MORANT SHOOTING UPLIFTING
Ja Morant scored 17 of his 28 points in a third-quarter rally in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 120-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points each, and Desmond Bane had 16. Brandon Clarke finished with 14 points, 10 of them in the fourth quarter.
Paul George led the Clippers with 23 points and six assists. Reggie Jackson had 18 points, hitting 4 of 8 3point attempts. Luke Kennard added 15 points for Los Angeles, going 6 of 8 overall and 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
“I feel like it is tougher for a defense to guard me,” said Morant who worked in the offseason on his 3-point shooting. “I can knock down the 3, knock down the midrange pull up, get to my floater or get all the way to the rack.”
Memphis held the lead through most of the game, but Morant provided an offensive burst in the third quarter and the Grizzlies stretched the advantage to 20 when Clark converted four consecutive inside baskets early in the fourth.
The Clippers entered the game having won eight of their last nine and coming off a 106-92 victory over San Antonio on Wednesday. Their defensive rating is among the best in the league.
In the first half, Memphis would pull away only to have the Clippers fight their way back, coming close to erasing the Grizzlies’ advantage. That trend continued until the break, Memphis holding a 56-53 advantage.
Heat 112, Wizards 97: Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and host Miami beat Washington for its fourth straight victory. Butler shot 11 of 19 from the field and made all 10 of his free throws in his second consecutive outing over 30 points.
Warriors 104, Cavaliers 89: Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight 3-pointers, and NBA-leading Golden State overcame a 13-point deficit to beat Cleveland on the road.
Curry made 8 of 12 shots, including 4 of 7 3-pointers, in the final period to help Golden State outscore the Cavaliers 36-8. The Warriors ran off the first 17 points of the quarter to seize an 85-81 advantage, holding Cleveland to 12 consecutive empty possessions.
Timberwolves 115, Spurs 90: Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 12 rebounds to help Minnesota beat San Antonio at home. D’Angelo Russell added 22 points, and Malik Beasley hit five of Minnesota’s season-high 21 3pointers for all 15 of his points.
76ers 103, Nuggets 89: Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, Seth Curry added 20 and short-handed Philadelphia
beat host Denver to snap a five-game losing streak.
Playing without Joel Embiid and three other regulars, the 76ers held Nikola Jokic to three points in the second half on a night when enraged Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ejected and had to be restrained by Jokic after charging onto the court as the Philadelphia took control in the third quarter.
Jazz 119, Raptors 103: Rudy Gay hit five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in his season debut to help host Utah beat Toronto. Gay also had five rebounds while playing just 18 minutes.
Notable
The Lakers upgraded LeBron James’ injury status to “questionable” ahead of today’s game against the Celtics. James has missed the last eight games with an abdominal strain, but all indications are that James will play with the Lakers at TD Garden.