Latest news with #Bane
CBC
17-05-2025
- CBC
Regina woman says police shot dog, then she was arrested for the 'theft of my own pets'
Social Sharing Amid a family dispute over the ownership of two dogs, a Regina woman says she's devastated after police shot one of the animals in front of her house. Jennifer Godfrey said one of the officers who came to her home on the morning of May 14 "allowed her dog Bane to escape," then another officer shot the dog in the chest. "My dog was already subdued and he shot him again," Godfrey said. According to a Regina Police Service (RPS) news release, officers were dispatched to a home in the 1500 block of Athol Street after a report of theft. Police say they were told two dogs had been taken without permission and they were believed to be at that address. Godfrey said the call came from her mother, who Godfrey had spent six months trying to retrieve her two dogs from. Godfrey said the dogs are hers. CBC News has tried to contact Godfrey's mother, but she has not responded. Godfrey said that when police arrived at her house, she tried to show them proof of ownership, including registration, veterinary records and photos. She claims officers refused to look at any of it. "They knocked on my door threatening a warrant," Godfrey said. "[They said] they were going to take me to jail." The news release from Regina police says a dog then "ran out the front door and toward one of the officers." Godfrey said an officer was propping the door open while speaking to her, which caused her two dogs to escape. That's when another officer fired a shot at Bane, and then another approximately 15 seconds later, she said. "I felt powerless," Godfrey said. Godfrey said officers arrested her shortly after and charged her with theft. "They arrested me for the theft of my own dogs." The Regina Police Service confirmed to CBC News that the dog was given first aid and transported to a veterinary clinic, and that its injuries were non-life-threatening. Godfrey said police told her Thursday night that Bane's leg was amputated. WATCH | Regina woman says police officer shot dog twice: Regina woman says police officer shot dog twice 11 hours ago Duration 2:05 Animal control not on scene The Regina Humane Society (RHS) confirmed that animal control officers were not called to the scene. Bill Thorn, director of marketing and public relations for the RHS, said animal control often works with police, but only by request. "The Regina Humane Society acts under contract with the City of Regina to enforce animal bylaws as they pertain to companion animals," Thorn said. "If the Regina Police Service or Fire and Protective Services encounters an animal, they will contact us to assist." Thorn said animal control officers are trained to de-escalate situations involving aggressive animals. They also have tools, like catch poles, to help capture an animal safely. "Often they will contact us because they don't have the proper equipment to manage and control an animal or transport it," he said. "But again, we don't respond unless we're requested." He said that in many cases where the RHS is called, incidents end without injury. But even without the presence of animal control, Thorn says he understands officers can be put in tough situations where split-second decisions have to be made. "Nobody wants to see an animal harmed, nor does anyone want to see people harmed." Godfrey said there was no reason for the officer to fire a gun at Bane, because he did not pose a real threat. "He's a good boy," she said. "He's not aggressive at all." Investigation ongoing RPS says the incident remains under investigation. Because a gun was fired, the case will be reviewed by the RPS Use of Force Review Board and also reported to the Saskatchewan Police Commission. Godfrey said she is grateful for the community support she's received. Her daughter, Annika, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Bane's medical care.
