On November 27th, the Memphis Grizzlies had a 9-10 record. The team was tied for ninth in the Western Conference. Fast forward to today. The Grizzlies have a firm hold on the third seed in the Western Conference with a 40-18 record. They are one of three teams, including the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, to have reached 40 wins. This is the first time in franchise history that the team has reached 40 wins before the All-Star break.

They’ve done this largely with the play of All-Star phenom Ja Morant, but also, with a dedicated and determined supporting cast that has allowed the Grizzlies to weather more than their share of health and safety protocols and injuries this season.

One member of that supporting cast is Canadian big man Brandon Clarke. In the team's current five-game winning streak, their third of the season, not including an 11-game streak to close out 2021 and go mid-way through January 2022, Clarke is averaging 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 blocks in just 23 minutes per game.

These numbers are up across the board for Clarke who is averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in his third NBA season. In this latest stretch, the Grizzlies have been without Dillon Brooks, the team’s second-leading scorer. Brooks has been sidelined since Jan. 8 with an ankle sprain.

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The Grizzlies have consistently been one of the most entertaining teams to watch this season. The way the entire team, from players on the court to the players on the bench, celebrate and support one another has helped to set them apart.

“It feels great, really,” Clarke said. “It just makes playing every night more fun, seeing the guys on the bench get hype when I go up and do a dunk. It’s great. I try doing the same for them, so it’s always nice seeing guys like Jaren [Jackson Jr.] and Ja get up on the bench.”

In a 135-109 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, Clarke had 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. He followed that up with a 14-point, nine-rebound, three-assist effort in a 132-1-7 win against the Detroit Pistons, adding a steal and a block to round out his night. In the team’s most recent victory, a 125-118 road win against the Charlotte Hornets, Clarke contributed 16 points and six rebounds. His numbers have gone up each month this season as he’s been a crucial part of Memphis’ success.‍

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Lu Dort had a 31-point effort in a 106-101 Oklahoma City Thunder loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Dort has been putting up numbers for the Thunder, as they continue to play without fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is out with an ankle injury until at least after the All-Star break. Dort is averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season.

In Indiana, Oshae Brissett had a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Brissett also added two assists and two blocked shots in 37 minutes of action. The 23-year-old is averaging 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 45 games this season.

Back to the Western Conference, Andrew Wiggins and the Golden State Warriors remain in second in the conference with a 42-15 record, trailing only the Phoenix Suns. Wiggins had a 19-point performance in a 117-115 thriller against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, and a 15-point, seven-rebound, four-assist effort against the Knicks.

The Toronto Raptors had their season-high eight-game winning streak snapped by the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, but big man Chris Boucher continues to play a solid role off the bench for the team this season. In a 139-120 road win against the Houston Rockets, Boucher contributed 16 points and five rebounds. Boucher is averaging 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in his fifth NBA season.

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Boucher’s teammate, rookie Dalano Banton, had a 10-point, four-rebound, three-assist performance in 20 minutes in that road win against the Rockets. Banton has continued to make the most of his time when he gets into the game for the Raptors.

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Last week was also the NBA trade deadline. Nickeil Alexander-Walker moved from New Orleans Pelicans to the Portland Trail Blazers to the Utah Jazz. In a trade between the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, veteran big man Tristan Thompson moved from the Kings to the Pacers. Big man Trey Lyles moved from the Pistons to the Kings.

With just four days left until All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, the push to head into the break on a high is well underway.