You wouldn't think a game between a struggling Memphis team and a rebuilding Brooklyn squad would be the talk of the league. Honestly, on paper, it looks like a Tuesday night filler. But if you watched the Memphis Grizzlies Brooklyn Nets game on January 11, 2026, you saw something much more interesting than the 103-98 final score suggests. It wasn't just a win for Memphis; it was a glimpse into a league where the "old" stars are fading or moving, and a bunch of kids you’ve barely heard of are taking over.
The vibe at FedExForum was heavy.
Ja Morant was out with a calf injury, but that wasn't the real story. The real story was the trade rumors swirling around him—the kind of noise that usually signals the end of an era. Meanwhile, the Nets arrived without Michael Porter Jr., leaning on a roster that looks more like an international scouting convention than a traditional NBA lineup.
The Rookie Who Stole the Show
Most people expected Jaren Jackson Jr. to just bulldoze his way through the Nets' interior. He did his part, sure. But the guy who actually broke the game open was Cedric Coward.
He’s a rookie. Nobody had him on their All-Star ballot three months ago. Yet, he came out in the first quarter and looked like he owned the place, dropping 13 points before the Nets even realized who was guarding him. By the time the first buzzer sounded, he’d outscored the entire Brooklyn roster. It was wild to watch.
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 16-point lead, and for a second, it felt like a blowout. But that’s the thing about the Nets lately. They don't really go away. They just sort of hang around until you start making mistakes.
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
Brooklyn eventually clawed back. They put together a 19-5 run in the fourth quarter that had Grizzlies fans looking for the exits. With three minutes left, the Nets were up 98-90. Memphis looked gassed. The offense was stagnant. Then, something clicked.
Memphis closed the game on a 13-0 run.
It wasn't just luck. They locked in defensively, and Coward hit a massive three-pointer that basically sucked the air out of the Nets' bench. When the dust settled, Coward had 21 points and 8 rebounds. It was the kind of performance that makes a front office feel a lot better about potentially moving on from a franchise cornerstone.
Why the Brooklyn Nets Are the NBA's Most Interesting Project
If you're a Nets fan, the loss hurts, but you’ve gotta love what you’re seeing from the young core. Noah Clowney had the unenviable task of checking Jaren Jackson Jr. all night. He finished with 17 points and did a decent job making JJJ work for every single bucket.
Then there’s the international flavor.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
- Nolan Traoré (France): Showed flashes of elite playmaking.
- Egor Demin (Russia): A bit quiet on offense this time, but his defensive footwork is legit.
- Danny Wolf (Israel/USA): Still struggling to finish at the rim, but his passing for a big man is high-level.
The Nets are basically a lab experiment right now. They’re playing without a traditional "superstar" and instead relying on a deep rotation of 6'8" to 7'0" guys who can all pass and shoot. It’s positionless basketball taken to the extreme. Without MPJ to bail them out, they struggled to find a bucket during that final 13-0 Memphis surge, but the foundation is clearly there.
The Stat Sheet Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
A lot of people will look at the box score and see that Cam Spencer had 12 points and think "average." They’re wrong.
Spencer finished with 13 assists. He was the engine. While his three-point shot was clanking off the iron all night, he kept the ball moving and found Jock Landale for easy buckets when the Nets tried to double-team the perimeter. Landale, by the way, has been a godsend for Memphis. He was supposed to be a backup, but with Zach Edey sidelined, he’s started 19 games and played like a vet who’s been there forever.
Another weird stat? The Grizzlies shot 100% from the free-throw line.
18 for 18.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
In a five-point game, that’s the difference between a win and a heartbreaking loss. Memphis usually struggles with the "simple" stuff like turnovers—they gave up 25 points off 15 turnovers in this game—but they made up for it by being perfect at the stripe.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
The Memphis Grizzlies Brooklyn Nets matchup proved that Memphis can still win games through grit and defense, even when the roster is held together by tape and rookie contracts. They are currently 14-3 against teams with losing records. They’re the "gatekeepers" of the league right now. If you aren't a playoff team, you aren't beating them.
However, their 3-19 record against winning teams is the elephant in the room.
For Brooklyn, the search for a "closer" continues. Cam Thomas provided a spark off the bench, but they need someone who can demand the ball and get a bucket when a 13-0 run is happening. Whether that’s Michael Porter Jr. when he returns or a future draft pick remains to be seen.
How to Apply These Insights
If you’re following these teams closely, here is what you should be watching for over the next few weeks:
- Monitor the Morant Trade Market: If Coward and Jaylen Wells continue to develop at this rate, Memphis becomes much more likely to pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal before the deadline.
- Watch the Nets' Rotation: Pay attention to how Jordi Fernandez balances minutes between the veterans and the high-upside rookies like Traoré and Demin. The Nets are prioritizing development over seeding.
- Grizzlies Defensive Identity: Keep an eye on the defensive pairing of JJJ and Santi Aldama. When they are on the floor together, Memphis's rim protection is elite, but they sacrifice lateral quickness on the perimeter.
- Free Throw Consistency: Memphis’s 100% shooting night was an anomaly. Check if they revert to their season average or if this marks a genuine improvement in their late-game execution.
The NBA is changing fast. The days of two or three superstars carrying a team to a win are being replaced by these deep, versatile rosters full of international talent and high-IQ rookies. This game was the perfect example of that shift.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire in your fantasy leagues for Cedric Coward. If this game was any indication, his role is only going to grow from here. Memphis has a long road ahead, but for one night at least, the future looked a lot brighter than the present.