NBA: Underperformers and overachievers for Week 24

Overachiever: MarShon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies

On Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Brice Johnson and signed wing MarShon Brooks to a 10-day deal. Two days later, on Thursday night, the Grizzlies signing proved to be quite useful as Brooks led them to their second straight victory.

Brooks scored 21 points, 14 of them in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers to give Memphis a 108-103 victory. Portland was without point guard Damian Lillard, who missed Thursday’s game to tend to the birth of his first child. Still, it was an embarrassing display for the Trail Blazers as Brooks went off to probably extend his stay a little further than 10 days in the league.

He made his return to the NBA after a four-year hiatus. He last appeared on the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster in the 2013-14 season. Since then, he’s been playing in the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 36.6 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 40.7 percent from 3-point range.

Brooks was 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) and a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point land off the bench as Memphis overcame 42 points from C.J. McCollum to snag the victory.