Cameron Boozer Gets First Triple-Double as Grizzlies Go 5-0

Cameron Boozer picked up the first triple-double of his NBA career on Thursday night, putting up 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies crushed the Portland Trail Blazers 124-103 to stay perfect at 5-0.

The rookie did it in just 28 minutes and finished plus-20, which tells you how much the game tilted when he was on the floor. Boozer shot 6 of 10, hit 4 of his 5 threes and ran the offense like a forward who has been doing this for years.

Boozer Ran the Show

Twelve assists from a frontcourt rookie is the number that jumps off the page. Memphis had eight players in double figures, including three off the bench, and a lot of those looks came from Boozer finding cutters and shooters. Isaiah Stewart led the reserves with 18 points in 16 minutes, and Cedric Coward chipped in 17.

The game broke open late in the third. With Memphis up two, the Grizzlies ripped off a 10-0 run to go up 87-75. Zach Edey drilled a three with 9:47 left in the fourth for a 96-85 lead, Ty Jerome followed with back-to-back buckets, and Memphis outscored Portland 33-20 in the final quarter.

• Boozer: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists in 28 minutes

• Memphis: 8 players in double figures

• Grizzlies record: 5-0

Ja Morant Leaves His Old Team's Game Hurt

The other big storyline was Ja Morant's first game against Memphis since leaving after seven seasons. He had 14 points and three assists in 23 minutes before leaving in the fourth quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return. Blazers coach Micah Nori said Morant felt a twinge and that he hoped to know more Friday. "I'm hoping that it's nothing major, obviously," Nori said.

That is a real worry for Portland, which had started 3-0 before this loss. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Damian Lillard went just 3 of 13 from the field a game after hitting the dagger three against the Lakers.

Next Up for Memphis

The Grizzlies visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. Sacramento is 0-5 after losing 132-120 in New Orleans on Thursday. Portland heads to Utah on Saturday, and the first thing every Blazers fan will check is Friday's update on Morant's hamstring.

Smacktok pick lean: we like Boozer's assists against Sacramento. He just handed out 12 in 28 minutes in a blowout, the Kings have not won yet, and Memphis is clearly comfortable running offense through him.