Instant Analysis: Grizzlies Prove They Are Top Contenders With Dominant Win Over Raptors

It was another dominant showing for the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night as they hosted the Toronto Raptors at FedExForum. After a successful NBA Christmas holiday, excitement was already in the air entering Thursday night and the Grizzlies rode it to a convincing victory.

The tone was set early on by the Grizzlies, who dropped a whopping 43 points in the first 12 minutes. They held the lead pretty much the entire game and then blew it open in the third quarter by outscoring the Raptors 43-30. By the final buzzer, the score wasn't even close and the Grizzlies had the season's highest-scoring game so far (155-126).

Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey was the player of the game with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 27 minutes. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists on 9-17 shooting. Star point guard Ja Morant finished with 15 points, 9 assists, and 2 rebounds on 5-10 shooting.

For the Raptors, RJ Barrett was the leading scorer with 27 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds on 10-18 shooting. Young star Scottie Barnes dropped 26 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds while Chris Boucher contributed 15 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.

While it may have just been a regular-season game in December, it was a chance for both teams to show where they stand in their respective conferences going into the New Year. With this win, the Grizzlies not only solidified their place in the standings, but th ey reinforced their status as top contenders in the West.

Dominant Rebounding Game

The Grizzlies have always had a lot of depth in the frontcourt during the Ja Morant era and it continues to make them a menace on the boards. Tonight, it was their efforts on the glass that led them to victory and it was reflected in the box score.

As a team, the Grizzlies grabbed a ridiculous 63 rebounds, including 24 offensive rebounds. They enjoyed an abundance of second-chance shots, which is what led to their franchise-record 155-scoring night.

Compare that to the Raptors' measly 40 rebounds, and you can see what makes the Grizzlies so dangerous. With the combination of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey in the frontcourt, the Grizzlies are always going to be dominant on the boards, and that defensive identity has been huge for their 21-10 start this season.

62 Bench Points

The Grizzlies can only go as far as Ja Morant takes them, but they have the depth to survive when he has an underwhelming night (like today, when he scored just 15 points). Overall, it was a well-balanced night for the Grizzlies and a true showcase of their wide variety of talent.

Scotty Pippen Jr. dropped 15 points, 3 assists, and 4 steals off the bench while Luke Kennard had 15 points and 8 assists on 4-9 shooting. Six bench players, including Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama, Jake LaRavia, and John Konchar, contributed to the score. 

You can't expect the Grizzlies to score 155 points every game, but if they can get this kind of consistent performance from their ben ch, it will go a long way toward helping them return to the depths of the Western Conference playoffs. At the very least, it will give them a fighting chance against any team in the league.

Zach Edey Breakout Game

The Grizzlies only have two stars at the moment: Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. But the Grizzlies are also hoping that Zach Edey (the 9th overall pick in this year's draft) can step up to become that third elite-level player they need. With season averages of 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game this season, he still has a long way to go but he showed some great signs tonight.

In 27 minutes as the starting center, Edey dropped 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 9-15 shooting. At 7'4", his height caused problems for the Raptors and he was able to bully them on the inside all night long.

In many ways, Edey was critical for the Grizzlies on b oth ends of the court and it's a great sign for what's to come. If he can step into the role as a star center for the Grizzlies, he'll be the final piece of the puzzle for their ultimate success. Of course, it will take time before his game truly comes together.

At 21-10, the Grizzlies are 3rd in the West behind the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. After last season's drama with Ja Morant, they are finally ready to re-take their place at the top of the West and now they have the pieces they need to go all the way.

After tonight's historic rout, the Grizzlies play the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow at Smoothie King Center in the second half of a back-to-back at 8:00 PM EST. On December 29th, they play the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center at 7:00 PM EST before a trip to Phoenix to face the Suns at Footprint Center at 9:00 PM EST.