Ty Jerome's Career-High 45 Powers Grizzlies Past Jazz in Season Opener

The Memphis Grizzlies opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a convincing home win over the Utah Jazz, powered by a career-best scoring night from guard Ty Jerome. The victory was the largest margin of any season opener in franchise history.

Jerome scored 45 points to lead all players, making 17 of 25 shots from the floor and 5 of 10 from three-point range. The total set a franchise record for points by a Grizzlies player in a season opener, passing the 44 that Ja Morant scored in 2020. The performance also offers an early answer to the question of who will fill the starting point guard role in Memphis.

Jerami Grant added 15 points in his first game with the Grizzlies. Jaylen Wells scored 12 and tied his career high with four steals. The win moved Memphis to five victories in its last six season openers.

The game came after a painful offseason for the franchise. Canadian big man Brandon Clarke died unexpectedly, and the team traded all-star point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, closing the chapter of the GrzNxtGen era. Morant and Clarke both joined Memphis through the 2019 NBA draft, as the second and 21st overall picks, respectively.

The night carried another emotional note for fans at FedExForum, who saw Jaren Jackson Jr. return for the first time in another team's uniform. Jackson finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks for Utah before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

The matchup was also billed as a meeting of two of this year's top rookies. Utah selected Kansas standout Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick, and Memphis took Duke's Cam Boozer third. Peterson ended the night with nine points. Boozer had 11 rebounds, seven points and five assists, but shot just 2-for-15 from the field and missed all six of his three-point attempts.

Boozer's rough shooting night did little to slow Memphis, which controlled the game behind Jerome's output.

The Grizzlies now begin a four-game road trip on Friday against Golden State. Utah starts a five-game homestand that includes a second meeting with Memphis on October 26.