Ja Morant sealed a 125-117 victory for the Memphis Grizzlies over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a game-winning shot within the remaining 18.6 seconds of a tense NBA showdown.
Morant, taking part in his second recreation again from a shoulder harm, scored a modest 12 factors and missed all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt.
But he got here by when it mattered, driving for a layup that made it 125-125 with 54.1 seconds left after which, after a Grizzlies steal, driving once more and lofting a floater over Minnesota middle Rudy Gobert to finish the Grizzlies’ fightback from six factors down with lower than 5 minutes to play.
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 got here out on high in an intense 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 chipped in 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 returned to the win column – and improved to 20-19 – two days after their five-game successful streak was halted by the Golden State Warriors.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 27 factors for Detroit and the Pistons made 19 of their 33 3-point makes an attempt to return out on high in a recreation through which they swapped the lead 16 instances.
“We just needed this win bad,” Cunningham stated. “We got to .500 and we didn’t want to go back under. We wanted to keep rolling and get another streak going.”
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 their final 17.
Quickley’s step-back basket tied it at 109-109 with 5:04 to play. Detroit regained the lead with 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 34 factors from Devin Booker, led wire-to-wire in a 114-106 dwelling victory over the Utah Jazz.
Kevin Durant added 25 factors for Phoenix, who led by as many as 16 on the best way to their second straight victory.
Three video games postponed
Booker got here out sizzling, connecting on seven of eight pictures, together with 4 of 5 from 3-point vary. He put up 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 pulled inside three factors early within the fourth quarter however had been powerless when the Suns pulled away.
Three of Saturday’s scheduled video games, two in Los Angeles and one in Atlanta, had been postponed.
The NBA had determined Friday to postpone the Lakers’ dwelling recreation in opposition to San Antonio and the Clippers’ dwelling recreation in opposition to Charlotte because of the lethal wildfires raging throughout Los Angeles.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, whose home was amongst these destroyed within the Palisades Fire, stated Friday he hoped the crew may return to motion quickly and “give people hope.”
But the NBA stated it will reschedule the video games to keep away from diverting sources from the hearth response efforts.
On Saturday morning the league postponed the Hawks’ recreation in opposition to the Houston Rockets in Atlanta, the place a winter storm introduced snow and ice that made roads treacherous.
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