2020–21 Memphis Grizzlies season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2020–21 Memphis Grizzlies season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 20th in Memphis . The Grizzlies qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 2016–17 season following a victory over the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. However, they lost to the Utah Jazz in five games.
Draft
Guard Desmond Bane was acquired from the Boston Celtics for two future second-round picks, after they had selected him at #30 overall.[1] He would make the All-Rookie Second Team , having averaged 9.2 points per game on 43.2% shooting from three, the latter of which led all rookies.[2]
They would also trade the rights to Robert Woodard II to Sacramento for #35 overall pick Xavier Tillman , who had played with Jaren Jackson Jr. at Michigan State .[3]
Roster
2020–21 Memphis Grizzlies roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
3
Allen, Grayson
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
198 lb (90 kg)
1995-10-08
Duke
G/F
1
Anderson, Kyle
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1993-09-20
UCLA
G
22
Bane, Desmond
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1998-06-25
TCU
G/F
24
Brooks, Dillon
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1996-01-22
Oregon
F
15
Clarke, Brandon
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1996-09-19
Gonzaga
G
10
Frazier, Tim
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
1990-11-01
Penn State
F/C
13
Jackson, Jaren
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
242 lb (110 kg)
1999-09-15
Michigan State
G
21
Jones, Tyus
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
196 lb (89 kg)
1996-05-10
Duke
G
46
Konchar, John
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1996-03-22
Purdue Fort Wayne
F
30
McDermott, Sean (TW)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1996-11-03
Butler
G
0
Melton, De'Anthony
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1998-05-28
USC
G
12
Morant, Ja
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
174 lb (79 kg)
1999-08-10
Murray State
F/C
4
Porter, Jontay
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1999-11-15
Missouri
F/C
35
Tillie, Killian (TW)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1998-03-05
Gonzaga
F
2
Tillman, Xavier
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1999-01-12
Michigan State
C
17
Valančiūnas, Jonas
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1992-05-06
Lithuania
G/F
7
Winslow, Justise
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
222 lb (101 kg)
1996-03-26
Duke
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(GL) On assignment to G League affiliate(TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured
Roster Last transaction: April 24, 2021
Standings
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
pb – Clinched play-in spot
o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* – Division leader
Game log
Preseason
2020 preseason game log Total: 3-1; home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
2020–21 season schedule
Regular season
2020–21 game log Total: 38–34; (home: 18–16; road: 19–17
December: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
January: 7–3 (home: 3–3; road: 4–0)
February: 7–9 (home: 4–5; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
15
February 1
@ San Antonio
W 133–102
Gorgui Dieng (19)
Dieng , Tillman (9)
Tyus Jones (14)
AT&T Center 0
9–6
16
February 2
@ Indiana
L 116–134
Dillon Brooks (25)
Dieng , Konchar (6)
De'Anthony Melton (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
9–7
17
February 4
Houston
L 105–113
Desmond Bane (16)
Xavier Tillman (10)
Tyus Jones (8)
FedEx Forum 0
9–8
18
February 6
@ New Orleans
L 109–118
Jonas Valančiūnas (23)
Xavier Tillman (8)
Ja Morant (9)
Smoothie King Center 1,440
9–9
19
February 8
Toronto
L 113–128
Jonas Valančiūnas (27)
Jonas Valančiūnas (20)
Ja Morant (9)
FedEx Forum 1,844
9–10
20
February 10
Charlotte
W 130–114
Kyle Anderson (27)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (11)
FedEx Forum 1,830
10–10
21
