The rash of injuries at the point guard position has created an opportunity for Memphis Grizzlies reserve Cam Spencer.
As the Grizzlies prepare for a visit Sunday from the Portland Trail Blazers, Spencer finds himself a key part of the rotation and a major reason Memphis has won six of its past eight games, including Friday’s 107-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Spencer, a second-year player from UConn, is averaging 15.7 points in the past seven games. The Grizzlies are 5-2 during that stretch.
Among those sidelined by injury are two-time All-Star Ja Morant (calf), Ty Jerome (calf) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe). Morant is expected back soon.
While the group recovers, Spencer is prospering. He has made 18 of his last 29 shots from long range and ranks among the top 10 in the NBA in 3-point percentage. In Friday’s win, he had 17 points and seven assists, and his step-back three with 4:37 left in regulation gave the Grizzlies a 98-96 lead. Memphis never trailed again.
Spencer isn’t starting at the point. The Grizzlies have moved shooting guard Vince Williams Jr. into that spot and he has given the team a playmaker it didn’t realize it had. Williams has produced two games with 15 or more assists. He and Denver Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic (three times) are the only two players this season who have accomplished the feat.
As for Spencer, he is enjoying the increased minutes off the bench and the role he’s playing in getting the team back on its feet. The Grizzlies lost 11 of their first 15 games.
“We hit some adversity at the beginning of the year, but we’ve bounced back pretty well,” Spencer said.
Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo has been encouraged by Spencer’s toughness, scoring and court vision. Spencer’s work ethic has caught his attention, too.
“I’m surprised that people aren’t talking about him more,” Iisalo said. “Here’s a guy who played (sparingly) last year and now he’s causing trouble.”
Iisalo said opponents have to make him part of their scouting report.
“He has the ability to make shots off the catch (and) create for himself and others through the ball screens,” Iisalo said. “He can handle both backcourt spots which, in his second year as a professional and in the NBA, is very impressive.
“He’s one of those guys that at the end of (last) May wanted to come in and do involuntary workouts and start learning new things. He’s reaping the benefits right now of that work. When there were some unfortunate events with the injuries, he’s gotten his moment. Preparation has met opportunity.”
Portland will enter Sunday’s game coming off a late-game collapse in a 122-116 loss Friday at Detroit. The Pistons finished the game on a 19-8 run to snatch a victory from the struggling Trail Blazers. Portland has lost four of its last five and nine of its last 12.
Interim head coach Tiago Splitter said he appreciated his team’s competitiveness during a stretch in which the Trail Blazers are dealing with multiple injuries, including to guards Scoot Henderson (hamstring) and Jrue Holiday (calf).
“We have a lot of guys playing out of their (natural) positions,” Splitter said. “We tried to junk it up (against Detroit) with a lot of defenses. I thought we fought hard but we didn’t have enough to finish.”
