Memphis Grizzlies Summer League Struggles vs Jazz

Early Summer League Momentum

Memphis opened its summer league slate with a resounding 37‑point win over Oklahoma City on July 4, showing a high‑octane offense that hinted at a deep roster. Just two nights later, the Grizzlies faced Utah at the Jon M. Huntsman Center and saw that momentum stall, losing 109‑100 as the Jazz used a 9‑0 fourth‑quarter burst to pull away.

Star Performances on Display

Despite the defeat, the Grizzlies produced several highlight‑reel moments. Cam Boozer erupted after halftime, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds while draining four of five triples. Cedric Coward chased his rookie‑season questions with a 23‑point night, converting nine shots in the first half alone and scoring from all three levels. Utah’s Darryn Peterson dominated the backcourt with 25 points and 12 assists, while Memphis contributors such as Olivier‑Maxence Prosper (16 points), Javon Small (14 points) and Carson Cooper (10 points) added reliable bench production.

Depth Questions Emerge

Off the floor, the Grizzlies lamented missing several key players. Guard Walter Clayton Jr., rookie forward Karim Lopez and forward Taylor Hendricks were all sidelined—Lopez and Clayton face reevaluation ahead of the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas (July 10 for Memphis), while Hendricks sat out after a hard fall versus Oklahoma City. The absence showed in the reserve unit, which was outscored 40‑19 by Utah’s bench.

Looking Toward Las Vegas

The summer league run serves as a critical tryout for roster decisions heading into the upcoming NBA 2K26 Summer League. Memphis must determine how the missing players’ conditions will affect a deeper team composition, and fans will watch closely as the Grizzlies prepare to revamp their lineup in Las Vegas.

• Cam Boozer’s late‑game surge delivered 18 points and a 4‑for‑5 three‑point shooting night.
• Cedric Coward answered early doubts with 23 points and a confident all‑court presence.
• Bench depth was a vulnerability, with Utah outscoring Memphis 40‑19 off the bench.

There was plenty of intrigue surrounding the matchup between the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, and both players delivered.

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Utah guard Darryn Peterson proved to be a difficult cover regardless of who Memphis threw at him. Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Javon Small and Cedric Coward all spent time defending Peterson, who finished with 25 points and 12 assists.

Boozer refused to be overshadowed.

After attempting just two shots and scoring five points in the first half, the Grizzlies’ forward became much more aggressive after halftime. He finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Following an interior-heavy debut against Oklahoma City, Boozer showcased his perimeter touch by knocking down 4 of 5 from 3-point range against Utah.

Cedric Coward stays aggressive

One question surrounding Coward during his rookie season was whether he would consistently look for his own offense.

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Through two summer league games, he appears intent on answering it. Coward attacked from the opening tip. After attempting 13 shots against Oklahoma City, he put up 12 in the first half alone against Utah. The efficiency improved as well. After making just three field goals in the opener, he converted seven before halftime against the Jazz.

He finished with 23 points on 9-of-21 shooting in 28 minutes.

Coward displayed the full offensive package, scoring at all three levels while playing with confidence. Maintaining that aggressive mindset will be an important point of emphasis moving forward.

Bench depth tested

Memphis entered summer league with one of its deepest rosters on paper, but injuries quickly tested that depth. Despite productive performances from Boozer and Coward, the Grizzlies were missing Lopez, Clayton and Hendricks.

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The starting lineup still produced balanced scoring. Prosper finished with 16 points, Small added 14 and rookie center Carson Cooper, who started in place of Hendricks, scored 10.

The difference came in the reserve units, where Utah outscored Memphis 40-19.

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Darryn Peterson outduels Cam Boozer in Grizzlies’ summer league loss vs Jazz