In a thrilling game on Monday night in Memphis, Ja Morant shined brightly, scoring 29 points and dishing out 12 assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a narrow 120-118 triumph over the Phoenix Suns. Despite being down by 16 points early in the matchup, the Grizzlies displayed resilience and secured their third consecutive win.
Adding to Memphis’s efforts was Cam Spencer, a rookie on a two-way contract, who posted a career-high 16 points. His performance was highlighted by clutch free throws with 14.4 seconds remaining, helping to ensure the victory for the home team.
On the opposing side, Kevin Durant showcased his scoring prowess with 35 points, while Devin Booker contributed 26 points for the Suns. Phoenix initially established a commanding lead, storming to a 25-9 advantage. However, Memphis erased this lead by halftime, setting the stage for a nail-biting final quarter. A last-second three-point attempt by Durant could have turned the game, but it narrowly missed the target as the buzzer sounded.
Each team was coming off wins from the previous night. The Suns, however, were without the services of Bradley Beal, who sat out for left calf injury management. Similarly, Memphis played without their leading scorer, Jaren Jackson Jr., who missed his fourth consecutive game due to a left ankle sprain.
Looking at broader implications for the Suns, they remain in pursuit of a playoff position, eyeing the 10th spot in the Western Conference. Prior to this encounter, Phoenix trailed the Dallas Mavericks by 1.5 games for the final playoff berth.
For the Grizzlies, close games have become a common theme. Eight of their last ten games have been decided by seven points or fewer, with a 4-4 record in these tightly contested matchups.
A key moment arrived at the closing seconds of the third quarter when Spencer drained a three-pointer from the corner, resulting in an exchange with Durant who attempted to block the shot. The encounter escalated momentarily, leading to both players receiving technical fouls.
Analyzing the stats, Phoenix excelled at long-range shooting, converting 20 of 38 attempts from beyond the arc, with Durant showcasing formidable accuracy by making 7 of his 9 three-point shots.
Next on the schedule, both teams will compete on Wednesday. The Phoenix Suns will travel to Houston, while the Memphis Grizzlies are set to host the Utah Jazz.
