Ty Jerome Scores Career-High 45 Points in Grizzlies' Season-Opening Victory

Ty Jerome achieved a career-high 45 points, fueling the Memphis Grizzlies to a decisive 123-103 victory against the Utah Jazz in the season opener for both franchises on Wednesday night.

Jerome's offensive explosion saw him convert 17 of 25 field goal attempts, including 5 of 10 from beyond the three-point arc. His 45-point performance set a new franchise record for the most points scored by a Grizzlies player in a season opener, surpassing Ja Morant's previous record of 44 points in 2020.

Jerami Grant, who was acquired in an offseason trade that sent Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, contributed 15 points. Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson each added 12 points for Memphis.

On the Jazz side, Keyonte George led the team with 22 points, while Lauri Markkanen scored 18 points.

Jaren Jackson Jr., returning to the FedExForum after eight seasons with the Grizzlies, scored 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Jackson was traded to Utah at last February's deadline. For the Jazz, Jaxson Hayes recorded a career-high six blocks.

The Grizzlies established control early, leading by as many as 15 points in the first half and carrying a 64-51 advantage into halftime. Memphis extended their lead significantly in the third quarter with an 18-4 run, widening the margin to 82-55. The Grizzlies maintained a lead of at least 15 points throughout the fourth quarter, with their largest lead reaching 27 points.

The game also featured a matchup between two highly touted rookies. The Utah Jazz selected Darryn Peterson of Kansas with the second overall pick in the recent draft, while the Memphis Grizzlies chose Cam Boozer from Duke. Peterson recorded nine points in the contest, while Boozer finished with 11 rebounds, seven points, and five assists, though he struggled with his shooting, going 2-of-15 from the field and 0-of-6 from three-point range.