NBC Sports
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Memphis Grizzlies 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Two ROY candidates offer hope for the future
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. Today, we're doing a deep dive on a team that overachieved to start the season and finished on a sour note to close it out. Memphis Grizzlies 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 48-34 (8th, West) Offensive Rating: 117.2 (6th) Defensive Rating: 112.6 (11th) Net Rating: 4.7 (6th) Pace: 103.69 (1st) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: 48th pick, 56th pick After limping to a 27-55 finish in 2023-24 due to numerous injuries across the board, the Grizzlies roared back with a mostly healthy roster and hung around behind OKC as the second seed in the West for quite a while. Eventually Memphis was overtaken in the standings and fell into the Play-In tournament in a crowded and competitive Western Conference. The Grizz made it to the postseason as the No. 8 seed and ran into a buzzsaw in the 68-win Thunder who promptly swept them. Memphis fired head coach Taylor Jenkins shortly before the playoffs and hired Tuomas Iisalo as the new head coach after a brief stint as the interim coach. Heading into the 2025-26 campaign, Memphis' biggest question is how far can Ja Morant take this team? The Grizzlies have a promising young core of Desmond Bane, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaren Jackson Jr., but is Morant the superstar and leader who can take them over the top, or is his - and the team's - ceiling limited? Let's recap last season's fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26. Fantasy Standout: Desmond Bane Bane was Memphis' top-ranked fantasy option on a per-game basis, finishing 34th behind averages of 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.4 triples. The sharpshooting wing shot 48.4% from the field, 89.4% from the charity stripe and 39.2% from beyond the arc, pushing for a 50/40/90 campaign. Though Bane's points were his fewest in three seasons, his FG% was the most efficient mark of his career, and he still pushed for 20 points despite attempting only 14.8 shots. Of those shot attempts, only 6.1 were triples, marking Bane's lowest mark since his rookie season. Though his scoring and triples were down, Bane set new career highs in rebounds and steals and nearly averaged 20/5/5 thanks to his strong contributions as a rebounder and facilitator. Those skills were on full display in a game against the Hawks on March 3 in which he racked up his first triple-double - a 35/10/10 masterclass. Heading into his sixth season, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for Bane's fantasy outlook. He appeared in 69 games in 2024-25 after logging just 100 combined across the last two. He's taking steps forward as a do-it-all contributor and not just a three-point specialist, keeping him in the mid-round conversation for the foreseeable future. Fantasy Revelation: Scotty Pippen Jr. SPJ finished outside the top 150 in per-game fantasy value, but that was in large part due to his limited playing time throughout the season. Pippen Jr. averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 triples across just 21.3 minutes per game. He logged 79 appearances after playing 27 games combined across his first two campaigns, joining in as a regular part of Memphis' rotation. In 23 regular season starts, SPJ averaged 13.9 points, 4.4 boards, 5.5 dimes, 1.6 steals and 1.7 triples, showing off his versatility and productivity when given extra opportunities. Pippen Jr. started each of Memphis' four playoff games, and he came through with two stellar performances to cap off the season. Ja Morant suffered a hip contusion in Game 3 and sat out Game 4, opening the door to SPJ for a pair of monster performances. Pippen Jr. went for 28/5/5 in Game 3, matching his career high in the scoring department, before dropping a 30/11/4 line in Game 4 to set a new career best in scoring while recording his first playoff double-double. SPJ recorded his first career triple-double on November 8 when he posted an 11/10/11 line against the Wizards. Heading into Year 4, the future is bright for Pippen Jr., particularly if he can earn some additional playing time. He can stuff the stat sheet with the best of them. Fantasy Disappointment: Ja Morant Morant logged only nine games a season ago due to a combination of suspension and injury. Injuries hampered him again in 2024-25, and he was limited to just 50 games. Memphis' superstar point guard averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.8 triples and 3.7 turnovers while shooting 45.4% from the field, 82.4% from the charity stripe and 30.9% from beyond the arc. His points, rebounds and FGA marked four-year lows, and the assists were his lowest in three years and second-lowest mark of his career. Morant racked up 13 double-doubles and posted a 26/10/14 triple-double on Halloween against the Bucks. His best scoring performance came on March 14 when he tallied 44 points against the Cavs. Morant had some memorable moments, but most weren't related to his on-court play. Instead, Morant made headlines for his unorthodox in-game celebrations and 32 missed games. He finished 94th in per-game fantasy value, despite an ADP of 27.1 (per Hashtag Basketball), and Morant's season can be considered a disappointment for his low finish and his limited playing time. After