Grizzlies Gut Out a 125-106 Win Over the Pacers Behind Hendricks’ Career Night and Clayton Jr.’s Record-Breaking Performance

David Desa
Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson (45) drives to the basket as Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9)

The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t just beat the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. They dismantled them.

Final score: 125-106. And honestly, it wasn’t that close.

Without Ja Morant — sidelined for the 17th straight game with a left elbow injury — Memphis needed someone to step up. Several people, actually. And that’s exactly what happened at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Grizzlies swept the season series against Indiana for the third time in five years.

Taylor Hendricks Was Unconscious From Three

Let’s start with the story of the night. Taylor Hendricks dropped 19 points off the bench, but it wasn’t just the number — it was how he did it.

Seven-for-eleven from the field. Five-for-eight from three. A career-high in threes made in a single game. Hendricks was moving without the ball, finding his spots, and letting it fly with zero hesitation. He finished with a plus-16 in just 23 minutes of play. That’s not a bench contribution. That’s a statement.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) drives to the basket

Head coach Taylor Jenkins has been searching for consistent secondary scoring all season. Sunday, he found it in a big way.

Walter Clayton Jr. Rewrote the Franchise Record Book

If Hendricks was the headliner, Walter Clayton Jr. was the engine.

The rookie point guard recorded 14 assists — tying the franchise’s single-game rookie record and setting the mark for the most assists by any NBA rookie in a single game this season. He also chipped in 4 steals, 1 block, and finished a ridiculous plus-17 on the night.

Watch his tape, and you’ll see a kid who genuinely sees the game two passes ahead. He’s not forcing it. He’s not pressing. He’s just… playing. Calm, composed, and clearly not intimidated by the moment. At this rate, Clayton Jr. is going to be a name Memphis fans talk about for a long time.

A Balanced Attack That Indiana Had No Answer For

The Grizzlies didn’t just rely on Hendricks and Clayton Jr.; Memphis spread the scoring around like they were reading from a script.

  • Jaylen Wells: 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting — an absolutely clinical performance
  • Olivier-Maxence Prosper: 17 points on 8-of-9 from the field
  • Scotty Pippen Jr.: 16 points, 5 assists
  • Rayan Rupert: 16 points, a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line

Five players with 16 or more points. The Grizzlies shot 51.1% from the field and an impressive 42.9% from three. They also went a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line. That’s not luck. That’s execution.

The Grizzlies Won the Game in the Third Quarter

Memphis entered halftime with a 65-60 lead — comfortable, but not safe. Then they did what good teams do. They pushed.

Four minutes into the third, the Grizzlies had stretched the lead to 77-66. Indiana never recovered. Memphis outscored the Pacers 26-23 in the third and then delivered the knockout blow with a 34-23 fourth quarter. The Pacers were chasing the whole second half, and Memphis never gave them a real foothold.

Indiana’s Bright Spots Weren’t Enough

To be fair, Jarace Walker gave the Grizzlies problems. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting, drilling four threes. And Micah Potter was active off the bench with 18 points and 9 rebounds.

But Indiana — sitting at 15-46 on the season and losers of six straight — simply doesn’t have enough to compete with a Memphis team that’s clicking on all cylinders. Pascal Siakam missed his second consecutive game with a sore right shooting hand, and his absence is felt every time Indiana needs a go-to bucket.

What This Means for Memphis

The Grizzlies move to 23-36 on the season. It’s not a playoff record. But this team is fighting, and there’s genuine talent developing here.

Zach Edey — the 7-foot-3 center who hasn’t played since December 7 — is reportedly set to undergo another ankle operation. It’s a tough blow. But on nights like Sunday, you start to see the shape of what Memphis could look like when healthy. Young players stepping up. Role players finding their rhythm. Rookies breaking records.

The Grizzlies head to Minnesota on Tuesday night. After a performance like this, they’ll be bringing real confidence with them.