Court Vision: Carter's monster jam stands out in Grizzlies' loss
"We're not closing out all the way," said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. "We can't dare people. We've got to get all the way out to people."
Perhaps the two biggest triples came in Utah's 8-0 run to close the first half. It dropped the Grizzlies by a point at the break and Memphis never led by more than two the rest of the way.
The deep ball was also the reason for the Grizzlies' 22-game home winning streak falling on Dec. 5, when the Spurs hit 14 3-pointers (on 56 percent shooting). Four days later, the Mavericks shot 45 percent and made 18 triples.
The Grizzlies have made 20 of 79 in four games -- a 23-percent clip. Last weekend, Memphis made just 2 of 13 vs. Chicago (Friday) and 1 of 16 triples against Cleveland (Sunday).
Joerger said the closing out issues are a matter of speed, or lack thereof.
"We're just slow," he said. "We just have to play with more urgency and hopefully get some more fire and energy back in us after a couple days off."
For the first time in more than a year, the Grizzlies have lost three straight games. But center Marc Gasol will never put down an excuse. In fact, he didn't say much of anything.
"It's not just because they're not playing," Gasol said. "It can't be that simple. It's not that simple. It's not that simple. Sorry."
It does seem puzzling. For the second time in the three-game skid, the Grizzlies tied the franchise low of four turnovers.
Memphis started a difficult December with losses to the Rockets and Spurs, followed by six straight wins -- last two biggies against Golden State and San Antonio.
But three straight losses, two in the East and one to 9-20 Utah, have stymied momentum.
It may not be very simple, but this is: The sum of Randolph and Gasol is greater than the individuals of Randolph and Gasol.
Memphis is 1-4 without Randolph since the start of last season ... and 70-35 with him.
Point guard Beno Udrih kept it simple, as well.
"We're just not being ourselves and it's not acceptable," Udrih said. "We've got to do what our jobs are and play together, play hard ... We just didn't have the effort we were supposed to have to win this game."
Mike Conley had a game-high 28 for Memphis. Gasol had 24 points and 12 rebounds, his third straight double-double and first 20/10 back-to-back of his career.
Alec Burks had 23 points for Utah.
Memphis welcomes two days off practice before Friday's host date against Houston.
From hustling rookie Jordan Adams saving a ball from going out of bounds, Carter went one-handed and used his right to very angrily throw down by far his most aggressive dunk as a Grizzly.
"I saw the big fellow. I know what he can do. I was just hoping I win that one. And I won," said Carter, with a sly smile.
Carter struggled early this season with an ankle injury he refused to blame. But he has scored in double figures in five straight games. He's shooting 48 percent in the streak and has made 11 of 25 from beyond the arc.
Carter says he hasn't changed anything. His minutes are up in December (18.9). He's played at least 20 in each of the last five, 41 in the triple overtime win in San Antonio.
16: Utah's Gobert had a career-high 16 rebounds. His previous high was 12. The Jazz outrebounded Memphis 49-34 and 10-5 on the offensive glass.
5: Seems a small number, but it was a career-high for Grizzlies rookie guard Jordan Adams, who played 10 minutes and made both his shots. He was recalled from Iowa Sunday. The hustler also had a pair of rebounds and a blocked shot.
**"We have a goal of not letting teams score over 25 points per quarter, and we won three of the four quarter." -- Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (21 points)
**"They're such a big part of our team. For them to be missing, we've had to kind of dial some stuff back and change some things up." -- Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley on missing Allen and Randolph
