Jaren Jackson Jr. is growing accustomed to his role.
Jackson has seen an increased scoring responsibility while the Memphis Grizzlies contend with a rash of injuries, from star guard Ja Morant to key reserves Marcus Smart and Santi Aldama. Morant is closer to returning from his latest malady, a Grade 1 AC joint sprain of his right shoulder, but is likely to miss his 18th game of the season when the Houston Rockets visit Thursday night.
Regardless of Morant’s availability, bet that Jackson will be called upon again to be the offensive force he has become in the matchup two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
In the team’s 119-104 home victory Monday over the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson led Memphis with 35 points and added a career-high-tying 13 rebounds to go along with five assists and three steals. He became the first player in franchise history to have at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a game.
Beyond his contributions in the stat sheet, Jackson has played in the last 35 of his team’s games after missing the first two games of the season.
“His resilience has been awesome, (so has) the way he’s taking care of his body,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “He’s been playing pretty heavy minutes night in and night out.”
Jackson has played at least 34 minutes in each of the team’s past four games, including a season-high 38 in a win at Phoenix last week. He scored 38 against the Suns.
“The workload offensively, from a playmaker spot, falls in his hands a whole lot more,” Jenkins said. “And he’s remained dynamic on the defensive side.”
Jackson, a 6-foot-10, seventh-year pro out of Michigan State, was named the Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for December.
Offensively, he can at times be unstoppable on drives to the basket. He can shoot in close with either hand and possesses a deft baby hook. Jackson also is capable from beyond the arc, where he’s shooting 35 percent.
“You see his playmaking,” Jenkins said. “He’s understanding the impact he can have on both sides of the floor, no matter who (among his teammates) is out there with him.”
Besides Morant, Smart and Aldama, the Grizzlies played without starting small forward Desmond Bane (sprained ankle) Monday against Dallas. He is questionable for Thursday.
Houston, a half-game ahead of the Grizzlies in second place in the Western Conference, is dealing with a key injury of its own. The Rockets lost Jabari Smith Jr. to a fractured left metacarpal during a shootaround before Friday’s game against Boston.
Like Jackson stepping up for the Grizzlies, Amen Thompson is making the most of his increased playing time in Smith’s absence. Smith could reportedly miss up to two months.
Thompson had 23 points and 16 rebounds in a 119-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and followed that with 20 points and 15 rebounds in Tuesday’s 135-112 win at Washington. He is averaging 18 points and 11.3 rebounds in his seven games as a starter.
Jalen Green also has been a recent force for the Rockets, who have won three of four and seven of 10. Green had 33 points against the Lakers and 29 points in 30 minutes against the Wizards. He is averaging 22.5 points over his past 17 games.
“He is making better decisions,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “His recognition defensively of what (opponents) are doing has been much better. He is taking the (high-percentage) shots. He’s in attack mode.”
–Field Level Media
