Day'Ron Sharpe matched his season high with 19 points and the Brooklyn Nets defeated the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies 126–115 on Monday night for their second straight win.
Ochai Agbaji added 18 points and Nolan Traore scored 17 as Brooklyn placed six players in double figures while resting leading scorer Michael Porter Jr.. The Nets entered the game coming off a dramatic 107–105 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Saturday that snapped a 10-game losing streak.
Memphis, which had only eight players available, was led by Rayan Rupert with a career-high 20 points, while Javon Small added 19. The loss was the fourth straight for the Grizzlies, who have dropped 11 of their last 14 games.
The Grizzlies were missing a long list of contributors, including Ja Morant (left elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), Santi Aldama (knee), Ty Jerome (calf), Cedrix Coward (knee), Taj Gibson (reconditioning), Taylor Hendricks (thumb) and Brandon Clarke (calf). Zach Edey and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are out for the season.
Brooklyn held a narrow lead through much of the third quarter before pulling away early in the fourth. Traore drilled a three-pointer to push the Nets ahead 101–90, and Agbaji followed with two baskets off assists from Ziaire Williams to stretch the lead to 15.
The Nets’ depth proved decisive, as their bench outscored Memphis 67–40.
Earlier Monday, Brooklyn announced rookie Egor Demin will miss the remainder of the season with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The 6-foot-8 guard averaged 10.3 points in 52 games.
Up next: Memphis visits the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, while Brooklyn returns home to host Detroit.