multiple seasons of significant missed time due to injury and a decline in production, it's fair to wonder if Morant's best days are behind him. His ADP surely won't carry a third-round price tag in 2025-26 drafts with those concerns in mind. Jaren Jackson Jr.: JJJ was excellent yet again, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 boards, 2.0 dimes, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 triples across 74 appearances. Jackson Jr. battled availability concerns with just 126 games played across his first three seasons, but he's played in 78, 63, 66 and 74 games across his last four, respectively. Jackson Jr. has now scored at least 22 points per game in consecutive seasons, and he continues to impress with his ability to stuff the stat sheet across nearly every category. He compiled six double-doubles in 2024-25, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds on March 31 against Boston to go with 20 points. He erupted for 42 points against the Spurs on March 1, finishing with a 42/4/2/2/2 line with five triples, truly showcasing his multi-category excellence. A big who can score, block shots and hit triples is a cheat code in the world of fantasy hoops, and JJJ is surely that. With availability concerns behind him, he's an easy early-round selection in 2025-26 fantasy drafts. Santi Aldama: Aldama enjoyed a number of career highs as he averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.8 triples. He shot 48.3% from the floor, 69.1% from the charity stripe and 36.8% from beyond the arc while committing just 1.1 turnovers across 25.5 minutes. The big man logged 65 games, including 17 starts. He finished with a career-best 29 points on January 17 against San Antonio, a career-high 17 boards against Portland on November 25 and a career-best 11 dimes on March 1 against San Antonio. Aldama finished just inside the top 120 in per-game fantasy hoops value, but this was in large part due to his low turnovers, relatively-high FG% and respectable three-pointers. He wasn't overly helpful in any one category. With Zach Edey ready to take the next step and a number of other promising young players in need of minutes, Aldama is best viewed as an option in deeper fantasy leagues in 2025-26 or a late-round dart throw in standard leagues. Zach Edey: As expected, Edey finished as fantasy's top rookie behind averages of 9.2 points, 8.3 boards, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.3 swats and 1.3 turnovers. The big man out of Purdue shot 58% from the floor and 34.6% from beyond the arc (0.3 made triples per game), knocking down a respectable 70.9% of his shots from the free throw line. Edey appeared in 66 games and started 61 of them, averaging 21.5 minutes per game. On a per-minute basis, he put up big numbers, and he finished with multiple Grizzlies records. Edey grabbed 21 rebounds on April 5 against the Pistons and 19 on April 8 against the Hornets, good for the most and second-most single-game totals by a Grizzlies rookie all time. Edey's seven blocks against the Thunder in Game 4 of the first round are the most by a Memphis rookie in a playoff game. Heading into next season, Edey has a ton of room to grow, especially if he can make strides on offense. If he's allotted more playing time, he could be a 10/10 guy with two blocks a night, which would put him in the top 100 conversation. After finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting, the sky's the limit for Edey. Brandon Clarke: Clarke suffered an Achilles injury at the end of the 2022-23 season and logged just six games last season. He returned to play 64 games in 2024-25, but he was limited to just 18.9 minutes per tilt and just 20.6 minutes across 18 starts. Clarke's production was muted, as he averaged just 8.3 points and 5.1 boards. Heading into his sixth season, Clarke can be viewed as a frontcourt depth option with limited upside due to the players ahead of him on the depth chart and his recent injury history. Luke Kennard: The veteran finished outside the top 200 in per-game fantasy value with averages of 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 triples. Kennard's 47.8/89.5/43.3 shooting splits were efficient, but his counting stats weren't plentiful enough to make him fantasy relevant. The veteran sharpshooter appeared in 65 games and started 11 of them, offering floor-spacing and microwave scoring off the bench. Kennard is set to hit the open market this offseason, and the career 43.3% shooter from long range is sure to attract attention from contenders. He'll most likely be a better on-court than fantasy option for whatever team signs him. Jaylen Wells: The second-round pick out of Washington State didn't come into the NBA with much fanfare, but he certainly made a name for himself by finishing third in ROY voting. Wells wasn't an impactful fantasy option (262nd on a per-game basis), but he was an integral part of Memphis' rotation throughout the season. Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.7 triples and 0.9 turnovers. He shot 42.5% from the field, 82.2% from the charity stripe and 35.2% from beyond the arc. The rookie appeared in 79 games and started 74 of them, averaging 25.9 minutes. He missed the final three games of the regular season and all four games of the playoffs due to a fractured right wrist and concussion, but he's expected to be fully healthy to start his second season. If Wells can take a step forward in Year 2, he can become a productive fantasy option in deeper leagues. For now, he's best left undrafted in standard leagues and drafted as a late-round option in deeper formats. Restricted Free Agents: Yuki Kawamura, Cam Spencer, Santi Aldama Unrestricted Free Agents: Lamar Stevens, Marvin Bagley III, Luke Kennard Club Option: None Player Option: None
