The Memphis Grizzlies delivered a dramatic finish in front of their home crowd at FedExForum on January 11, 2026, overcoming the Brooklyn Nets 103-98 in a game that swung wildly from start to finish. It was a contest marked by surges, rallies, and a rookie’s breakout performance, with both teams desperate to halt recent losing skids and build momentum as the NBA season pushes past its midpoint.
Coming into Sunday’s matchup, the Grizzlies (16-22) and Nets (11-24) were both looking to snap out of rough patches. Memphis had dropped six of its last seven, while Brooklyn had fallen in five of its previous six games, including a 121-105 loss to the LA Clippers just two nights earlier. The stakes felt high, and the crowd in Memphis was buzzing with anticipation as tipoff approached at 2:30 p.m. CT.
The Grizzlies wasted no time setting the tone. Rookie Cedric Coward came out firing, scoring 13 points in the first quarter alone and, at one point, outscoring the entire Nets roster by himself. Memphis built an 11-point lead midway through the opening frame, and that advantage ballooned to 16 points before the Nets could steady themselves. Jock Landale chipped in with 14 points early, providing the interior presence Memphis needed to keep Brooklyn at bay.
But if there’s one thing the Nets have shown throughout this turbulent season, it’s resilience. Despite missing key forward Michael Porter Jr., who was sidelined for rest, and rookie Drake Powell (knee), Brooklyn refused to fold. Egor Demin, who had led the team with 19 points in their previous outing, tried to spark the offense, but it was Noah Clowney who shouldered the scoring load this time, finishing with a team-high 17 points. The Nets clawed back, erasing Memphis’s lead and eventually pulling ahead by eight points with just three minutes left in regulation.
“We’ve been in this position before,” said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins after the game. “The message was simple: keep fighting, keep believing, and trust our defense to get us stops.”
With the game hanging in the balance, Memphis responded in spectacular fashion. The Grizzlies ripped off a 13-0 run in the final three minutes, completely shutting out Brooklyn down the stretch. Coward, the rookie sensation, poured in crucial buckets, and the team’s collective defensive intensity forced the Nets into a series of rushed shots and costly turnovers. By the final buzzer, Memphis had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
“This team shows a lot of heart,” rookie Cedric Coward told reporters. “We knew we had to lock in and make every possession count. The energy from the fans really helped us dig deep.”
The numbers tell part of the story. Memphis had a 14-5 edge in free-throw attempts in the first half, translating their aggression into easy points. Coward led all scorers with 21 points, while Landale’s early contributions proved pivotal. On Brooklyn’s side, Clowney’s 17 points kept them in the hunt, but the absence of Porter Jr. was felt in the waning moments as the Nets struggled to find a closer.
The Grizzlies’ win not only snapped a string of tough losses but also improved their record to 17-22. For Brooklyn, the defeat dropped them to 11-25, compounding a difficult stretch that has seen them slide down the Eastern Conference standings. The two teams had split their season series last year, with the Nets winning two out of three, but this latest chapter belonged to Memphis, thanks to their late-game heroics.
Key injuries played a role for both squads. In addition to Porter Jr. and Powell being out for Brooklyn, the Grizzlies were without several contributors: Brandon Clarke (calf), Zach Edey (ankle), Ty Jerome (calf), Ja Morant (calf), and Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) all missed the game, while John Konchar was listed as questionable with a thumb injury. Despite the depleted rosters, both teams put on a show, with Memphis ultimately finding the right formula in crunch time.
The betting community had pegged the Grizzlies as 7.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 220.5 points. While the experts predicted a Memphis win by a score of 114-104, the actual total fell well short of the line, reflecting the defensive grind and late-game drama that defined the contest. Those who backed the under cashed their tickets, as both offenses struggled to maintain consistency for long stretches.
Looking ahead, Memphis now turns its attention to a unique challenge: a two-game slate against the Orlando Magic in Europe. The first matchup is set for January 15 at Uber Arena in Berlin, and it carries extra intrigue as it will be the Grizzlies’ first meeting with former guard Desmond Bane, who was traded to Orlando in June 2025 after five seasons in Memphis. The games will be broadcast on Prime Video, offering fans on both sides of the Atlantic a chance to see how the Grizzlies’ young core responds to new surroundings and familiar faces.
For Brooklyn, the road doesn’t get any easier. With Porter Jr.’s status uncertain and the team struggling to string together wins, the Nets must regroup quickly if they hope to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference playoff race. “We have to learn from this,” said Nets coach Jacque Vaughn. “Closing out games is about execution and composure. We’ll get back to work and keep fighting.”
The game was broadcast nationally on the FanDuel Sports app and FanDuel Sports Network, drawing in viewers eager to see which team would break out of its mid-season funk. In the end, it was the Grizzlies who seized the moment, riding a rookie’s heroics and a raucous home crowd to a much-needed win.
As the final horn sounded, the Grizzlies could finally exhale. They had stared down adversity, rallied together, and delivered a performance that just might spark a second-half surge. With a European adventure up next and their confidence restored, Memphis heads into the next chapter with momentum—and perhaps, a newfound belief in what’s possible.
