Grizzlies beat Suns 136-106, extend winning streak to 10
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant scored 29 points, Desmond Bane added 28 and the Memphis Grizzlies extended their season-winning streak to 10 games with a 136-106 win over the injury-struggling Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
The Grizzlies can repeat their franchise-record 11-game winning streak from last season when they host Cleveland on Wednesday night
The Suns played without starters Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Paul missed his fifth straight game with a right hip injury. Booker has not played since Christmas due to a groin injury.
Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Deandre Ayton added 18 for the Suns. Phoenix (21-24) lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 18 points and six blocks for the Grizzlies, who didn’t play Morant or Dillon Brooks in the fourth quarter as Memphis extended their lead to as much as 36 points.
Memphis also scored 130 or more points for the third straight game, matching last February’s franchise-record run.
The Grizzlies started slow, trailing as much as 11 points in the first quarter before using a dominating third quarter to retreat. Memphis beat the Suns 39-23 in the third quarter and built a 22-point lead (103-81) after a three-point play by Morant.
The Suns started strong, hitting 11 of their first 15 shots, including their first six, to lead by 11 in the opening quarter.
The Grizzlies regained the lead late in the second quarter after Morant lost three straight 3-pointers for a 60-58 lead in Memphis. The Grizzlies were up 68-65 at halftime, led by 52% shooting and 17 points from Morant. The Suns shot 55.8% in the first half and took 26 points off their bench.
TIP INS
Suns: Landry Shamet returned after missing the last three games with a hip injury. Shamet finished with nine points. … Josh Okogie left the game at 4:03 in the second quarter after being fouled by Steven Adams and falling to the ground. Okogie went to the locker room under his own power. … Damien Lee had a career-high nine assists.
Grizzlies: The Grizzlies honored NBA greats Gary Payton and Luol Deng, women’s basketball pioneer Nancy Lieberman and former NFL runner Eddie George before the game with the 18th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. … Memphis improved its home record to 19-3 on FedExForum, a .863 home win ratio that leads the NBA. … Morant is averaging 29 points during the team’s 10-game winning streak
NEXT
Suns: Returning home after four games to play Brooklyn on Thursday.
Grizzlies: Host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
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