Tag: Memphis Grizzlies

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NBA (Basketball)

The Hawks’ defense will be tested by the Grizzlies’ explosive offense

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks

The Atlanta Hawks’ defense will face a tough challenge on Saturday when they begin a four-game homestand by playing against the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA’s best offensive team.

The Hawks allow 119.3 points per game, which is the fourth-worst in the league. What’s more concerning is their struggle to defend the 3-point shot. They rank last in the NBA, giving up an average of 15.9 3-pointers per game at a 38.2 percent success rate.

This could be a big problem against Memphis, who set a franchise record by hitting 27 3-pointers in their 144-93 win over Golden State on Thursday.

Memphis also played well on defense. They held Golden State’s stars, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, without a field goal. Curry was 0-for-7 with two points, and Green was 0-for-4 without scoring.

“That’s our mentality,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “I tell the guys all the time, and I give them the list of things I saw that were really good. I’m like, this is what it’s got to be like every single night. They know it. It’s a tough schedule for everyone, 82 games, and some teams will get more attention than others.”

“And Atlanta is playing really well right now, a dynamic team, but it’s always about us, you know, I don’t care who’s on the schedule.”

The Hawks, who reached the semifinals of the NBA Cup tournament, have lost two games in a row but have won seven out of their last 10. In their 133-126 overtime loss to San Antonio on Thursday, four Hawks players scored more than 20 points. This was the third time in their last five games that Atlanta allowed more than 130 points.

Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics

“That balance is something we’ve had,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder. “We had a lot of good possessions where we were spaced and able to get some good looks.”

This will be the first meeting between the teams this season. Last year, they split their two games, each winning on the other’s home court. Memphis has won two straight games in Atlanta.

Memphis made a change to their starting lineup, moving Zach Edey into the center position, with Brandon Clarke coming off the bench against Golden State. Edey contributed eight points and eight rebounds, while Clarke had eight points and 10 rebounds in the win.

“We just felt our starting unit needed a little bit of a boost,” said Jenkins. “Could I get a little bit of a jolt there? I thought Zach played well, and this is no reflection on B.C., he’s been great with any unit. It was a tough decision, and we’ll keep evaluating lineup combinations.”

The easy win for Memphis helped reduce the playing time for Ja Morant, who took a hard fall against Indiana in the previous game and was listed as questionable due to back soreness. Morant started but only played 17 minutes because of the game’s one-sided score. He is still listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.

Morant is second on the team with an average of 21.2 points per game, behind Jaren Jackson Jr. at 21.8 points.

Atlanta will be without backups Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder) and Onyeka Okongwu (left knee inflammation), while star guard Trae Young (right heel) is listed as questionable. Memphis is missing Jay Huff (left ankle sprain), and Marcus Smart (left shoulder) is also questionable.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Lakers are focused on making a strong statement from the start in their upcoming rematch against the Grizzlies

Anthony Davis leaps to make the basket

Lakers star center Anthony Davis believes that the team will need to rely on its toughness when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.

The Lakers struggled with this on Friday, losing 97-87 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds but also committed four of Los Angeles’ 22 turnovers, which was a season-high.

After watching his team fail to take a lead against Minnesota, Davis is focused on ensuring that the Lakers bring more intensity in their next game against Memphis.

“Being physical,” Davis said when asked how Los Angeles was going to compete with the Grizzlies. “We’re playing a physical team, and they’ll try to create turnovers with their physicality and disruption on the ball, passing lanes, things like that.”

Davis is also hoping for a much cleaner performance than what the Lakers showed on Friday.

“Once we take care of the basketball and get some ball movement and body movement, we’ll be able to score,” Davis said. “But we can’t have 22 turnovers like we did (against the Timberwolves).”

Superstar LeBron James is at risk of missing his third straight game for the Lakers as he continues to recover from a left foot injury. James, 39, is averaging 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game this season and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

James has averaged 37.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in two games against Memphis this season. The Grizzlies and Lakers have split those matchups, with Los Angeles winning the most recent one 128-123 on November 13.

Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves

Since then, Memphis has been playing very well, going 11-3 over their last 14 games.

“We are making progress and developing right now, and I’m definitely excited where this group has trended the past couple weeks,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said earlier this week. “Are we going to maintain our pace? We’ve been committed to relying on our depth.

“Defensively, we’ve had progress in our pick-and-roll coverages and our one-on-one defense has improved. But it’s all about consistency. That’s the thing we’ve talked with the team about over this stretch.”

Memphis has been on a strong run, winning four straight games, including a 127-121 road win over the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Grizzlies also won 135-119 against the Nets on Friday.

Ja Morant led Memphis against Brooklyn with 28 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists, while Desmond Bane had 21 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama each added 20 points.

“We’ve got to be proud of (the recent improvements),” Aldama said ahead of a four-day break before the win over the Nets. “Use this time off and then get back to work… Use these practice days to our advantage, and kind of crack down on things we need to get better at.”

Big men Zach Edey (ankle) and Jay Huff (knee) are questionable for Memphis on Sunday, as is guard Marcus Smart (knee).

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NBA (Basketball)

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies secured their fourth consecutive win by defeating the Brooklyn Nets

Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets

Ja Morant recorded 28 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies won their fourth consecutive game, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 135-119 on Friday.

Desmond Bane contributed 21 points and eight assists, while Santi Aldama came off the bench to score 20 points, including five 3-pointers. The Grizzlies, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, also saw Jaren Jackson Jr. add 20 points, Brandon Clarke score 14, and Jaylen Wells finish with 12 points.

Memphis took the lead at 21-18 midway through the first quarter and never trailed after that. They shot 52.5 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from beyond the arc, making 17 of 36 three-point attempts. This victory helped them avenge two early-season losses to Brooklyn.

Jackson also contributed seven rebounds and five steals, while the Grizzlies extended their streak of scoring at least 115 points to 11 games.

Dorian Finney-Smith led the Nets with 19 points. Dennis Schroder and Jalen Wilson both scored 15 points, and Noah Clowney, Shake Milton, Day’Ron Sharpe, Cameron Johnson, and Keon Johnson each had 12 points. However, Brooklyn committed 18 turnovers and has now lost five of its last six games.

Ja Morant celebrates a three pointer

Memphis entered the game as the league’s highest-scoring team, averaging 122.1 points per game. They led 39-36 at the end of the fast-paced first quarter, with both teams combining for 13 made three-pointers. Morant scored 16 points in the second quarter, helping Memphis extend their lead to 69-56 by halftime.

Brooklyn briefly closed the gap to 74-72 in the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Johnson, Finney-Smith, and Schroder, but Memphis responded with a 13-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Jaylen Wells.

The Grizzlies led 107-95 at the start of the fourth quarter and extended their lead to 121-106 after a layup from Clarke. Ben Simmons cut the deficit to 123-113 with 5:38 left, but Memphis answered with a 10-0 run to seal the win.

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NBA (Basketball)

On a winning streak, the Grizzlies aim to get revenge on the Nets for previous losses

Ja Morant in the 1st half

The Memphis Grizzlies are playing much better now compared to the team that lost twice to the Brooklyn Nets in the first two weeks of the season.

The Grizzlies have won nine of their last 10 games and hope to keep their strong play going when they face the Nets at home on Friday. Both teams have had four days of rest after they didn’t qualify for the final rounds of the NBA Cup.

The Nets have lost four of their last five games, and it will be tough for them to stop Memphis, which has scored at least 115 points in 10 consecutive games.

After Memphis’ recent victories over the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, the team received praise from opposing coaches. Ja Morant, the star of the Grizzlies, scored 32 points in their 127-121 win over Boston last Saturday.

