Morant returns, Jackson leads Grizzlies past Rockets
Ja Morant had 17 points and five assists in his return from an NBA suspension, and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with a season-high 37 points and 10 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Houston Rockets 130-125 on Wednesday night.
Desmond Bane had 20 points and Tyus Jones scored 14 for Memphis, with each adding seven assists.
Jalen Green had 32 points to lead the Rockets, while Kenyon Martin Jr. scored 31.
Kevin Porter had his second career triple-double and first of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Alperen Sengun scored 25 for Houston.
Morant, who did not start, was back in action after missing nine games — eight because of a league-imposed suspension after a live stream from a Denver-area strip club earlier this month showed Morant briefly waving a firearm. Morant underwent counseling at a Florida facility for stress relief during the ban.
The two-time All-star guard, who entered with 3:05 left in the first quarter, ended up playing 24 minutes and shot 6 for 13 overall. He also had four rebounds.
Stephen Curry scored 20 points and assisted on Draymond Green’s tiebreaking three-point play late, and Golden State beat Dallas in a game with considerable playoff implications.
Luka Doncic had 30 points after missing five games with a left thigh strain, but the Mavericks dropped below .500 as they try to stay out of the Western Conference playin tournament a year after losing to the Warriors in the West finals.
The Mavericks were without All-star guard Kyrie Irving because of right foot soreness and fell 1 1/2 games behind the Warriors, who clinched the tiebreaker by winning the season series 2-1.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 22 points on 9-of11 shooting off the bench for Golden State, including a soaring, one-handed dunk during a tense fourth quarter.
Two nights after ending an 11-game road losing streak with a victory in Houston, the Warriors made it consecutive road wins for the first time since the NBA Finals last June.
HEAT 127, KNICKS 120
Jimmy Butler had 35 points, Tyler Herro scored 14 of his 22 in the fourth quarter and Miami moved closer to avoiding the playin tournament by beating New York.
Herro made four 3-pointers in the fourth for the Heat, who led by 11 in the third, lost the lead briefly, then took it back for good with a 16-2 run midway through the final quarter.
Herro and Max Strus each had a pair of 3s during the clinching run for Miami (40-34), which is just percentage points behind Brooklyn (39-33) in the race for the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Nets visit the Heat on Saturday.
It was the 700th career win for Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.
New York’s Julius Randle,
BUCKS 130, SPURS 94
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and 14 rebounds in just 24 minutes as Nba-leading Milwaukee rolled against San Antonio.
The Bucks extended their Eastern Conference advantage to 21/2 games over Boston as they prepare for a four-game road swing that includes a matchup Saturday with the Western Conferenceleading Denver Nuggets.
Antetokounmpo rested the entire fourth quarter and watched the Bucks put the finishing touches on their most lopsided win of the season
Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton added 19 points each for the Bucks, who never trailed. Middleton also had 10 assists, while Portis had 10 rebounds.