Key Stat of the Night
- The Grizzlies starting lineup outscored the Spurs' starters 86-59 while shooting 46.6 percent from the field to the Spurs’ 31.7 percent. The Grizzlies held the Spurs' starters to 1-for-8 shooting from the 3-point line.
Key Run of the Night
- The Grizzlies spent the second half fending off the Spurs until a Keldon Johnson 3-pointer capped a 16-4 run in the fourth quarter to take an 83-81 lead with 6:55 remaining. Three straight buckets from Dillon Brooks sparked a 17-7 run to retake the lead at 98-90 with 1:25 to play.
Game Recap
The Memphis Grizzlies earned a shot to play for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a 100-96 victory over the San Antonino Spurs in the nine-ten play-in game at FedExForum on Wednesday.
Dillon Brooks sparked the late run to decide the game, finishing with 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jonas Valanciunas recorded his fourth game with more that 20 points and rebounds, finishing with 23 points and 23 rebounds to go with three blocks. Ja Morant's 20 points, six rebounds and six assists guided the Grizzlies attack while Kyle Anderson did his part on both ends, adding nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.
Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 20 points each while Keldon Johnson notched a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Dejounte Murray recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
The Grizzlies starting lineup came out with energy to pull together a nearly perfect first quarter that included a 32-9 run. Valanciunas dominated the paint with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Brooks went 4-for-6 from the field for 10 points, as the Grizzlies held the Spurs to 19 points in the quarter.
The Spurs would answer with a 17-0 run in the second quarter to cut the lead to two until the Grizzlies' starters returned to reclaim a 56-49 lead at halftime. Valanciunas posted 16 points and 15 rebounds in the first half.
The Grizzlies spent the second half fending off the Spurs until a Keldon Johnson 3-pointer capped off a 16-4 run in the fourth quarter, giving San Antonio the lead with 6:55 remaining. It was back-to-back buckets from Brooks that sparked the late-game 17-7 run to help Memphis retake the lead. Gay hit a 3-pointer to bring the Spurs within three points with 9.3 seconds remaining, but a clutch free throw from Morant and a stop on the other end secured the victory for the Grizzlies.
Next Game
The Grizzlies will travel to play the loser of the seven-eight play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at 8 p.m. CT. in San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Team Quotes
Team Notes
- With the win over the San Antonio Spurs in the Nine-Ten game as part of the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Memphis Grizzlies will move on to play the loser of the Seven-Eight game (Golden State Warriors @ Los Angeles Lakers) on the road on Friday, May 21. The winner of the May 21 game will be the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs and play the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz.
- While the Play-In games are separate from the postseason, the Grizzlies and Spurs have met five different times in the NBA Playoffs, most recently in the 2017 Western Conference First Round. Memphis memorably upset San Antonio in the first round in 2011, becoming the second eight-seed in NBA history to defeat a one-seed in a seven-game series, and faced the Spurs in the 2013 Western Conference Finals.
- Memphis went 2-1 against San Antonio in the 2020-21 season series with the road team winning all three matchups. The teams met in the regular season opener on Dec. 23 at FedExForum.
- The Grizzlies forced the Spurs’ top two scorers, DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray, to combine for 9-for-38 shooting from the field tonight.
Player Notes
- Jonas Valanciunas recorded his fourth game with 20+ points and rebounds with 23 points and 23 rebounds to go with three blocks. Valanciunas posted 21 points and 20 rebounds by the end of the third quarter, becoming the first player in franchise history to register 20+ points and 20+ rebounds through the first three quarters of a regular season or postseason game. Valanciunas’ four performances with 20+ points and 20+ rebounds are the most by any player in the NBA this season.
- Dillon Brooks led the Grizzlies with 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists. The Grizzlies are now ---- when Brooks scores 20+ points.
- Ja Morant recorded 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Morant made the game-clinching free throw to make it a two-score game in the final seconds.
- Kyle Anderson was active on both ends of the floor with nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.
- Dejounte Murray posted his fifth triple-double of his career (all have come this season) with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, however Memphis was able to limit him to 4-of-17 from the field.
- Rudy Gay added 20 points (8-21 FG) and seven rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench for San Antonio.
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