“If you don’t defend them in transition, it’s going to be extremely difficult to beat them,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They’re a good team, well-coached and have great players. You have to control what you can control, don’t turn the ball over and get back on defense so you can withstand when their talent takes over.”

Morant (back soreness) and Desmond Bane (left toe soreness) missed the Grizzlies’ 140-112 road win over the Wizards on Sunday, but both are expected to play against Brooklyn.

Santi Aldama has been playing well, averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the field for the Grizzlies, who have led for almost 370 out of a possible 480 minutes in their last 10 games.

“We are making progress and developing right now, and I’m definitely excited where this group has trended the past couple weeks,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Are we going to maintain our pace? We’ve been committed to relying on our depth.

Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

“Defensively, we’ve had progress in our pick-and-roll coverages and our one-on-one defense has improved. But it’s all about consistency. That’s the thing we’ve talked with the team about over this stretch.”

In their earlier losses to Brooklyn, Memphis only averaged 105 points per game. However, the Nets’ defense has not been as strong recently.

Brooklyn lost 118-113 to Milwaukee on Sunday after they blew a 12-point lead in the third quarter. The Bucks came back and scored 23 points in the final six minutes to win the game.

“No defense to finish that third quarter. No defense to finish the fourth,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “That’s how you win and lose games in the NBA. You look at the offensive line, it’s pretty good. It’s just our defense was worse than bad.”

Dennis Schroder had 34 points and 11 assists in the loss, and Cam Johnson scored 26 points. Center Nic Claxton, who had a season-high 21 points along with 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks, praised Fernandez for being honest after the game.

“That’s what really good coaches do. They hold you accountable. They hold you to a high standard. They’re straightforward,” Claxton said. “They tell you what they expect from you. That’s what we need, especially with a younger team. We definitely feed off of that.”

Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith returned to the game against Milwaukee after missing four games due to an ankle injury. He scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in 31 minutes.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Memphis Grizzlies dominated the Washington Wizards in a big win to extend their winning streak

Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points and blocked four shots to help lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 140-112 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday in Washington, D.C. This win marked the Grizzlies’ ninth in their last 10 games.

Memphis played without Ja Morant, who was scratched before the game due to back soreness, but still showed no signs of slowing down after a tough win in Boston the night before.

The Grizzlies quickly took a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintained control throughout the game, securing their third straight victory.

The Grizzlies pushed the pace, scoring 18 fast-break points compared to just eight for Washington. They also forced 21 turnovers and held the Wizards to 43-for-100 shooting from the field, including a poor 6-for-32 from three-point range.

Washington, coming off a win against Denver that ended a 16-game losing streak, briefly cut the Grizzlies’ lead to single digits early in the third quarter.

Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, and Jake LaRavia in the 1st half

This run was sparked by Jordan Poole, who had a scoreless first half but finished with nine points. However, Memphis responded with a 16-0 run to take control of the game.

Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed 14 points and 12 assists, helping the Grizzlies’ bench score 76 points, more than half of their total. Santi Aldama led the bench with 19 points, and Jay Huff and Cam Spencer added 17 and 14 points, respectively.

For the Wizards, Marvin Bagley III scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Jared Butler contributed 14 points and seven assists. Jonas Valanciunas led Washington with 20 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Bilal Coulibaly finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Justin Champagnie had 14 points and a career-high five steals.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Wizards aim to extend their rare victory in a game against the Grizzlies

Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers

When the Wizards play the Memphis Grizzlies in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night, they will have a rare chance to start a winning streak.

Washington ended a 16-game losing streak on Saturday, beating the Denver Nuggets 122-113 despite Nikola Jokic’s career-high 56 points. Jordan Poole scored 39 points and set a career-high with nine 3-pointers, celebrating with a new dance.

“Been waiting to do that one for a while,” Poole said.

The Wizards had been waiting a long time to win, too—since Oct. 30, when they defeated Atlanta 133-120 in the second game of back-to-back wins over the Hawks.

