Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, left, drives toward the basket against Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young during the first half of Friday night’s game in Memphis.MEMPHIS – The Memphis Grizzlies’ newcomers made a fine first impression on the home crowd.
Garrett Temple, picked up in a July trade with the Sacramento Kings, scored 30 points and rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. added 24 as the Grizzlies built a first-half lead and coasted to a 131-117 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
“The energy was more like a spectacle,” Jackson said of pregame fireworks, dancers and the performance by Memphis rapper Young Dolph in the home opener. Asked later to comment on specifics, he said, “It’s a blur. I ain’t going to lie. I really can’t.”
Temple missed only one of his 11 shots, shooting 5-for-6 from 3-point range. While Jackson, the fourth overall pick in last summer’s draft, was starry-eyed and giddy with youthful exuberance, Temple, in his ninth NBA season, was more of a steady veteran.
Memphis coach J.B. Bickerstaff texted him Thursday night asking for more leadership to help the Grizzlies forget their season-opening 111-83 road loss against the Indiana Pacers.