Grizzlies Dominate Pacers Behind Hendricks' Career Night and Clayton Jr.'s Record

Memphis cruises to 125-106 victory without star Ja Morant, led by breakout performances from key role players

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Memphis Grizzlies delivered a commanding 125-106 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, led by a career-high 19 points from Taylor Hendricks off the bench and a record-setting 14 assists from rookie point guard Walter Clayton Jr. The Grizzlies spread the scoring around, with five players scoring 16 or more points, as they pulled away in the second half to sweep the season series against the struggling Pacers.

Why it matters

With star Ja Morant sidelined, the Grizzlies needed secondary scoring to step up, and they found it in Hendricks and Clayton Jr. The win keeps Memphis in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference, and the strong performances from the team's young role players bode well for their future.

The details

Taylor Hendricks came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. Rookie point guard Walter Clayton Jr. dished out 14 assists, tying the franchise's single-game rookie record and setting the NBA's high for a rookie this season. The Grizzlies shot 51.1% from the field and 42.9% from three, with five players scoring 16 or more points, including Jaylen Wells (18), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (17), and Scotty Pippen Jr. (16).

  • The Grizzlies entered halftime with a 65-60 lead over the Pacers.

The players

Taylor Hendricks

A Grizzlies bench player who scored a career-high 19 points in the win.

Walter Clayton Jr.

The Grizzlies' rookie point guard who dished out 14 assists, tying the franchise's single-game rookie record.

Ja Morant

The Grizzlies' star player who missed his 17th straight game with a left elbow injury.

Jarace Walker

A Pacers player who scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 4 three-pointers.

Micah Potter

A Pacers bench player who had 18 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The Grizzlies' young role players stepped up in a big way to lead the team to a convincing win over the Pacers, showcasing the depth and potential of this Memphis squad as they continue to fight for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.