The 16-game losing streak matched the longest in franchise history, which was also set in 2009-10 and matched last season.

During the losing streak, Poole had 31 points on Nov. 30 at Milwaukee and 42 points at San Antonio on Nov. 13, but neither performance was enough to get a win.

However, with Jonas Valanciunas scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists against the Nuggets, and Justin Champagnie scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, Washington had its best team effort in over a month.

Champagnie’s 23 points were a career high, and it came in just his fourth game and first start of the season. He has played more games in the G League with the Capital City Go-Go, averaging 20 points and 8.9 rebounds in his eight appearances there.

Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets

A number of injuries to Washington players gave Champagnie the opportunity to step in, with Malcolm Brogdon, Kyshawn George, Corey Kispert, Kyle Kuzma, and Alex Sarr all sidelined.

Brogdon, Kispert, Kuzma, and Sarr are all averaging double figures in scoring for a Wizards team that scores just 107.4 points per game, the sixth-lowest in the NBA.

On the other hand, Memphis has the second-highest-scoring offense in the league, averaging 121.4 points per game. On Saturday, the Grizzlies shot 50 percent from the field, including 45.5 percent from 3-point range, to beat the Boston Celtics 127-121.

The win against the reigning NBA champions was Memphis’ eighth in the last nine games. Ja Morant nearly had a triple-double in the victory, finishing with 32 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.

Since returning from a hip and pelvis injury, Morant has scored 31 or more points twice in his last five games, including a dunk that has him joking about not attempting dunks for the rest of the season.

“He’s recognized playing on balance actually opens up the floor a little bit more,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “He can get on balance to have his finishes at the rim. He can find teammates. … He’s seeing it. One of the smartest, most gifted players I’ve ever been around.”

In the win over Boston, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke were also key contributors. Jackson scored 27 points and Clarke had a season-high 18 points, shooting 9 of 11 from the floor, along with eight rebounds. Clarke has had four games with eight or more rebounds in the last eight contests.

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NBA (Basketball)

Ja Morant guides the Grizzlies to a rare victory on the road against the Celtics

Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics

Ja Morant scored 32 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out nine assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 127-121 victory over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. This win gave the Grizzlies their first victory in Boston since 2013.

The victory ended Boston’s six-game winning streak against Memphis. The Grizzlies had lost 16 of their last 17 matchups with the Celtics, including the last 10 games played in Boston.

Boston was ahead 103-99, but Memphis went on a 10-0 run to take a six-point lead with 7:19 left in the game. The Grizzlies managed to hold on to that lead for the rest of the game.

Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 27 points, nine rebounds, and three steals for Memphis. The Grizzlies hit 15 of 33 three-point shots. Jackson scored 14 points in the fourth quarter alone.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum had 17 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. Boston struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 18 of 60 from three-point range. Jrue Holiday added 23 points, and both Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown scored 22 points each.

Ja Morant celebrates a three pointer

Sam Hauser of the Celtics left the game in the first half due to tightness in his right adductor and did not return.

Marcus Smart, who played his first nine NBA seasons with the Celtics before being traded to Memphis, had a tough game, making just 1 of 11 shots and scoring only three points.

The loss ended Boston’s three-game winning streak and its seven-game home winning streak.

Memphis took an early 18-8 lead with a 10-0 run and ended the first quarter up 31-27. The Grizzlies extended their lead to 12 points after a Morant basket with 29.8 seconds left in the first half, leading 66-54 at the break. Boston shot just 36 percent from the field in the first half and made only 9 of 31 three-point attempts.

Pritchard’s three-pointer capped a 13-3 run, cutting the Grizzlies’ lead to 88-86 with 1:37 left in the third quarter. However, Memphis still led 94-89 heading into the fourth quarter.

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Marcus Smart and the Grizzlies face a tough challenge in their matchup against Boston

Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans

The Celtics will aim to extend their winning streak against the Memphis Grizzlies to seven games when the two teams meet in Boston on Saturday.

