Grizzlies rally with big-4th quarter to beat Suns 121-115
Jack Thompson, the Associated Press
Posted 12/31/69
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 28 points and 10 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies, playing without Ja Morant, overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 121-115 on Sunday …
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Grizzlies rally with big-4th quarter to beat Suns 121-115
The Associated Press/Rick Scuteri
Memphis Grizzlies forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama (7) foul Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Phoenix.
Posted
Jack Thompson, the Associated Press
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 28 points and 10 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies, playing without Ja Morant, overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 121-115 on Sunday night.
Marcus Smart added 25 points and Desmond Bane had 23, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:30 to play. Vince Williams Jr. scored a career-high 19 points off the bench.
Morant was sidelined because of soreness in his right shoulder. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said before the game that Morant apparently hurt the shoulder Friday night late in a victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles.
Morant was a game-time decision but had a sling on his shoulder on Sunday. Jenkins said the team will continue to evaluate his injury.
Still, the Grizzlies are 7-4 since Morant's return from a 25-game suspension. Phoenix led 87-76 entering the final quarter, but Memphis started the period on a 14-1 run and outscored the Suns 35-18 in the final 12 minutes.
“This group, we've been fighting all season long, but it's taken a turn right now and they're seeing the results for it,” Jenkins said. “It's just two games playing really well, we know we've got a long way to go.”
“We started dictating more, did a much better job, keeping it simple,” Jenkins said about the fourth-quarter surge.
Jackson Jr. credited defense for the turnaround.
“We made them run a little bit, work a little harder,” he said. “It was back and forth at all times. I never really felt like it was in our favor until the buzzer."
Kevin Durant returned for Phoenix after missing three games because of soreness in his right hamstring. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 24 points. Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and 19 rebounds, Grayson Allen scored 16 points and Bradley Beal added 12.
“Only results matter,” Durant said. “Context really doesn't matter. Whatever it is, we know what it takes and expectations from the outside don't mean (anything), but we understand with the talent we have, people expect so much and will be disappointed when we take losses like this.”
