Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 points and Desmond Bane added 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the visiting Miami Heat 125-91 Saturday night. The Heat suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
Brandon Clarke scored 12 points, Zach Edey contributed 12 points and eight rebounds and Scotty Pippen Jr. had 11 points and 11 assists off the bench for Memphis, which won for the fifth time in six games. The Grizzlies improved to 10-3 when playing the second game of a back-to back.
Kel’el Ware led the Heat with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Bam Adebayo had 18 points and six boards. Kyle Anderson finished with 13 points, six rebounds and five assists off the bench.
Jackson’s strong outing allowed the Grizzlies to offset the absence of two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant. Morant missed the game because of right shoulder soreness, which has sidelined him on several occasions the past three months.
Memphis never trailed in a game in which the Grizzlies built a double-digit lead in the first half and stretched the advantage to 32 points early in the fourth quarter.
In the third quarter, the Grizzlies stretched their lead from 12 points (74-62) to 27 points (94-67) by the end of the period. Memphis closed the quarter on a 14-2 run and held the Heat to only 19 points.
A strong start to the fourth quarter allowed the Grizzlies to go up by 32 (99-67) on a 3-pointer by reserve guard Cam Spencer.
Miami was playing its first game since going winless during a five-game homestand. The Heat fell to nine games under .500.
Memphis led 63-48 at the half behind 23 points from Jackson. The Grizzlies never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 18.
–Field Level Media
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