Morant scores 27 as Grizzlies stop Lakers’ win streak

Rookie Ja Morant had 27 points and matched his season high with 14 assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a five-game losing streak with a 105-88 home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

Dillon Brooks added 24 points and Jonas Valan- ciunas had 22 points and 20 rebounds as the Grizzlies helped their chances of keeping the final playoff spot in the West. Memphis entered the night two games up over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Lebron James scored 19 points, and Anthony Davis finished with 15 points and nine rebounds as Los Angeles lost for only the second time in February.

The Lakers, the top team in the West, entered the game on a seven-game winning streak but trailed by as many as 22 in the third quarter as Memphis continued to get balanced scoring. The Lakers brought James into more of an active role and a couple of 3-pointers started the half.

But Memphis continued to extend the lead and held an 86-66 advantage entering the fourth.

The Memphis lead dropped to single digits with just under 7 minutes left after a 7-0 Lakers run. But Memphis immediately built the lead back to 18 near the three-minute mark, and Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel put in his reserves.

Memphis played as well as could be expected in the first half. The Grizzlies built the lead to as many as 17 before carrying a 58-46 lead at the break. Davis had 13 for the Lakers, while James was limited to seven points.

WESTBROOK, ROCKETS EDGE CELTICS IN OT THRILLER >> Russell Westbrook scored a game-high 41 points, and James Harden found redemption from a poor shooting night with two free throws with 24.3 seconds left as the Houston Rockets capped a season sweep of the host Boston Celtics with a 111-110 overtime win.

Harden scored 21 points on just 7-of-24 shooting and committed five turnovers. But his free throws, just his second and third of the game, gave Houston the lead.

Jaylen Brown forced overtime with a 3-pointer for the Celtics, corralling a loose ball after Jayson Tatum missed two free throws with 5.1 seconds left and Boston trailing 104-101.

Tatum paired 32 points with 13 rebounds for Boston.

YOUNG, COLLINS LEAD HAWKS PAST TRAIL BLAZERS >> Trae Young had 25 points and 15 assists, John Collins added 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 129-117 for their second straight victory.

Portland has dropped three straight and six of seven to fall nine games under .500. The Blazers began the night 10th in the Western Conference.

NUNN SCORES 21 POINTS AS HEAT HOLDS OFF NETS >> Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points, and the Miami Heat held on for a 116-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Goran Dragic added 19 points off the bench, and Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, which won consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 1-3.