Boston has won 16 of their last 17 matchups with Memphis, including the last 10 games in Boston.

“This game is a good barometer,” Memphis guard Desmond Bane said. “It’ll give us a good opportunity to see where we’re at.”

Marcus Smart spent his first nine years with the Celtics before being traded to Memphis in a three-team deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston. Smart is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game due to an ankle injury. He was unable to play when the Grizzlies visited Boston last season due to a hand injury.

Smart scored 18 points in Memphis’ 115-110 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, marking his fourth double-digit performance in his last five games. After the game, he expressed confidence about playing against Boston.

“I’m ready,” Smart said. “I spent a lot of years in TD Garden. So, to come back and actually be on the other side of that bench, it’s definitely going to be a lot of emotions for me. But it’s a game, and I’m going to go out and do everything I can to help my team win.

Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons

“I’m sure they see how good I’ve been playing, and they’re going to try to make sure I don’t come in there and have a great game. It’s a big test for us.”

Boston extended its home winning streak to seven games with a 111-105 victory over Milwaukee on Friday.

Kristaps Porzingis did not play in that game due to injury management but is expected to be in the lineup against Memphis.

Al Horford played for the Celtics on Friday but usually does not play in both games when the team has back-to-back nights.

The Celtics won despite missing 36 of their 53 3-point attempts. They finished the game on a 16-6 run, with Jrue Holiday scoring six of his 20 points in the final six minutes.

“We’ve been through it (poor shooting),” Holiday said. “I think we rely on our defense a lot. Being able to go on the court and know that our defense can save us at any time or keep it close … I think our defense held it down for us today.”

“I appreciate (the Bucks) pushing us. That’s what makes the game fun. I think that’s what battle-tests us for the future. … We want to win the game no matter what it takes, especially being at home in Boston. So took this game for what it is and move on to the next one tomorrow.”

Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Milwaukee was 1 of 13 from the field in the final six minutes.

“Our defense was tremendous,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought our defense kept us in it, and I thought we continued to fight for great looks.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Grizzlies’ bench shines in win against Kings

Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings

The Memphis Grizzlies received 60 points from their bench and overcame the ejection of star Ja Morant late in the game to beat the Sacramento Kings 115-110 on Thursday night.

Marcus Smart came off the bench to score 18 points, while Desmond Bane, a starter, also had 18 points, leading the Grizzlies to their sixth straight home win.

Santi Aldama recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jake LaRavia, another reserve, finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Kings were led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored a game-high 26 points, and Malik Monk, who added 23 points. De’Aaron Fox contributed 18 points and six steals, while Domantas Sabonis posted 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Morant was ejected after picking up his second technical foul in just 82 seconds in the fourth quarter. The second technical came after a controversial shooting foul on DeRozan with 6:45 remaining, when the Grizzlies were leading 98-97.

Morant had a rough night, making only 2 of 13 shots, including missing all six of his 3-point attempts, and finishing with just eight points in 28 minutes.

Ja Morant celebrates a three pointer

The Kings led early in the fourth quarter, but Memphis rallied behind Bane and the bench. Bane hit a pull-up jumper to give Memphis a 112-108 lead with 1:33 left, and Smart added three free throws in the final 1:18.

Sacramento had a strong third quarter, pushing ahead 78-71 with six minutes left. But Memphis, led by their bench, responded with a 15-0 run to take an 86-78 lead. Bane and Aldama each hit a 3-pointer during the run.

The Kings finished the quarter with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 86 heading into the fourth.

The first half was equally close. The Grizzlies trailed by 12 points midway through the second quarter after Monk hit a 3-pointer to give Sacramento a 56-44 lead.

Smart helped Memphis close the half with a 16-4 run, and the Grizzlies took a 63-62 lead into halftime. Smart contributed 11 of the bench’s 34 first-half points, along with four assists.

