Grizzlies 123, Jazz 103: Memphis Dominates Second Half for Home Win

The Memphis Grizzlies pulled away from the Utah Jazz in the second half on October 22, 2026, earning a 123-103 National Basketball Association victory at FedExForum. Memphis combined Ja Morant’s playmaking, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s scoring, and Zach Edey’s interior presence to overwhelm Utah after halftime.

The Grizzlies led by six at the break, then controlled the third and fourth quarters with superior pace, paint scoring, and defensive activity.

Game overview

Memphis led 31-27 after the first quarter and 60-54 at halftime. Utah stayed close behind Lauri Markkanen’s shooting and Keyonte George’s shot creation, but the Grizzlies widened the gap in the third quarter. Memphis entered the fourth with a 92-80 lead and quickly put the game out of reach.

The final margin of 20 points reflected Memphis’s dominance in the paint and in transition. The Grizzlies outscored Utah 60-42 inside and held a 22-9 edge in fast-break points.

Key moments

Utah cut the lead to 88-84 early in the fourth quarter after a Markkanen three and a Walker Kessler putback. Memphis responded with a 14-2 run over the next three minutes. Morant scored or assisted on three straight baskets, Jackson hit a corner three, and Edey controlled the offensive glass. The Jazz never threatened again.

Tactical story

Memphis leaned on high pick-and-roll actions with Morant and Edey, forcing Utah’s defense to choose between containing the ball handler and protecting the roller. Morant repeatedly won that battle, either finishing at the rim or finding Edey for easy looks. Jackson added spacing as a pick-and-pop threat and protected the rim on defense.

Utah shot well from three-point range for stretches but could not keep Memphis off the offensive glass or stop the Grizzlies in transition. Memphis forced 17 turnovers and converted those mistakes into 24 points.

Standout performers

• Ja Morant (MEM): 27 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds, controlling the game in the second half.
• Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM): 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
• Zach Edey (MEM): 14 points and 13 rebounds, dominating the interior.
• Desmond Bane (MEM): 19 points and 5 assists, providing secondary scoring.
• Lauri Markkanen (UTA): 25 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.

What the result means

For Memphis, the home win is an encouraging early-season result that shows the Grizzlies can impose their style on both ends. The combination of Morant’s speed, Jackson’s versatility, and Edey’s size gives Memphis a difficult interior matchup for opponents. For Utah, the loss highlights the need for stronger defensive rebounding and better ball security against pressure teams.

The result adds an early home win to Memphis’s standings profile and gives the Grizzlies a head-to-head advantage in the season series.