Grizzlies rookie Davis injured in loss to Cavs
CLEVELAND – Grizzlies coach David Fizdale joked the other day about his rather thin injury updates, loosely calling himself a doctor.
Fizdale might earn a medical degree by the time his first season as an NBA head coach is done.
The revolving door to the trainer’s room kept turning Tuesday night when rookie big man Deyonta Davis left the Grizzlies’ 103-86 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a left foot injury.
Davis, a 2016 second-round draft pick, needed help as he gingerly walked to the locker room in Quicken Loans Arena.
He suffered the injury with eight minutes left to play and did not return.
“I don’t think it’s serious,” Fizdale said. “He may be out for a little bit but I don’t think it’s anything major.”
Fizdale diagnosis of the Grizzlies’ play was much harsher.
Memphis (17-9) fell behind by 22 points in the first half and never seriously threatened Cleveland. The Cavs (18-5) appeared disinterested and casual at times playing against an injury-depleted Griz squad that left center Marc Gasol home to rest.
“We didn’t compete. We played tentative. We gave them too much respect in the first half,” Fizdale said. “You show respect by playing a team hard. I thought we were tippy-toeing around… Our effort was poor and that was disappointing.”
Zach Randolph started in place of Gasol and led the Griz with 18 points. Rookies Andrew Harrison and Troy Williams each tossed in 13 points.
Cleveland rested point guard Kyrie Irving but formed a new Big Three with J.R. Smith tossing in 23 points to complement LeBron James (23 points) and Kevin Love (29 points and 13 rebounds). The Cavs’ 17-4 run to end the first quarter sewed their first double-digit cushion. Memphis trailed 32-20 after the first 12 minutes.
“We didn’t play Grizzlies basketball,” Randolph said. “We came out too soft.”
Davis gave the Griz quality play in his 11 minutes. He made three baskets and grabbed four rebounds. Fizdale called the game a learning experience for his younger players.
“The best part about it is we get to go home and play them again right away,” Fizdale said.
The degree of difficulty will be considerably less.
Cleveland won’t play James, Irving or Love Wednesday night. Neither of them made the trip to Memphis for the teams’ rare home-and-home series.
“My body feels good but I think with (Wednesday) off we have one game in four or five days,” Love said. “So heading into a Saturday game and another back-to-back (next week), it’ll be good for us to get a little bit of rest, get our legs underneath us and get back to work.”
Gasol, the Western Conference Player of the Week, is expected to play.
Memphis also is enjoying the return of veteran swingman Vince Carter. He played 18 minutes after missing seven games because of a hip injury. Carter contributed to the Grizzlies’ 40 percent shooting against the Cavs by going 1 for 4 from the field.
The Griz also were outgunned 12-4 in made field goals from three-point range.
“It was a tough night for us in all aspects of the game,” Carter said. “We didn’t come with the energy and effort that we normally give.”
Grizzlies' next game
Who: Memphis vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
When, where: 7 p.m. Wednesday, FedExForum
TV, radio: Fox Sports Southeast; WMFS 92.9 FM/680 AM