Jaren Jackson Jr.'s late bucket lifts Grizzlies over Spurs

Field Level Media|published: Fri 22nd March, 22:59 2024

Mar 22, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) in the first half at Frost Bank Center. credits: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 points, including the game-winning jumper with 1.2 seconds left as the visiting Memphis Grizzlies came from behind to beat the San Antonio Spurs 99-97 on Friday.

In the matchup of teams already eliminated from postseason consideration, the Spurs led by 17 points midway through the second quarter but by just one at halftime.

After a back-and-forth third quarter, Memphis carried a three-point lead into the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies slowly wore down San Antonio, taking an 85-78 lead when Jordan Goodwin hit a jumper with 4:43 to play.

The Spurs (15-55) tied the game at 97 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Devin Vassell and Tre Jones, the latter with 19 seconds to play, before Jackson leaned in for a floater with 1.2 seconds left.

Memphis snapped a four-game losing streak and has beaten the Spurs 13 straight times, dating back to January 2021.

Scotty Pippen Jr. added 18 points for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama racked up 15 points and 13 rebounds, Jake LaRavia chipped in 15 points and GG Jackson 14.

Rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Vassell added 27 points and Jones 16 as San Antonio lost for the fifth time in six games.

San Antonio led by 14 points after Keldon Johnson's alley-oop dunk on the feed from Vassell with 1:11 to play in the first period before. The Spurs were ahead 30-18 when the quarter ended.

Memphis pared its deficit to six points after Pippen's 3-pointer with 4:06 to play in the second quarter and then to 41-38 after GG Jackson's driving layup with 1:56 remaining.

Aldama then poured in a jumper from beyond the arc to bring the Grizzlies to within 44-43 at the break.

Wembanyama led all scorers with 15 points in the half while Aldama paced Memphis with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The third quarter featured nine lead changes and four ties, with Pippen's 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in the period allowing Memphis to take a 71-68 advantage into the fourth.

The game was the first of a home back-to-back for the Spurs and the sixth game of a season-high eight-game homestead.

—Field Level Media

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