February 12
@ L. A. Lakers
L 105–115
Grayson Allen (23)
Jonas Valančiūnas (8)
Ja Morant (10)
Staples Center 0
10–11
22
February 14
@ Sacramento
W 124–110
Jonas Valančiūnas (25)
Jonas Valančiūnas (13)
Ja Morant (10)
Golden 1 Center 0
11–11
23
February 16
New Orleans
L 113–144
Ja Morant (28)
Ja Morant (7)
Ja Morant (8)
FedEx Forum 1,982
11–12
24
February 17
Oklahoma City
W 122–113
Allen , Valančiūnas (22)
Jonas Valančiūnas (12)
Ja Morant (12)
FedEx Forum 0
12–12
25
February 19
Detroit
W 109–95
Ja Morant (29)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Grayson Allen (6)
FedEx Forum 1,795
13–12
26
February 20
Phoenix
L 97–128
Gorgui Dieng (15)
Jonas Valančiūnas (12)
Ja Morant (5)
FedEx Forum 1,994
13–13
27
February 22
@ Dallas
L 91–102
Ja Morant (22)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (9)
American Airlines Center 2,099
13–14
28
February 25
L. A. Clippers
W 122–94
Tyus Jones (20)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (7)
FedEx Forum 1,896
14–14
29
February 26
L. A. Clippers
L 99–119
Jonas Valančiūnas (22)
Jonas Valančiūnas (11)
Ja Morant (5)
FedEx Forum 2,039
14–15
30
February 28
@ Houston
W 133–84
Justise Winslow (20)
Brandon Clarke (12)
Ja Morant (7)
Toyota Center 3,284
15–15
March: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
31
March 2
@ Washington
W 125–111
Ja Morant (35)
Jonas Valančiūnas (16)
Ja Morant (10)
Capital One Arena 0
16–15
32
March 4
Milwaukee
L 111–112
Ja Morant (35)
Jonas Valančiūnas (12)
Dillon Brooks (7)
FedEx Forum 1,961
16–16
33
March 10
Washington
W 127–112
Jonas Valančiūnas (29)
Jonas Valančiūnas (20)
Ja Morant (10)
FedEx Forum 1,912
17–16
34
March 12
Denver
L 102–103
Brooks , Clarke (20)
Jonas Valančiūnas (11)
Ja Morant (9)
FedEx Forum 2,160
17–17
35
March 14
@ Oklahoma City
L 122–128
Ja Morant (22)
Jonas Valančiūnas (14)
Ja Morant (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
17–18
36
March 15
@ Phoenix
L 99–122
Jonas Valančiūnas (24)
Jonas Valančiūnas (17)
Ja Morant (4)
Phoenix Suns Arena 3,188
17–19
37
March 17
Miami
W 89–85
Anderson , Melton , Morant (13)
Jonas Valančiūnas (12)
Melton , Morant (6)
FedEx Forum 2,217
18–19
38
March 19
Golden State
L 103–116
Allen , Morant (14)
Jonas Valančiūnas (16)
Tyus Jones (7)
FedEx Forum 2,716
18–20
39
March 20
Golden State
W 111–103
Brooks , Valančiūnas (19)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (8)
FedEx Forum 0
19–20
40
March 22
Boston
W 132–126 (OT)
Ja Morant (29)
Jonas Valančiūnas (19)
Ja Morant (9)
FedExForum 2,319
20–20
41
March 24
@ Oklahoma City
W 116–107
Dillon Brooks (25)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
21–20
42
March 26
@ Utah
L 114–117
Ja Morant (32)
Jonas Valančiūnas (18)
Ja Morant (11)
Vivint Arena 5,546
21–21
43
March 27
@ Utah
L 110–126
Kyle Anderson (16)
Jonas Valančiūnas (11)
Anderson , Morant (4)
Vivint Arena 5,546
21–22
44
March 29
@ Houston
W 120–110
Jonas Valančiūnas (30)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (8)
Toyota Center 3,319
22–22
45
March 31
Utah
L 107–111
Ja Morant (36)
Jonas Valančiūnas (14)
Ja Morant (7)
FedEx Forum 2,314
22–23
April: 10–7 (home: 3–2; road: 7–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
46
April 2
Minnesota
W 120–108
Jonas Valančiūnas (19)
Jonas Valančiūnas (11)
Anderson , Morant (7)
FedEx Forum 2,987
23–23
47
April 4
@ Philadelphia
W 116–100
Dillon Brooks (17)
Jonas Valančiūnas (12)
Ja Morant (10)
Wells Fargo Center 4,094
24–23
48
April 6
@ Miami
W 124–112
Dillon Brooks (28)
Jonas Valančiūnas (10)
Anderson , Konchar (6)
American Airlines Arena Limited seating
25–23
49
April 7
@ Atlanta
W 131–113
Grayson Allen (30)
Jonas Valančiūnas (11)
Ja Morant (7)
State Farm Arena 2,774
26–23
50
April 9
@ New York
L 129–133 (OT)
Dillon Brooks (23)
Jonas Valančiūnas (14)
Ja Morant (6)
Madison Square Garden 1,912
26–24
51
April 11
Indiana
L 125–132
Jonas Valančiūnas (34)
Jonas Valančiūnas (22)
Ja Morant (6)
FedEx Forum 2,341
26–25
52
April 12
Chicago
W 101–90
Jonas Valančiūnas (26)
Jonas Valančiūnas (14)
Ja Morant (10)
FedEx Forum 2,194
27–25
53
April 14
Dallas
L 113–114
Grayson Allen (23)
Jonas Valančiūnas (16)
Bane , Jones , Morant (5)
