Furious comeback falls short for Jazz against Grizzlies in summer league
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Diamond Stone (50) works for a shot, as Memphis Grizzlies forward Ivan Rabb (10) defends, in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) defends as Memphis Grizzlies guard Markel Crawford (18)drives inside, in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies guard Wayne Seldes (7) takes a shot as Utah Jazz forward Kelan Martin (42) defends, in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) takes the ball inside as Memphis Grizzlies forward Terry Larrier (28) defends, in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Diamond Stone (50) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies forward Ivan Rabb (10) in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz guard Grayson Allen cheers for the Jazz from the bench, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz guard Grayson Allen jokes with Donovan Mitchell on the bench, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz guard Grayson Allen cheers for the Jazz from the bench, along with Donovan Mitchell, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies forward Ivan Rabb (10) is guarded by Utah Jazz guard Malcolm Hill (36), in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The crowd reacts as Utah Jazz center Tony Bradley (13) brings the Jazz back within 4 points, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell gives some instructions during a time out, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies guard Kobi Simmons (2) strips the ball from Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30), in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies guard Kobi Simmons (2) reacts as he is fouled by Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30), in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Donovan Mitchell gives some instructions during a time out, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30), takes the ball to the hoop, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Tony Bradley (13) works the ball inside, as Memphis Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis (21) defends, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Tony Bradley (13) works the ball inside, as Memphis Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis (21) defends, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) \gg12\ knocks the ball out of the hands of Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31), in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) defends as Memphis Grizzlies guard Markel Crawford (18) drives inside, in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) brings the ball down for the Jazz, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) defends as Memphis Grizzlies guard Markel Crawford (18)drives inside, in Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Thomas Wilder (16) looks for a shot, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah center Tony Bradley (13) shoots for the Jazz, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31) guards Memphis Grizzlies forward Ivan Rabb (10), in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Kendrick Ray (17) tosses a pass, as Memphis Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis (21) defends,in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Kendrick Ray (17) tosses a pass, as Memphis Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis (21) defends,in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) brings the ball down for the Jazz, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah center Tony Bradley (13) scores for the Jazz, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah forward Zach Thomas tosses a pass for the Jazz, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis (21) in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) and Utah Jazz guard Thomas Wilder (16) celebrate as the Jazz close the lead to 3, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies guard Kobi Simmons (2) goes after the ball as Utah Jazz guard Thomas Wilder (16) brings it down court, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long (30) and Utah Jazz forward Kelan Martin (42) celebrate as the Jazz close the lead to 3, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz guard Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and Donovan Mitchell watch from bench, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz guard Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and Donovan Mitchell watch from bench, in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Memphis Grizzlies Markel Crawford. knocks the ball out of the hands of Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31), in Utah Jazz summer league action between Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
The Utah Jazz trailed the Memphis Grizzlies by almost 30 points on Tuesday night in summer league action at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Then, they almost came back to win the game.
So, even though the Jazz came up short in a 95-92 loss to the Grizzlies before 10,079 fans, Utah showed resiliency in rallying without rookie guard Grayson Allen — even though it wasn’t enough in the end.
“We put an emphasis on defense,” Jazz guard Naz Mitrou-Long said. “Once we started to do that, that’s when the comeback started. We put ourselves in position to win. We played Utah Jazz basketball.”
In the end, a Memphis team with substantial talent made the plays down the stretch. Wayne Selden and Kobi Simmons dropped in 20 points apiece. Second-year center Deyonta Davis scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds. Prized rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots.
Mitrou-Long led the Jazz with 19 points, adding eight assists and six rebounds. Georges Niang scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out four assists. Tony Bradley scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Allen was rested after Monday’s win over the Spurs. Tuesday’s loss puts the Jazz at 1-1 in summer league ahead of Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m.
