In a now-or-never scenario, the Memphis Grizzlies threw out the first punch. And then the second. And then the third, fourth. Returning home, the eighth seed understood it was a must-win or face being stuck in a 0-3 playoff deficit.

The Grizzlies led by 27 points when Ja Morant landed on the FedExForum floor and left the game with a hip injury in the second quarter. Memphis led by 26 points at halftime. Iisalo said Morant’s absence “quite drastically” changed the energy and execution from the team going forward.