Memphis Grizzlies give up 19 3-pointers in road loss to Utah Jazz without Ja Morant

A clash between two high-scoring offenses lived up to the hype. The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz went back and forth until the final seconds, but the Jazz were red-hot on their home floor.

Memphis trailed by one when Malik Beasley made a 3-pointer over the outstretched arms of Tyus Jones. The Grizzlies got the ball back in the final seconds with a chance to win, but Desmond Bane slipped and didn't get a shot off.

The Grizzlies (4-2) fell 124-123 on the road against the Jazz (5-2).

Here are some takeaways from the game.

MORANT PRAISE: Why Kevin Durant called Ja Morant 'the face' of the NBA moving forward

BIGGER ROLE:Why Memphis Grizzlies point guard Tyus Jones is facing his toughest task yet

BREAKOUT GAME:Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jake LaRavia has his breakout performance against the Kings

Tyus Jones gets the start

Ja Morant and Jake LaRavia did not play due to non-Covid illnesses. Both players stayed at the team hotel during the game. Tyus Jones got his first start of the season in place of Morant, Kennedy Chandler got his first non-garbage time minutes as the backup point guard and Xavier Tillman Sr. stepped into the rotation. No Morant meant the Grizzlies needed another scorer to emerge, and Dillon Brooks wasted little time. He came out hot and scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the first quarter. He passed the baton to Jones in the second quarter. Jones scored 12 points in the quarter. Chandler scored his first NBA points and got a big basket for the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter that gave them a six-point lead and forced a Jazz timeout.

David Roddy was one of the biggest beneficiaries of more playing time. The rookie first-round pick had his most effective game by making two 3-pointers and playing solid defense.

The Jazz were also short-handed. Former Grizzlies Mike Conley (rest) and Rudy Gay (health & safety protocols) did not play on Saturday. Walker Kessler was also out with an illness.

A game of runs

The Grizzlies and Jazz came into Saturday's game as two of the NBA's highest-scoring offenses. Each team showed why with offensive explosions throughout the game. Memphis trailed 17-9 in the first quarter when it went on a 12-0 run and ended the first quarter with a 29-24 lead. The Jazz offense responded with a 38-point second quarter to take a 62-54 halftime lead. Memphis put together a 15-0 run after trailing 79-70 in the third quarter., but the Jazz responded with a 10-2 run. Utah got the final run after it trailed 118-113 with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter. The Jazz made three 3-pointers in the final 2:30.

Turnovers, fouls and threes

The Grizzlies were ahead by four when Bane attempted a lob pass to Brandon Clarke that was deflected by Kelly Olynyk and resulted in a transition layup by Collin Sexton. A higher pass or one more dribble to force Olynyk to commit would have given the Grizzlies a six-point lead. That four-point swing was part of why Memphis couldn't put the Jazz away. Utah made 19 3-pointers on 43% shooting. The Grizzlies shot efficiently on 3-pointers, but finished with just 12 makes.

What's next

The Grizzlies and Jazz will meet again on Monday night at Vivint Arena. This will be the Grizzlies' last meeting in Utah during the regular season.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies lose on road to Utah Jazz without Ja Morant