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Punter reveals 'truth' behind vicious pub row after landlords ordered patrons to swap their muddy boots for slippers
A gamekeeper has claimed a new pub landlord ordered him to 'get on your f****** hands and knees' and clean his carpet after he walked in with muddy boots. Tom Bane claimed the 'unprofessional' behaviour happened when he turned up at the Jolly Farmers in a rural area where people who work the land often head straight for a drink after a day's labour. Landlord Colin Swindlehurst and his partner Tracy Jones only ran the pub in Ormesby, Norfolk, for two weeks before they were kicked out by the premises' owners as relations with locals plummeted following the dispute with Mr Bane. Villagers say they were also told to swap wellies for slippers, were sworn at and felt threatened by claims a shotgun was kept on site. Mr Swindlehurst insisted locals had been put off by his and Ms Jones' 'northern forwardness', as reported last week by MailOnline. But Mr Bane said: 'The first time I went in, their exact words to me 'You can get on your f****** hands and knees and scrub my carpets you blooded booted c****'. 'They were the most impolite and unprofessional people I think I've ever met in my life.' He was with Harry Daisley at the time, who ran the pub for nine months until December last year. Mr Daisley said: 'They were very, very rude. Tracy just fired a hundred Fs and a few Cs at us when we were in our boots. We had just come off the farm. 'A week or so later, she just looked at me and said 'Make sure to tell your friend not to wear his f****** boots'.' He added: 'Everyone's muddy. When I had the pub, Tom used to come in and bash his boots out at the bar on purpose. 'But what do you expect? Everyone comes in after work. It doesn't matter if it was on a farm or on a building site. We welcomed everyone.' Mr Swindlehurst denied Mr Bane's version of events, however, telling the Mail: 'I just said 'Do you mind taking your boots off?' What's wrong with that? 'He said 'Well, I don't have to because I bring a lot of my shooting mates in here'. I said 'I'm not bothered either way'. 'He stopped and he had a drink and then left. He ended up stood outside with his drink in the beer garden. 'He came in two days later with his slippers on. He came in three or four times after that.' Mr Swindlehurst said he had 'no idea' why other locals turned against him afterwards but said: 'Everything's been made up. That's why my solicitors are all over this like a rash. I'm going to [pub owner] Stonegate and I'm going to sue the a*** off them.' He also said removing muddy boots was 'good manners' and 'common sense' because 'you've got pesticides from fields and farms' which could harm a child if they touched any dirt that came off them. Explaining he was familiar with countryside issues as his father, Jimmy, was a winner of the International Gundog League Retriever Society Championship, he added: 'I know what I'm talking about.' Mr Bane admitted he doubted the claims about a shotgun behind the bar. 'That rumour has got to be some hocus-pocus that someone has started,' he said. 'I don't like defending those two but, being a gamekeeper, I know how tight regulations are.' However, he added a lewd fake number plate behind the bar which had the registration 'Sha 6er' and Mr Swindlehurst's plan to keep a pair of potbellied pigs in the pub garden were also unpopular. 'Everyone was so torn and didn't know what to do. Obviously, not going in was the right thing,' he said. 'The village has done itself a favour by sort of unifying and all standing against that type of behaviour.' Mr Swindlehurst and Ms Jones, who were previously landlords in the West Country, took over the pub on March 27 and had plans to bring in drinkers with bingo nights, karaoke and a new menu. But, following the incident with Mr Bane, locals took to the pub's Facebook page and posted angry comments including one that said: 'I'd probably act a bit nicer to all us locals. So far, I'd say you're losing custom rather than gaining any. 'And as for muddy boots, where are we supposed to drink?' Another wrote: 'Far from a jolly experience. Rude abusive lady behind the bar. Seemed unable to string a sentence together and when she did it was with a tirade of F words thrown in. Ormesby deserves so much better!' Rumours of the shotgun then began circulating, with another local saying 'I did hear someone was threatened with a gun they kept upstairs apparently'. By April 1, Stonegate had sent someone from head office to look into the growing crisis. Mr Swindlehurst said he was out at the time and admitted he lost his temper when he got back to the pub after his partner contacted him to say she had been asked about the gun. He described storming into the bar 'like a raging bull' - but insisted he remained 'two church pews' from the man at all times. The pub has gone through three sets of landlords in the past 12 months, leaving locals concerned about when it will stay open for good 'He must have been standing at least 15-20ft away from me,' he said. 