Grizzlies Beat Jazz in Peterson, Boozer NBA Debuts, Box Score Stats & Highlights for Ace, Ty Jerome

Rookies Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer were the headliners coming into Wednesday's season opener between the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz, but Ty Jerome stole the show at FedEx Forum

Jerome led the Grizzlies to a 123-103 victory behind a stunning 45 points and 17-of-25 shooting from the field. The long-term futures of both teams will depend on their high-profile rookies, but Wednesday's outcome depended on Jerome's individual brilliance.

There will be better offensive days for both Peterson and Boozer, although the latter impressed on the boards and helped his team start the season 1-0. As for Utah, solid showings from Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen were not enough to earn a win on the road.

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK
Ty Jerome (MEM)	45	7	6	0	1
Cameron Boozer (MEM)	7	11	5	0	0
Jerami Grant (MEM)	15	2	3	0	1
GG Jackson (MEM)	12	8	0	0	2
Keyonte George (UTA)	22	3	5	1	0
Lauri Markkanen (UTA)	18	9	3	0	1
Darryn Peterson (UTA)	9	4	3	0	0
Ace Bailey (UTA)	12	5	3	0	3

While neither team is expected to realistically compete for a title this season, all eyes were on the rookies. Utah selected Peterson with the No. 2 pick of the 2026 NBA draft, while Memphis followed by taking Boozer at No. 3. Throw in Ace Bailey, who the Jazz took at No. 5 last year, and there was plenty of young talent on the court.

However, it was a slow start for both rookies in the scoring department. Boozer had just four points at halftime and struggled with his shot as Jazz defenders swarmed him and cut off his angles, while Peterson had a bit more luck with seven points at intermission.

To their credit, they both found ways to impact the game in the early going beyond their point total. Peterson facilitated when defenders focused too much attention on him, while Boozer contributed on the glass.

With their rookie rebounding, the Grizzlies built a 13-point halftime lead with Jerome taking over for extended stretches and the combination of Jerami Grant and GG Jackson providing an immediate spark off the bench with their outside shooting.

On Utah's side, it was George's shooting and playmaking that kept the visitors within striking distance.

But remaining within striking distance with Jerome playing like he did was a daunting challenge.

The Virginia product took over for stretches in the second half with a combination of floaters in the lane, three-pointers when defenders gave him too much space and drives to the rim when opportunities presented themselves. He was unstoppable and had the Grizzlies in full control even though he was the only starter in double figures heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter was largely a formality outside of seeing how many points Jerome would end up with in his memorable performance.

It was just the kind of start to the season the Grizzlies wanted, and now they will look to build some early momentum when they hit the road to face the Golden State Warriors on Friday.