Memphis Rolls Portland 124-103 Behind a Loaded Bench Attack

Memphis walked out of Portland with a 124-103 win, and the story of the night was how many different Grizzlies made Portland pay. Deni Avdija put up 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in a losing effort — a performance that deserved a better fate.

The first quarter was a genuine fight. Memphis jumped out 4-0 on back-to-back Zach Edey dunks — the second a tip-in — before Portland flipped the script. Ja Morant buried a 24-foot step-back three, Deni Avdija fed Donovan Clingan for a long three, and suddenly Portland led 10-4. Memphis answered with perimeter shooting of their own, Isaiah Stewart draining a 25-footer to put the Grizzlies back in front at 15-13. The quarter stayed a knife fight all the way to the buzzer — Cedric Coward's tip shot and running layup kept Memphis within striking distance, Cameron Boozer assisted a Quinten Post three to give Memphis a 25-24 lead, and Avdija's free throw with 28.5 seconds left sent it to the second quarter knotted at 25.

Then came the moment that cracked this game open. GG Jackson hit a 26-foot three off a Jerami Grant assist at the 10:58 mark of the second quarter, and Portland's home win probability swung from 70% to 56% — a 14-point swing on a single shot. That bucket made it 31-25 Memphis, and while Portland clawed back — Avdija orchestrating a 7-0 run with assists to Clingan, Damian Lillard, and Sidy Cissoko to take a 32-31 lead — Memphis never truly let go. The Grizzlies kept answering every Portland push, and by the time the final score read 124-103, it was clear this wasn't a fluke.

What makes this Memphis performance worth noting is the distribution of damage. Cameron Boozer finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists — a triple-double that looks like exactly the kind of playmaking the rookie hype has been built around. Isaiah Stewart added 18 points. Cedric Coward chipped in 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Zach Edey contributed 13 points and 7 rebounds. Four players in double figures, none of them named Ja Morant — who was in a Portland uniform posting 14 points and 3 assists on the other side. Portland's Avdija was brilliant and it didn't matter. That's the kind of collective depth that appears to make Memphis a genuine problem early in this season.