'When they said I went to punch him, I said "Hang on, I'm not Stretch Armstrong".' A few days later the couple received a letter from Stonegate informing them their tenancy had been terminated. It went on to state the manager had received 'several threatening and abusive messages' after the meeting which had made him feel 'extremely anxious and unwell' - although Mr Swindlehurst claims he did 'nothing but apologise' in the messages. The pub closed on April 10, with Mr Swindlehurst blaming a culture clash between north and south on the problems. 'At the end of the day, we might have been a bit forward. We're northern,' he said last week. 'I say how it is. I don't do BS. If I think someone is talking BS, I'll tell them to their face. But a lot of people don't like it. It's different up north. 'Down in Devon, it took them about three to four months for them to get used to our forwardness and banter and then they loved it. 'The people in Devon were crying when we left. But we never stood a chance in Ormesby.' Mr Swindelhurst told the Mail today he and Ms Jones lost £6,500 worth of food when he left the Farmers and all his staff were laid off. They are now living in a house they own in Portugal and he added: 'I'm not coming back to Britain. Stick it.' Pub chef Tom Proctor, 21, has defended the couple, saying: 'I can tell you there was no gun pulled out on anyone, there was nothing. 'Everyone was so against Colin and Tracy. All they did was treat me with kindness. They even got me somewhere to stay for the night. 'It's a country pub, so there's bound to be a few bits of bad language over the bar but that's only if you know your customers.' The pub had a £150,000 revamp in 2021 and is now formally know as The Farmers, although many locals still refer to it by its former name, the Jolly Farmers. Despite its upbeat name, it has seen three sets of landlords come through its doors in 12 months, with long spells when it remained closed. A community group called 'Save the (Jolly) Farmers, Ormesby' had been set up and recently succeeded in a bid to have it nominated as an Asset of Community Value. Under the system, a local authority recognises a building or piece of land that is vital to the community and lists it to prevent a change of use or demolition. Kathryn Wendt, chairman of Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby Parish Council, said: 'It's very important because it's the only pub in the village. All the other pubs in the village have closed. It was a community hub for quizzes and meet-ups. 'The parish council supported the application for Asset of Community Value and being able to keep the pub open but it's now up to the owners what they do about it.' The pub is being advertised on Stonegate's website with rent of just over £800 per week and a forecast annual turnover of around £620,000. The entry states the 'delightful pub', set in a village with 2,750 residents, has a 'well-equipped commercial kitchen [and] delightful garden and patio areas'. A spokesperson for Stonegate Group said previously: 'We can confirm that we have terminated the agreement with the former publican of the Jolly Farmer in Ormesby St Margaret in accordance with our contractual terms. 'This decision was made due to multiple incidents of unacceptable behaviour towards both Stonegate colleagues and the pub's guests, which we will not tolerate. 'Consequently, the Jolly Farmer has been temporarily closed while we recruit for a new publican. We are committed to reopening the pub under new management as soon as possible.'
Epoch Times
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Epoch Times
Thunder Complete Sweep of Grizzlies, Reach Western Conference Semifinals With 117–115 Victory
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 117–115 on Saturday to complete a four-game sweep. Jalen Williams added 23 points for the top-seeded Thunder, who led the NBA with a 68–14 record this season and became the first team to reach the second round. They will await the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets or No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers in the next round. 'I didn't feel like my mindset was any different,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'Every night I step on the floor to be the best version of myself. I hadn't been in the past (games), but tonight I was pretty close to it. I think because I kept the same mindset, it allowed me to just play free.' The Grizzlies played without star guard Ja Morant, who bruised his left hip in a hard fall in Game 3. The Thunder erased a 29-point deficit after he left, the second-biggest comeback in a postseason game since detailed play-by-play began being kept in 1996-97. 'Their fight tonight was impressive, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'Down 3–0, down Morant and down 11 with four (minutes) to go. Lot of respect for them competitively.' Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe had 11 points apiece for the Thunder, with Hartenstein adding 12 rebounds. Related Stories 3/28/2025 1/20/2025 Scotty Pippen Jr. matched his career high with 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama had 23 points apiece. 