MEMPHIS, United States, October 21, 2026: Memphis began life after Ja Morant with a new lead guard producing a performance worthy of the old era’s biggest nights.
Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 points as the Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 123-103 at FedExForum, turning a competitive opening quarter into a comfortable season-opening victory.
Jerome produced a franchise-level opening-night performance
Jerome made 17 of 25 shots and five of 10 three-pointers. His 45 points were the most by a Memphis player in a season opener, surpassing Morant’s 44-point performance in 2020.
The timing could hardly have been more symbolic. Memphis traded Morant during the offseason and entered the year trying to redefine its offense around a younger core. Jerome’s first regular-season performance in that new structure immediately gave the Grizzlies a reference point.
Memphis broke the game open after halftime
The Grizzlies led 64-51 at halftime, then opened the third quarter with an 18-4 run that pushed the score to 82-55. Memphis eventually led by as many as 27 points, and Utah never cut the deficit below 15 in the fourth.
That third-quarter stretch was the decisive phase. Utah had enough individual offense to stay competitive early, but Memphis turned defensive stops into a run the Jazz could not answer.
The new-look Grizzlies had support behind Jerome
Jerami Grant scored 15 points after arriving in the offseason trade that sent Morant to Portland. Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson scored 12 each.
Rookie Cameron Boozer struggled from the field, finishing 2-for-15 and 0-for-6 from three, but still collected 11 rebounds, seven points and five assists. That is a reminder that Memphis does not need every young player to be efficient immediately if veterans can carry the offense while the rotation develops.
Utah’s new pieces showed flashes, not enough consistency
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 22 points and Lauri Markkanen added 18. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 15 in his return to Memphis before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
No. 2 draft pick Darryn Peterson scored nine points in his debut. Jaxson Hayes had a career-high six blocks, giving Utah a defensive bright spot even as the team struggled to contain Jerome.
Key performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Ty Jerome | Grizzlies | 45 points, 17-for-25 FG, 5 threes |
| Jerami Grant | Grizzlies | 15 points |
| Cameron Boozer | Grizzlies | 7 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists |
| Keyonte George | Jazz | 22 points |
| Lauri Markkanen | Jazz | 18 points |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Jazz | 15 points |
The post-Morant question gets an immediate answer
One night cannot define Memphis’ new era, but the Grizzlies needed a lead creator to establish confidence quickly. Jerome did more than that. He produced the highest-scoring opener in franchise history and did it efficiently.
Utah hosts New Orleans next, while Memphis travels to Golden State. Follow TSE’s NBA coverage, NBA Hub, offseason title-race analysis and 2026-27 schedule guide for the next developments.
Official NBA sources
Game documentation: NBA game page, official box score and official play-by-play.