FedEx Forum 2,141
27–26
54
April 16
@ Chicago
W 126–115
Dillon Brooks (32)
Kyle Anderson (11)
Anderson , Jones (7)
United Center 0
28–26
55
April 17
@ Milwaukee
W 128–115
Grayson Allen (26)
Anderson , Valančiūnas (8)
Kyle Anderson (8)
Fiserv Forum 3,280
29–26
56
April 19
@ Denver
L 137–139 (2OT)
Ja Morant (36)
Xavier Tillman (14)
Ja Morant (12)
Ball Arena 4,005
29–27
57
April 21
@ L. A. Clippers
L 105–117
Ja Morant (22)
Xavier Tillman (12)
Ja Morant (4)
Staples Center 1,782
29–28
58
April 23
@ Portland
W 130–128
Ja Morant (33)
Kyle Anderson (8)
Ja Morant (13)
Moda Center 0
30–28
59
April 25
@ Portland
W 120–113
Ja Morant (28)
Jonas Valančiūnas (10)
Desmond Bane (4)
Moda Center 0
31–28
60
April 26
@ Denver
L 96–120
Ja Morant (27)
Anderson , Jackson Jr. (7)
Ja Morant (6)
Ball Arena 3,823
31–29
61
April 28
Portland
L 109–130
Jonas Valančiūnas (19)
Brandon Clarke (10)
Ja Morant (8)
FedEx Forum 3,427
31–30
62
April 30
Orlando
W 92–75
Dillon Brooks (20)
Jonas Valančiūnas (15)
Ja Morant (6)
FedEx Forum 2,850
32–30
May
: 6–4 (home: 4–1; road: 2–3)
2020–21 season schedule
Play-in
2021 play-in game log Total: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Play-in: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
Playoffs
2021 playoff game log Total: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
First round: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
2021 playoff schedule
Transactions
Trades
Free agency
Additions
Subtractions
Awards and records
Notes
^ Formerly Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast until March 31, 2021.
References
^ "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Desmond Bane and Mario Hezonja in three-team trade with Celtics and Trail Blazers" . www.nba.com . Retrieved May 7, 2023 .
^ Martin, Gus. " 'It's surreal': Desmond Bane makes NBA All-Rookie second team" . Palladium-Item . Retrieved May 7, 2023 .
^ "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Xavier Tillman Sr. from Kings" . www.nba.com . Retrieved May 7, 2023 .
^ "Grizzlies-Timberwolves game postponed for Health and Safety Protocols" . NBA.com . January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021 .
^ "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Xavier Tillman Sr. from Kings" . NBA.com . November 19, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Desmond Bane and Mario Hezonja in three-team trade with Celtics and Trail Blazers" . NBA.com . November 20, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Grizzlies sign Jahlil Tripp" . NBA.com . November 28, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ a b "Grizzlies sign Killian Tillie and Sean McDermott to two-way contracts" . NBA.com . November 24, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ a b "Memphis Grizzlies sign Ahmad Caver" . NBA.com . December 11, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ a b c d "Memphis Grizzlies sign Zhaire Smith and Bennie Boatwright" . NBA.com . December 15, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ a b "Memphis Grizzlies sign Christian Vital" . NBA.com . December 16, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ a b "Memphis Grizzlies sign Shaq Buchanan" . NBA.com . December 16, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Memphis Grizzlies sign Tim Frazier" . NBA.com . January 4, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Memphis Grizzlies sign Tim Frazier to 10-day contract" . NBA.com . April 14, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Memphis Grizzlies sign Tim Frazier for remainder of 2020-21 season" . NBA.com . April 24, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ a b c "Memphis Grizzlies finalize 2020-21 regular season roster" . NBA.com . December 19, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Memphis Grizzlies waive Gorgui Dieng" . NBA.com . March 26, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021 .
^ "Desmond Bane selected to NBA All-Rookie Second Team" . NBA.com . June 17, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021 .
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers Culture and lore