'Scotty did a tremendous job throughout the end of the season. He was very consistent on both ends,' Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo said. The game was close through three quarters with neither team building a significant advantage. Oklahoma City led 88–85 entering the fourth. At that point, the Thunder were 4 of 29 from 3-point range. Williams' 3-pointer with 5:41 left in the game gave the Thunder a 102–92 lead, the first time either team reached a double-digit advantage. The lead would reach 11 before Memphis rallied and a 3-pointer from Bane with 7.1 seconds left cut it to 116–114. Williams split a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left and the Thunder fouled Bane intentionally. He made the first but Memphis could not rebound his intentional miss of the second. 'We could have been a little bit tighter when we built the lead (to 11 in the fourth quarter),' Daigneault said. 'I thought we got a little bit loose on defensive possessions specifically. Once it tightened up, I thought everything from execution to clock management … was all very positive.' After six lead changes and five ties in the half, Oklahoma City led 60–59 at the break. 'We fought, everybody on this team. Like, there was zero quit in this team,' Iisalo said, adding the Grizzlies just couldn't close out the game. By Clay Bailey
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ja Morant again vows Grizzlies will 'be better' after Game 2 NBA playoff loss to Thunder
Ja Morant clenched his fist and struck his opposite hand in frustration as he walked off the floor in Paycom Center. The gesture said what words could not. It served as a silent acknowledgment of a harsh reality settling in. Advertisement 'We've just got to be better,' Morant said. 'I'll be better. We'll be better.' The OKC Thunder took a commanding 2-0 lead in its first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, earning a 118-99 win in Game 2. Unlike the blowout in Game 1, Memphis showed more fight, but the result remained the same. Morant injected energy into the team from the opening tap with his aggressive play. The two-time All-Star finished with 23 points, six assists and two steals while helping ignite a spark among the Grizzlies' co-stars. Desmond Bane contributed a double-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, while Jaren Jackson Jr. led the team in scoring with 26 points and six boards. Advertisement Since the rise of the Morant-Jackson-Bane trio, Memphis has built a reputation as one of the league's most dangerous transition offenses. REPORT CARD: How did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC grade out in Game 2 vs Grizzlies But in this series, that identity has been stripped away. The Thunder has dominated in fastbreak points, outscoring the Grizzlies 48-8 over the first two games. 'They're putting a lot of pressure on Ja,' Bane said. 'We have multiple guys that are willing to push the ball and get us out in transition. We had some great looks. Just continue to play with confidence. Shots are going to fall, and we've got trust in everybody to continue to make plays.' Advertisement Morant delivered 11 of his 23 points in the second quarter while attempting to will the Grizzlies back into contention. After trailing by 18 at halftime, Memphis mounted a brief comeback, cutting the deficit to seven and outscoring OKC 27-20 in the third quarter. It was a glimpse of the grit the Grizzlies hoped to lean on. Though the Thunder eventually reasserted control and sealed the win, Morant took solace in how Memphis responded. 'I feel like we had a little more flow and the ball movement was more connected,' Morant said. 'Passes were on time and on target. Guys we're stepping into them and knocking down shots. We were able to build some momentum, some energy and kept it rolling. We started getting stops and rebounding, and that allowed us to get back into it.' Advertisement Despite Bane and Jackson stepping up for the Grizzlies, their supporting cast left the team yearning for more help around Morant. A handful of the same issues from Game 1 reappeared in Game 2. REQUIRED READING: Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams show OKC Thunder is more than the SGA show in NBA Playoffs While Morant led the team with 17 points in the opener, Bane and Jackson combined for just 13 points on 5-of-25 shooting. Grizzlies players outside of their trio shot just 12 for 32 from the field Tuesday. Depth was once a strength for Memphis but has become a glaring weakness. The Grizzlies led the league in bench scoring before the All-Star break but have since plummeted to 20th in that category over the last 15 games. Advertisement Memphis has now dropped 18 of its last 21 games against playoff teams in the West. To flip the script in this series, the Grizzlies will need to rediscover the version of themselves that once had them No. 2 in the West in February. A return to the fast-paced, deep and relentless squad that made life difficult for opponents must materialize in Game 3 on Thursday. And the players know it. 'You feel better about the stuff you see on film,' Jackson said. 'When you see positives on film, you try to replicate those things more and more as the series goes on and learn your opponent. We'll look at a lot of the things we didn't do well and things we did do well, and go from there. That's why it's a series and not just a bunch of regular-season games.' Advertisement MUSSATTO: Thunder vs Grizzlies isn't a fair fight in NBA Playoffs, but can series end mercifully? Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@ or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ja Morant again vows Grizzlies will 'be better' vs OKC Thunder
