SAN ANTONIO — — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 points, including the game-winning basket with 1.2 seconds remaining, and the undermanned Memphis Grizzlies overcame 31 points and 16 rebounds from Victor Wembanyama to end the a four-game skid with a 99-97 victory. the San Antonio Spurs Friday night.
“Absolute calm,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Great composure from him and his teammates as well. I thought the spacing was pretty good on this possession. We wanted the last shot and he almost got it in the end.
After going 5 for 35 on 3-pointers, San Antonio made back-to-back 3s in seven seconds to tie the game at 97 with 18.8 seconds left. After Devin Vassell made the first 3-pointer, Jeremy Sochan stole the rebounds and Tre Jones made the game-tying 3-pointer.
Jackson drained a seven-foot jumper that won the game.
“Shoot, I kind of passed out and got to the place I needed to,” Jackson said. “I saw the clock for a second, I didn’t check because I knew if I looked again I’d have it stolen. I just wanted to get to a certain spot on the ground and rise above it.
Jackson could only watch as Wembanyama missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
“When he turned around, I was like, I can’t do much here because he’s going to shoot out of here,” Jackson said, extending his right arm and standing on tiptoes . “Don’t do it.”
It was Wembanyama’s 38th double-double in 62 games this season. With his three blocked shots, Wembanyama joined Phoenix’s Alvan Adams as the only rookies in league history with multiple games of 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
“I actually remember thinking in the first half that when we were leading by a lot, I hadn’t put the nail in the coffin,” Wembanyama said. “That’s what I felt. I wanted to get a reaction because no matter who is in front of us, we have to be the same way, be as aggressive.
Scotty Pippen Jr. added 18 points and Santi Aldama had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.
Vassell had 27 points and Jones finished with 16 for San Antonio.
“If you hold a team to 99, you should win a lot of games,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “But if you’re giving up 20 points on turnovers and you’re shooting 18 percent (on 3-pointers), that’s going to make it harder for you. End of the story. It had nothing to do with a play here, a play there. It’s all about it all together.”
With the loss, San Antonio fell to 15-55 and must win at least five of its final 12 games to avoid finishing with the worst record in franchise history – 20-62 set in 1997.
Memphis’ Desmond Bane sat out with a sore back, joining an injured list that includes Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard, Derrick Rose and Marcus Smart.
Even with all of these players out, the Grizzlies still earned their 13th straight win over the Spurs.
“Obviously the results haven’t been in our favor for the vast majority of the season,” Jenkins said. “But that hasn’t deterred guys from coming, whether it’s at home or on the road, especially on the road when it’s against you.”
Memphis was forced to use its 43rd starting lineup this season, leading to a slow start.
Memphis was 12 of 34 from 3-point range, after going 18 of 49 in a 137-116 loss to Golden State on Wednesday.
The Spurs limited the Grizzlies to 23.8% shooting and led by 14 in the first quarter.
Wembanyama threw a behind-the-back pass to Vassell, who nailed a 13-foot fadeaway jumper four minutes into the game.
Vassell delivered an assist with a minute left in the quarter, throwing the ball on the break for an alley-oop dunk by Johnson.
The Spurs canceled that out with their worst second quarter this season. San Antonio scored a season-low 14 points while shooting 26.1 percent from the field.
Jaren Jackson, Aldama and GG Jackson combined for 18 of Memphis’ 25 points in the second quarter.
FOLLOWING
Grizzlies: At Denver Monday night.
Spurs: Host Phoenix on Saturday night.
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