Memphis advanced to the Summer League championship Sunday with a 101-90 victory over Houston on Saturday. The win sets up a showdown with the Golden State Warriors, punching the Grizzlies’ ticket to the title game.
The Grizzlies shot poorly early, but a relentless second-chance effort and free-throw conversion kept them ahead. Houston sputtered in the opening quarter, managing just three field goals at 15.8 percent shooting, before clawing back with seven 3-pointers in the final period. Memphis forward Coward shouldered the scoring load with 28 points, including four triples, and handed out five assists while limiting his turnovers to one.
Coward’s versatility was the catalyst for Memphis’ resilience. His ability to pressure the ball, disrupt passing lanes, and finish at the rim anchored a defensive scheme that forced the Rockets into low-percentage looks. Coupled with aggressive rebounding, the Grizzlies turned missed shots into easy buckets, a hallmark of their Summer League identity. Even as they slipped into a sloppy offensive rhythm, the team’s commitment to attacking the glass and drawing fouls compensated for the shooting drought.
The performance illustrates Memphis’ developmental trajectory. Throughout the tournament the Grizzlies have leaned on high-energy pressure and aggressive rebounding, mirroring the style they displayed in the opening quarter against Houston. Houston’s early-quarter collapse, holding to three field goals at 15.8 percent, highlighted a depth gap that Memphis exploited.
Sunday’s final against Golden State will be the ultimate test of Memphis’ adaptability. The Warriors, known for their fluid offense and sharpshooting, will challenge the Grizzlies’ defensive schemes and rebounding advantage. A victory would crown Memphis as Summer League champions, while a loss could still provide valuable data on how the team’s pressure tactics fare against elite shooting.
Regardless of the outcome, the tournament has already offered a clear narrative: a gritty, glass-focused Memphis squad can offset offensive inefficiencies with relentless defense and opportunistic scoring.
