Zach Edey Stats Tonight: How did Grizzlies rookie fare against Golden State Warriors? (Apr. 15) | 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament
Zach Edey and the Memphis Grizzlies opened the Western Conference play-in tournament hostilities on Tuesday with a showdown against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The rookie looked to help his team pull an upset on the road to earn a ticket to the playoffs. A victory by the Grizzlies would give them the No. 7 seed and a series against the Houston Rockets.
Unsurprisingly, the 7-foot-4 center made his presence felt inside the paint and on the boards early on. He had six rebounds, three coming from the offensive glass, helping his team recover from a stuttering start. Edey went 0-for-3 but was the only starter without a negative +/- rating.
Overall, the Grizzlies played better in the second quarter than in the first, but Edey struggled. He had trouble anchoring the defense, and his rebounding dominance fizzled. Memphis trailed 67-55 at halftime.
Zach Edey's best stretch came in the third quarter when he had four points, three rebounds and two assists. The Grizzlies won the period 36-27 to move within 94-91 of the Dubs entering the fourth quarter.
The former Purdue star struggled again in the fourth quarter, prompting Grizzlies interim coach Tuomas Iisalo to replace the rookie with Santi Aldama. He had a better impact when he returned, scoring the free throws that cut the Warriors' lead to 117-116 with 14.1 seconds remaining.
However, the Grizzlies could not complete their rally and lost 121-116 to the Warriors. They will play the winner of the Dallas Mavericks versus Sacramento Kings game on Wednesday for the No. 8 seed.
Zach Edey quietly puts up double-double in the Memphis Grizzlies' 121-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors
In the most intense basketball game yet in Zach Edey's debut season, the rookie had an uneven performance. He missed his first three shots, including two dunks he could have made in his sleep.
Still, he had moments where he controlled the glass for Memphis by himself. Edey's seven offensive boards matched the Dubs' starting five's combined haul. Fans could easily criticize Zach Edey's performance, but he finished the game with a plus/minus of +6, the best among the Grizzlies' starters. Memphis outscored Golden State by six points in his 33 minutes on the floor.
Almost quietly, the big man tallied a 14-point and 17-rebound double-double.