season debut for the Grizzlies at Minnesota. He suffered a high-grade PCL sprain in March that ended his 2024-25 season. He then underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee in September that kept him out of the lineup until Wednesday’s game. He scored six points in nearly 17 minutes.
Memphis was also without torrid-shooting point guard Cam Spencer, who missed the Minnesota game because of a personal matter. Spencer has been a key during the team’s recent streak. The Grizzlies have won seven of their past nine games and Spencer has been particularly effective from long range.
Star guard Ja Morant sat out the Minnesota game with a left ankle injury and he will not play against the Wizards.
As for the struggling Wizards — they’ve lost five of their past six and are 4-21 overall — injuries also have come into play.
Washington received good news earlier this week when Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly returned from injuries. Sarr had missed six games with a right adductor strain before stepping back on the court Thursday against San Antonio. He had 18 points in 24 minutes.
Coulibaly had been absent for the previous four games with an oblique injury. He didn’t have as productive a game against the Spurs (1-for-7 shooting), but Wizards coach Brian Keefe was happy to see both back.
“I thought they brought some good energy,” Keefe said. “Obviously, you saw their defensive presence just having them out there with their size and their length.
“Offensively, they do positive stuff for us. You see Alex, how he can roll to the rim. His spacing, his passing, it allows us to attack the rim. It’s just nice to have those guys back in the lineup because that’s a lot of versatility out there.”
Washington has dropped seven straight games to the Grizzlies in Memphis.
