The Toronto Raptors will be out to avenge a humiliating defeat when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
The Grizzlies set a franchise record for points when they defeated the Raptors 155-126 at Memphis on Dec. 26.
The Raptors are a better team these days as they are closer to full strength and, despite losing 121-115 Tuesday night to the visiting New York Knicks, have won eight of their past 11 games.
The Raptors made a good run at the Knicks. After falling behind by 23 points, they closed to one point with 3:17 to play.
“I’m really proud of how we kept our composure during the whole game,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said.
It was a good night for some of the young Raptors players, particularly reserve Jamal Shead, who had 16 points and nine assists in just over 23 minutes. They were given some significant minutes in the fourth quarter.
“I think that’s a testament to us,” Shead said. “We didn’t shy away from it. I think we accepted the challenge and we looked forward to it. I think it was really fun and we made it fun. We’re young, but that’s how you learn.”
Toronto’s starting center, Jakob Poeltl (hip pointer), was limited to five points in 15 minutes and did not play in the second half. Rajakovic said the injury has been bothering Poeltl for a few games, and he took a hit to the hip during the first half.
Memphis defeated the San Antonio Spurs 128-109 on Monday and have won nine of their past 10 games. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 points, reserve GG Jackson had 27, and Ja Morant added 25.
GG Jackson missed the first 42 games this season following offseason surgery on his foot.
“Really my first injury ever that took me away from the sport, so definitely a lot of mental lapses, a lot of mental battles,” he said.
Injuries to Brandon Clarke (back) and Desmond Bane (ankle) kept them from playing on Monday, and that was a factor in Jackson’s opportunity.
“I feel a little bit better from last year,” Jackson said.
Memphis rookie Zach Edey, a Toronto native, will draw much of the attention on Wednesday. He had 16 points and 14 rebounds against San Antonio. He had 21 points and 16 rebounds against the Raptors in the first meeting between the teams.
Edey, a Purdue product, was drafted ninth overall last June by Memphis.
Canadian players on the Raptors — including Chris Boucher, RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk — have seen him develop.
“To see his development, from seeing him in high school to college, and then just how much he’s grown, it’s amazing to see him,” Olynyk told the Toronto Sun. “It just shows his work ethic, his diligence and his desire to be good. He wants to get better, he’s always asking questions, always putting in extra work, and you don’t see that often from young guys these days.
“You see it, but it’s not a guarantee. And the way he was dominating college basketball, he didn’t really have to do more and do this or that and he dominated for two, three years, but he knew he was going to have to do more and get better to make on this level and have an impact on this level, and he’s continued to do that and that’s a testament to him.”
Barrett (concussion protocol) and Boucher (illness) did not play on Tuesday.
