Jaren Jackson Jr. showcased his defensive prowess once again, solidifying his position as the frontrunner for NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors. His last-second block secured the Memphis Grizzlies’ narrow 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday.
In the closing moments of the game, Paolo Banchero had a chance to clinch the win for Orlando. However, Jackson’s timely block on Banchero’s attempted jumper sealed the fate of the game, denying Orlando the victory.
Despite falling behind 100-92 in the fourth quarter, Memphis staged a remarkable comeback led by Ja Morant, who finished with 23 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. both contributed 16 points each, with Jackson also showcasing his defensive prowess with three crucial blocks, including the game-saving one.
Jackson, who was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, is now the favorite to claim the honor once again this season, following Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending injury. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley is also considered a strong contender for the award.
With this victory, Memphis tied the Denver Nuggets for the second-best record in the Western Conference at 37-19. The Grizzlies have been in good form recently, winning six of their last ten games. They will conclude their five-game road trip with a challenging matchup against the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
On the other side, Franz Wagner led the Orlando Magic with 25 points, while Banchero contributed 21 points in a losing effort. Cole Anthony put up an impressive stat line of 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
With this loss, Orlando’s playoff hopes took a hit as they fell further behind the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings. Their next game is against the struggling Washington Wizards, who currently hold the worst record in the NBA.