Jazz win game 4, round 1 in Memphis for a 3 -1 series lead

NBA spokesman Mike Bass has said the league is “working closely” with the Utah Jazz on the matter. The team is set to host the NBA All-Star game in February 2023. Photo: Michele Roepke

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Number one overall seed Utah Jazz beat the Grizzlies, 120 to 113 at the FedExForum.

 All-Star point guard Mike Conley, danced his way through the game with Memphis’ 21-year-old point guard Ja Morant, while keeping focused on his current Jazz teammates after spending 12 years on the youthful Grizzlies. Conley was the longest-playing NBA athlete to not earn an All-Star spot before finally joining that prestigious club. Ja Morant was a number two draft pick.

The arena in Tennessee was packed to a large percentage of capacity with in-person fans, many of whom were wearing masks.

Utah and league connections were still reeling from the death, suddenly, tragically, of former Jazz player and Park City local Mark Eaton.

The Jazz kept ahead of the game for most of the game. Tied at 46 with five minutes left in the second quarter and ending the third with their largest lead of 13 points at 100 to 87. A jump ball right after a costly turnover by the Grizzlies in the final 23 seconds of the game was dominated by Memphis.

The Jazz head coach and the Grizzlies head coach, Quin Snyder and Taylor Jenkins are close friends, however, the TNT commentator said, “I would assume they’re not having coffee together this week.”

NBA Cares took some screentime during the game to remind people to educate themselves about COVID vaccinations.

Game five is back home in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 2.