Ty Jerome absolutely exploded for 45 points on Wednesday night, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a dominant 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz in their season opener at FedEx Forum. Everyone came in hyped for the top rookie talent on display, but Jerome said “nope, this is my show” and delivered an individual brilliance that straight up stole the game.
Jerome Just Put the League on Notice
What a night for Ty Jerome. This dude shot a ridiculous 17-of-25 from the field, leading the Grizzlies in scoring and showing why he was the key to this win. The Jazz tried, but he was unstoppable, especially in the second half. He was hitting floaters in the lane, draining threes when they gave him an inch of space, and driving hard to the rim any chance he got. Seriously, he was the only Grizzlies starter in double figures heading into the fourth quarter, which tells you everything about how much he carried them. Did anyone see this coming? Probably not with all the rookie buzz, but Jerome just put the whole league on notice.
The Young Guns Had Their Moments, But It Was a Grind
Alright, let’s talk about the rookies who were supposed to be the main event. Darryn Peterson, the Jazz’s No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft, and Cameron Boozer, the Grizzlies’ No. 3 pick, were the headliners, no doubt. Throw in Ace Bailey, Utah’s No. 5 pick from last year, and the court was swimming in young talent. But while the long-term future looks bright, their scoring starts were a bit slow. Boozer had just four points by halftime and struggled with his shot, getting swarmed by Jazz defenders. Peterson had a bit more luck with seven points at intermission. To their credit, both found other ways to impact the game early on: Peterson facilitated when defenders focused on him, and Boozer was an absolute force on the boards, snagging 11 rebounds to go with his 7 points and 5 assists. Bailey chipped in 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for the Jazz, showing flashes. But it was definitely a learning experience for the fresh faces.
Grizzlies Found Their Rhythm, Jazz Kept Chasing
Despite the rookie scoring struggles, the Grizzlies managed to build a 13-point halftime lead, largely thanks to Jerome’ taking over for extended stretches. They also got an immediate spark off the bench from Jerami Grant, who put up 15 points, and GG Jackson, who added 12 points and 8 rebounds, both hitting some crucial outside shots. On Utah’s side, Keyonte George, with 22 points, and Lauri Markkanen, with 18 points and 9 rebounds, had solid showings. George’s shooting and playmaking kept the visitors within striking distance, but honestly, remaining within striking distance of a Ty Jerome playing like that was a daunting challenge. The fourth quarter was just a formality, a chance to see how many points Jerome would finish with.
The Grizzlies are now 1-0 and looking to build on this insane performance when they hit the road Friday to face the Golden State Warriors. If Jerome keeps this up, the Western Conference is in for a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply