Aussies Abroad: Landale powers Grizzlies past Wolves

03 Feb 2026

Australian big man Jock Landale tallied 4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists to help Memphis defeat Minnesota by nine points.

Jaren Jackson Jr scored a team-high 30 points as Australian centre Jock Landale helped the Memphis Grizzlies snap a six-game losing streak in a 137-128 win over Minnesota.

Jackson was one of seven Grizzlies players in double figures on Tuesday (AEDT), with Ty Jerome adding 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds in his second game back from a severe right calf injury.

Memphis never trailed and improved their record to 19-29, while the Timberwolves (31-20) stay fifth in the Western Conference.

Anthony Edwards (39 points), Jaden McDaniels (29) and Donte DiVincenzo (21) did the bulk of the scoring for Minnesota, while Julius Randle (19) flirted with a triple-double.

Australian veteran Joe Ingles sat on the Wolves' bench as compatriot Landale contributed four points, six rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes for the Grizzlies.

The 211cm centre was the only Memphis starter not to score in double figures.

Another Aussie, second-year guard Johnny Furphy, didn't make the most of his start for Indiana, tallying just two points, four rebounds and one assist in a 118-114 defeat to Houston.

The Rockets were led by Alperen Sengun, who matched his season-high tally with 39 points, while Jabari Smith Jr added 19 in the absence of All-Star forward Kevin Durant.

Durant sat out, coach Ime Udoka said, after spraining his left ankle when he stepped on a fan's foot.

The Rockets already were missing Kiwi centre Steven Adams, who is expected to be out for the rest of this season, following surgery on his injured left ankle.

Pascal Siakam (27 points) and Bennedict Mathurin (25) top-scored for the Pacers.

Elsewhere, former NBL Next Star LaMelo Ball recovered from an early head clash with coach Charles Lee to score 24 points as Charlotte posted a seventh straight win with a 102-95 comeback victory over New Orleans.

Ball was trying to save an errant pass from going out of bounds when he collided with Lee and left the game briefly with a lacerated eye.

Australian guard Josh Green hardly troubled the statisticians, registering one turnover and one foul in his 10 minutes on court for the Hornets.

Charlotte overcame a 22-point deficit and 17 turnovers while matching their longest winning streak since March 2016.