Ty Jerome's Late Free Throws Lift Memphis Grizzlies Past Utah Jazz 110-105

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Utah Jazz 110-105 on October 27, 2026, extending their season-opening winning streak to four games. Ty Jerome became the decisive player after scoring 8 of his 15 points during the final six minutes and making two free throws with 11.6 seconds remaining to secure the road victory. Memphis controlled most of the game, but Utah turned the fourth quarter into a tense chase. The Grizzlies entered the final period with a 13-point lead, yet the Jazz cut the margin to one point twice. Utah could not complete the comeback after Ty Jerome and Russell Westbrook delivered the key late-game plays. The victory gave Memphis a 4-0 record to start the season. It marked only the second time in franchise history that the Memphis Grizzlies opened a season with four consecutive wins. The game also showed that Memphis has not yet developed a fully reliable method for protecting a large lead. The Grizzlies controlled the first three quarters, but their defense weakened in the final period as Utah increased the pressure. Memphis led 58-52 at halftime. The visitors produced the largest lead of the game, moving ahead 45-30 early in the second quarter after two three-pointers from Jerami Grant. Grant's shooting forced the Utah defense to cover more space and created driving opportunities for the Memphis offense. The Grizzlies continued to control the third quarter. Reserve center Quinten Post added a driving dunk and converted an inbounds lob. Those plays showed that Memphis could attack the rim through cuts and vertical actions rather than relying only on perimeter shooting. Memphis finished the third quarter with a 76-66 advantage and then entered the fourth quarter leading by 13 points. The margin appeared sufficient, but Utah changed the pace of the game. The Jazz pushed the ball in transition, gave Keyonte George more opportunities to create his own shot and attacked the gaps that appeared in Memphis's half-court defense. Keyonte George led Utah with 26 points, including 17 in the first half. Ace Bailey recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Mo Bamba contributed 14 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Those three players kept Utah competitive after the Jazz lost two starters to injuries in the first half. Jaren Jackson Jr. left the game with a right knee injury in the second quarter and did not return. Lauri Markkanen also suffered a right wrist injury and did not continue. Losing both players forced Utah to adjust its lineup for an extended stretch, but the Jazz still created significant pressure during the fourth quarter. Utah reduced the deficit to one point with 1:01 remaining. Memphis attempted to slow the game and protect the ball, but the Jazz remained close enough to tie or take the lead. With 41 seconds left, Russell Westbrook scored to put the Grizzlies ahead 108-105. Ty Jerome then made two free throws with 11.6 seconds remaining to establish the final score. Ty Jerome finished with 15 points. Eight of those points came during the final six minutes, when the game was decided by one-possession situations. Ty Jerome was not Memphis's leading scorer, but his ball handling and composure allowed him to take responsibility in the closing sequence. Memphis received balanced production from its rotation. Cedric Coward scored 16 points and collected 11 rebounds for a double-double. Russell Westbrook added 14 points. Cam Boozer and Jerami Grant each scored 13 points. Along with Ty Jerome's 15 points, Memphis had several players contribute between 13 and 16 points. That distribution has been central to Memphis's 4-0 start. The Grizzlies did not need to depend on one player for most of the game. When one scorer struggled, another could respond with a three-pointer, a drive or a finish near the basket. The fourth-quarter performance also raised questions about Memphis's ability to protect leads. A team that enters the final period ahead by 13 points and wins by only five has been outscored by eight points in that quarter. The comeback was especially notable because Utah was playing without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. The sequence suggests that Memphis can build advantages through depth but still needs to improve its late-game defense. When Utah increased its pressure, Memphis did not maintain consistent half-court coverage. Open areas in the middle of the floor and delayed decisions late in possessions helped the Jazz continue scoring. Offensively, Memphis displayed a balanced structure. Jerami Grant stretched the defense with three-point shooting. Quinten Post attacked the paint and finished above the rim. Cedric Coward contributed on both ends of the floor, while Ty Jerome handled the ball and created control during the most important possessions. The available report does not provide enough information to measure the efficiency of each player. Field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, usage rate, turnovers and points per possession were not included. Therefore, the final score alone cannot prove that Memphis produced an efficient offensive performance by statistical standards. The strongest Memphis signal was the ability to win without a dominant performance from a single star. Six players scored between 13 and 16 points, showing depth and multiple scoring options. At the same time, the distribution suggests that Memphis has not clearly established one player who can consistently create an advantage in the final possessions. Ty Jerome filled that role against Utah. His two late free throws demonstrated the trust Memphis placed in him. One game is not enough to establish Ty Jerome as a dependable closer, however. The role must be evaluated over a larger sample, particularly against healthy opponents with stronger switching and late-game defensive schemes. For Utah, the 105-110 loss did not fully represent the team's effort. The Jazz lost two starters in one half but still generated several effective offensive possessions in the fourth quarter. Keyonte George carried much of the scoring responsibility, Ace Bailey contributed points and rebounding, and Mo Bamba helped preserve the interior presence from the bench. Keyonte George scored 17 points in the first half, but the report does not provide enough shooting information to evaluate his efficiency. A high-scoring half can result from accurate shooting, a high number of possessions or a change in the opponent's defensive approach. Utah needs a larger sample before determining whether Keyonte George can sustain the role of primary scorer. Ace Bailey's 17 points and 10 rebounds showed a broad contribution from a young player. Bailey helped Utah on both ends of the floor and reduced the impact of losing two starters. Mo Bamba also supplied energy from the bench with 14 points and 7 rebounds. The injuries to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen became the most important issue for Utah after the game. Jackson Jr. injured his right knee and could not return. Markkanen injured his right wrist, an area that directly affects ball control and shooting for a player who operates frequently beyond the three-point line. The report did not specify the severity of either injury. Utah will need medical examinations and official updates before establishing a timetable. Extended absences would alter the team's rotation and place more responsibility on Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and the reserve group. The game also demonstrated the difference between the result and the quality of control. Memphis won and never trailed after the middle of the first quarter, but the Grizzlies did not finish convincingly. Utah lost, yet the fourth-quarter rally showed that the team can remain competitive even after its lineup is weakened by injuries. Memphis's 4-0 record is encouraging but does not yet establish the team's position in the Western Conference. Four games are too few to define a season. Schedule strength, health, rotation experiments and shooting variance can all influence an early-season record. The Grizzlies should monitor their defensive efficiency against healthy opponents, late-game possession distribution and their ability to preserve leads after halftime. If Memphis continues to create points through multiple players while reducing late-game defensive breakdowns, the team will have stronger evidence that the start is sustainable. Utah's immediate priority is to determine the status of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen. If both players return quickly, the Jazz may remain competitive because the bench showed the ability to absorb difficult minutes. If either player misses an extended period, Utah will need greater production from its young players and reserves. The game delivered two separate messages. Memphis showed depth, balanced scoring and late free-throw execution. Utah showed resilience and the ability to respond after major losses in the lineup. Memphis must address its late-game lead protection, while Utah must wait for precise information about the two injuries. Ty Jerome produced the decisive moment, but Memphis's victory was built during the first three quarters. The Grizzlies led 58-52 at halftime, created a 15-point advantage and entered the fourth quarter ahead by 13. Utah brought the game back within one possession, but Ty Jerome's two free throws with 11.6 seconds remaining secured the 110-105 Memphis victory. Source: Thomson Reuters, October 27, 2026. The original report did not provide complete shooting percentages, playing time, turnover totals, pace data or detailed medical information. Roster and injury details are presented as stated in the source and should be checked against official NBA reports.