The Grizzlies were also without Luke Kennard (illness) and had hoped to get 7-4 rookie center Zach Edey back soon. However, after working with the G-League team, the Grizzlies determined that Edey would need more time to heal from his ankle injury.

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Mavs erase 15-point gap to end Grizzlies’ winning streak

Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies

The Dallas Mavericks came from behind a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday. Luka Doncic led the way with 37 points and 12 rebounds, while Dereck Lively III added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Mavericks, who have won five straight games and nine of their last 10, also received 18 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists from P.J. Washington. Spencer Dinwiddie contributed key back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minutes, finishing with 16 points. Dinwiddie’s 3-pointer with 1:40 left gave the Mavericks a 113-111 lead, and he followed up with another 3-pointer on the next possession.

Ja Morant scored a season-high 31 points for the Grizzlies, who had their six-game winning streak snapped. Desmond Bane added 19 points for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Santi Aldama came off the bench to score 15 points and pull down eight rebounds.

The game was the final one for both teams in the NBA Cup group stage. With the win, the Mavericks are on track to make the West quarterfinals as a wild-card team.

Luka Doncic reacts after scoring

Dallas shot 18 of 26 free throws in the fourth quarter, completing their largest comeback of the season.

Memphis was down by three at halftime but scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to take a seven-point lead. The Grizzlies then stretched their advantage to 13 late in the quarter, thanks to 10 Dallas turnovers.

Morant scored 11 points in the third, including four in the last eight seconds, giving Memphis a 95-82 lead going into the fourth. The Grizzlies outscored the Mavericks 38-22 in the third.

Dallas led for much of the first half, building a 10-point lead (48-38) midway through the second quarter after Doncic scored on a leaner from the free-throw line and converted the and-one. Doncic had 24 points by halftime, including four 3-pointers.

Memphis was up by one (26-25) after the first quarter but only briefly led in the second, after a 12-0 run gave them a 50-48 lead. Jaylen Wells finished the run with a 3-pointer, but Dallas finished the half strong and led 60-57 at the break.

Morant was limited to five points in the first half, while Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 14 first-half points.

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The Grizzlies recover from a tough first quarter to defeat the Pacers by 15 points

Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers

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.

Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies

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.

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Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies defeat the injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans

Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans

Ja Morant scored 27 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 23, and Santi Aldama came off the bench to score 20 points, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to their first NBA Cup victory, 120-109, over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

The Pelicans, missing Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Brandon Ingram (calf soreness), lost their seventh straight game. Memphis, on the other hand, extended their winning streak to five games and has won nine out of their last 12.

CJ McCollum led the Pelicans with a season-high 30 points. Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III each scored 21 points, while Yves Missi added 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Memphis had been winless in NBA Cup play, with an 0-6 record across two seasons, but they led for most of the game against the short-handed Pelicans. The Grizzlies extended their lead to 17 points late in the third quarter after Jackson made two free throws.

Marcus Smart played a key role in the fourth quarter, helping Memphis maintain their lead. When New Orleans cut the lead to nine points with 5:18 remaining, Smart responded with a left-handed hook shot in the paint and then hit a 3-pointer.

Ja Morant celebrates a three-pointer

Morant, who had missed the previous game against Detroit due to a left knee injury, returned on Friday after being sidelined for nine of the past 10 games. He also recorded seven assists and three steals.

The Grizzlies led for most of the first half, reaching their largest lead of 11 points late in the second quarter. They went into halftime with a 67-56 lead, shooting 53.8 percent and getting strong contributions from their bench, including Aldama’s 16 points.

Aldama helped close out the first half with a 16-4 run, hitting two 3-pointers and finishing with a reverse layup. The Grizzlies, who are the top team in the NBA for assists per game, had 22 assists on 28 field goals by halftime and finished with 36 assists on 47 made shots.

Murray, who had missed 17 games with a fractured hand, led the Pelicans in the first half with 17 points.