Ja Morant sealed a 125-117 victory for the Memphis Grizzlies over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a game-winning shot within the closing 18.6 seconds of a tense NBA showdown.
Morant, taking part in his second sport again from a shoulder harm, scored a modest 12 factors and missed all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt.
However he got here by means of when it counted, driving for a layup that made it 125-125 with 54.1 seconds left, then, after a Grizzlies steal, driving once more and launching a floater over Minnesota heart Rudy Gobert to finish the Grizzlies’ fightback from six factors down. with lower than 5 minutes to go.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards missed a clumsy 3-point try as time expired.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 33 factors and Desmond Bane added 21 for the Grizzlies, who prevailed in a tense duel that featured 25 lead modifications.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Timberwolves with 27 factors and 10 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels scored 21 factors, Naz Reid had 19 off the bench and Edwards scored 15.
It was shut in Detroit, the place Cade Cunningham’s 23-point triple-double propelled the Pistons to a bounce-back victory, 123-114 over the Toronto Raptors.
Cunningham added 10 rebounds and 17 assists for the Pistons, who obtained again into the win column — and improved to 20-19 — two days after their five-game profitable streak was snapped by the Golden State Warriors.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 27 factors for Detroit and the Pistons made 19 of 33 3-point makes an attempt to prevail in a sport during which they traded leads 16 instances.
“We actually wanted this win,” Cunningham stated. “We obtained to .500 and we did not need to fall again. We needed to maintain the momentum going and begin one other streak.”
Immanuel Quickley scored 25 factors to steer seven gamers in double figures for the Raptors, who gave league-leading Cleveland a scare earlier than falling to the Cavaliers on Thursday however have now misplaced 5 straight and 16 of 17 final.
Quickley’s putback basket tied it at 109-109 with 5:04 left. Detroit regained the lead due to a basket from Tobias Harris. Cunningham adopted with a fadeaway jumper and Jalen Duren threw down a dunk and the Pistons pulled away.
The Phoenix Suns, fueled by Devin Booker’s 34 factors, led wire-to-wire in a 114-106 house victory over the Utah Jazz.
Kevin Durant added 25 factors for Phoenix, which led by 16 en path to its second straight victory.
Three matches postponed
Booker got here out scorching, connecting on seven of eight pictures, together with 4 of 5 3-pointers. He scored 22 factors within the first half and completed with six of the Suns’ 13 3-pointers.
Lauri Markkanen scored 24 factors to steer the Jazz, who obtained inside three factors early within the fourth quarter however have been helpless because the Suns pulled away.
Three of the video games scheduled for Saturday, two in Los Angeles and one in Atlanta, have been postponed.
The NBA determined Friday to postpone the Lakers’ house sport in opposition to San Antonio and the Clippers’ house sport in opposition to Charlotte as a result of Lethal wildfires rage in Los Angeles.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, whose house was amongst these destroyed within the Palisades hearth, stated Friday he hopes the workforce can return to motion quickly and “give individuals hope “.
However the NBA stated it will reschedule video games to keep away from diverting sources from firefighting efforts.
On Saturday morning, the league postponed the Hawks’ sport in opposition to the Houston Rockets in Atlanta, the place a winter storm introduced snow and ice that made roads harmful.
