Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome recorded a career-best 45 points during the season opener on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, to lead Memphis to a 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz. Jerome's performance, which included a three-pointer from near the midcourt logo, set a new Memphis record for points scored by a player in a season opener.
The Grizzlies held a 64-51 advantage at halftime and extended their lead to 82-55 following an 18-4 run at the start of the third quarter. Jerome, who was acquired as a free agent before last season, converted 17 of 25 shots and made five of 10 three-point attempts. His performance also included seven rebounds, six assists, and only one turnover. This scoring total surpassed the previous franchise opening-night record of 44 points set by Ja Morant at the start of the 2020-21 season.
For the Utah Jazz, Keyonte George led the scoring with 22 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 18 points. Jaxson Hayes recorded a career-high six blocks. The game featured a matchup between former top draft picks Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer; Peterson scored 9 points, while Boozer finished with seven points and 11 rebounds and was a plus-32 for the night. Additionally, Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 15 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter during his return to the FedExForum after eight seasons with the Grizzlies.
Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo credited the team's success to collective play rather than individual effort. Jerome noted that while he expects to perform at that level, he remains focused on continuous improvement. The Grizzlies' victory saw them maintain a lead of at least 15 points throughout the fourth quarter.
The Utah Jazz are scheduled to host New Orleans on Friday. The Memphis Grizzlies will play Golden State on Friday.
