The Memphis Grizzlies bounced back from a rough first quarter to defeat the Indiana Pacers 136-121 on Sunday, marking their sixth straight win.
Seven Grizzlies players scored in double digits, with Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the team with 25 points and eight rebounds. Ja Morant added 19 points and a game-high eight assists, while Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart each scored 16 points.
Indiana got 19 points and eight rebounds from Bennedict Mathurin. Pascal Siakam scored 17 points, Obi Toppin had 16, and T.J. McConnell added 15.
Memphis finished the game with 36 assists, marking their fifth consecutive game with 30 or more assists, setting a franchise record. The Grizzlies entered the game leading the NBA with an average of 30.4 assists. Three players — Bane, Smart, and Santi Aldama — each recorded six assists.
The Grizzlies won their 10th game out of 13 home games this season, a big improvement after finishing 9-32 at home last year, but it took a lot of effort.
Memphis was down by 19 points early in the second quarter, but they fought back to outscore the Pacers 74-46 in the second and third quarters, taking an 11-point lead into the final period.
The Grizzlies never trailed again after a basket by rookie Jaylen Wells gave them an 83-81 lead midway through the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Memphis maintained a lead of double digits for most of the time, extending it to 17 points at one point.
Indiana was leading 68-62 at halftime after shooting very well in the first quarter. The Pacers made 63% of their shots (17 of 27) in the first quarter and shot 56.2% overall in the first half, which helped them build a 19-point lead.
A 27-7 run allowed the Pacers to finish the first quarter with a 45-28 lead. The 45 points were the most Memphis had allowed in any quarter this season and the second-most in franchise history.
Andrew Nembhard, who was returning from a knee injury, scored 14 points by halftime to lead Indiana. He did not play in the second half. Memphis received strong contributions from their bench late in the second quarter, with Aldama scoring 13 points and Smart adding 12.
