After a promising 4-0 start to the 2019 NBA Las Vegas Summer League, the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies 94-88 eliminated the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics.
Carsen Edwards, who had been leading the team in scoring at over 18 points per game, scored 12 in the first half but on 5-for-13 shooting. The second-round draft pick did eventually rediscover his energetic scoring ability, ending with 25 points and six three-pointers made.
Grant Williams struggled as well and didn’t make a field goal until the seven-minute mark in the third quarter. Williams has talked about his need to impact games in a positive manner. Winning is the primary goal for the rookie out of Tennessee, and the first four games of Summer League had supported that narrative.
Grant Williams is a +82 through four Summer League games https://t.co/D9tS0WB29B
— Cousin DPOY (not notable) (@AndrewDoxy) July 12, 2019
However, the staggering plus/minus stats took a dip with Williams ending at minus 8.
The Summer League Celtics resembled that of the 2018-19 squad throughout much of the contest. They looked lethargic on both ends of the floor, settling for deep treys that never fell, and looking discombobulated on defense.
But when the going got tough, the Celtics got going. There were multiple occasions where Edwards or Tremont Waters found their offense and cut the Memphis lead to single digits, but for a while, the flurries never amounted to much. That is, until, late in the fourth quarter when Edwards caught fire. He hit back-to-back threes, including this jaw-dropping triple.
CARSEN EDWARDS DROPPING BOMBS pic.twitter.com/QMDhtxzVWo
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) July 13, 2019
He eventually diminished Memphis’ lead to one point with under a minute to play. But the Celtics failed to box out Brandon Clarke, who was gifted a tip-in to put the Grizzlies up six. Boston never had a chance to tie, with Javonte Green throwing away the inbounds pass with 18 seconds left.
This is one hell of a way to lose. So on brand pic.twitter.com/DLSsG9VWH4
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) July 13, 2019
The Grizzlies (4-1) will advance to the Semifinals and play the winner between New Orleans (3-1) and Miami (3-1), seeded four and five respectively.
