32 to 2. That was the score after 10 minutes at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Atlanta entered the game unbeaten and within reach of a Summer League semifinal berth. Memphis erased that possibility almost immediately. The Grizzlies opened with 21 unanswered points, forced 8 early turnovers and allowed only 1 Atlanta field goal during a stunning first quarter.
NBA.com’s official tournament records listed Atlanta’s 2 points as the lowest first quarter total in Summer League history. Memphis had already built a 30 point lead before the Hawks could find any rhythm.
By halftime, the Grizzlies led 51 to 22. Their advantage later reached 36 points before they completed a 96 to 64 victory.
Cameron Boozer stood at the center of it. The No. 3 overall pick scored a game high 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting, grabbed 7 rebounds and added 3 assists. Memphis needed a convincing win to secure its tournament position. It delivered one of the most complete performances of the week.
Memphis Buried Atlanta in the Opening Quarter
The first quarter looked less like a playoff race and more like a controlled demolition.
Memphis made 13 of its 17 shots during the period. Atlanta went 1 of 13. The Grizzlies attacked before the Hawks could organize their defense, finishing near the rim and turning loose possessions into quick scoring chances.
Atlanta missed its first 6 shots and committed 8 turnovers during the opening surge. The Hawks did not score their first point until only 3 minutes remained in the quarter. By then, the contest had already slipped beyond their control.
Every Atlanta mistake seemed to create another Memphis opportunity. The Grizzlies pushed the ball after steals, attacked open lanes and punished late defensive rotations. Even when the first attempt missed, Memphis often controlled the rebound and earned another chance.
That command continued beyond the historic opening period. The Grizzlies finished with a 45 to 34 rebounding advantage and recorded 20 assists against Atlanta’s 15. They shot 50 percent from the field while limiting the Hawks to 6 makes on 31 attempts from 3 point range.
Memphis dictated every part of the game. It won the physical battles, created cleaner shots and forced Atlanta to play from behind on nearly every possession.
Boozer Controlled the Game Without Forcing It
Boozer did not need to dominate the ball to become the leading scorer.
His 13 attempts produced 24 points because he recognized where the openings were. When Atlanta gave him space, he attacked. As defenders collapsed, he looked for teammates rather than forcing difficult shots.
One of his sharpest plays came in transition during the opening surge. Boozer advanced the ball and delivered a creative pass to Carson Cooper, displaying the vision that makes him more than a traditional interior scorer.
At 6 feet 10 inches and 250 pounds, Boozer already has the strength to finish through contact. His passing and patience made the performance more impressive. Nothing looked rushed. He found points within the flow of the offense instead of turning the blowout into a personal shooting exhibition.
Boozer was not flawless. He committed 4 turnovers, and some of his ambitious passes created unnecessary danger against defensive pressure. Still, he never allowed those mistakes to affect his shot selection or disrupt the next possession.
The rookie remained composed. Memphis kept scoring. The lead continued to grow.
Coward and Prosper Gave Memphis Multiple Threats
Atlanta could not focus all its attention on Boozer because Memphis had production throughout the lineup.
Cedric Coward scored 23 points on 7 of 12 shooting, finishing only 1 point behind Boozer. Olivier Maxence Prosper added 18 points, giving the Grizzlies 65 combined points from their 3 leading scorers. Javon Small contributed 9 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
That balance kept Atlanta trapped. Sending extra help toward Boozer created space elsewhere. Staying with the other scorers left Boozer room to operate.
Memphis also understood the stakes. The Grizzlies entered the game at 2 and 1 and needed more than a routine victory to climb through the point differential tiebreaker.
“We came into this game knowing there were some high stakes, knowing what we were playing for. And we played like it,” Coward said after the win.
The 32 point victory lifted Memphis’s average point differential from plus 4.7 to plus 11.5. The Grizzlies jumped from 9th place to 2nd and secured their place in the semifinals.
A Depleted Atlanta Team Never Recovered
Atlanta arrived without several important players. Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Asa Newell did not play. Jacob Toppin, RayJ Dennis and Keshon Gilbert were also unavailable.
Those absences limited Atlanta’s options, but they did not fully explain the margin. Memphis still had to execute, and it did so with greater force from the opening possession.
A 9 to 0 Atlanta run late in the second quarter briefly cut the deficit to 23 points. Kobe Johnson also produced several solid defensive possessions against Boozer. Memphis answered before halftime and quickly restored control.
The Hawks suffered another setback when Isaac McKneely left with a right shoulder injury. Isaiah Wong finished with 20 points and 5 rebounds, while Zeke Mayo added 10 from the bench. No other Atlanta starter scored more than 5 points.
By the end of the third quarter, Memphis led 76 to 42. The Hawks never threatened again.
Memphis Advances With a Clear Statement
Summer League results cannot predict exactly how a rookie will perform once the regular season begins. They can still reveal how young players handle pace, spacing, physical contact and tournament pressure.
Boozer answered those questions well against Atlanta. He scored efficiently, created for teammates and remained composed inside a game carrying real consequences.
Memphis also showed that its roster offers more than 1 promising scorer. Coward attacked alongside Boozer, Prosper supplied another reliable option and Small kept the offense organized.
The Grizzlies entered the night needing a convincing win. They opened with a record defensive quarter, led by as many as 36 points and walked away with a semifinal berth.
Boozer delivered the leading performance. Memphis controlled everything else.
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FAQs
How many points did Cameron Boozer score against Atlanta?
Boozer scored 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting. He also recorded 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
What was the score after the first quarter?
Memphis led Atlanta 32 to 2 after the opening quarter. The Hawks made only 1 of their 13 field goal attempts.
What was the final score between Memphis and Atlanta?
The Grizzlies defeated the Hawks 96 to 64 and secured a place in the Summer League semifinals.
Who else scored heavily for Memphis?
Cedric Coward scored 23 points, while Olivier Maxence Prosper added 18. The trio combined for 65 points.
How did Memphis reach the Summer League semifinals?
Memphis improved its point differential with a 32 point victory. That margin moved the Grizzlies from 9th place to 2nd in the standings.
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