Ja Morant had 29 factors and 9 assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Boston Celtics 132-126 in time beyond regulation
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ja Morant had 29 factors and 9 assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Boston Celtics 132-126 in time beyond regulation on Monday evening.
Dillon Brooks added 24 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists because the Grizzlies gained for the third time in 4 video games. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 factors and 19 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 27 factors, and Jeff Teague completed with a season-high 26 factors. Robert Williams III had 17, and Marcus Sensible scored 16.
“We had this one,” Brown mentioned, later including: “It’s undoubtedly one we wish again. We performed arduous to get again into the sport. There’s nonetheless a whole lot of stuff we’ve obtained the clear up.”
Morant scored the final three factors of the sport from the free-throw line. Brooks had 5 factors early within the additional interval.
“Credit score our guys,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned. “Large stops and large rebounds down the stretch to shut out a giant win.”
Morant added: “Us persevering with to struggle and have the ability to lock in late within the recreation, gained us this recreation.”
The Celtics already had been with out beginning guard Kemba Walker when Jayson Tatum was a late scratch with an sickness. That meant two of Boston’s high three scorers had been lacking.
“If you find yourself lacking guys like Jayson and Kemba, it’s a must to win with a greater protection,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens mentioned. “I believe that’s what we’ve been in a position to do previously.”
However this time, they weren’t in a position to overcome Memphis, which performed effectively within the additional interval. Whereas Morant and Brooks led the offensive assault, Stevens pointed to Valanciunas as a significant component. He mentioned the Grizzlies heart “simply destroyed us.”
“Regardless that he ended with 16 factors, it felt like rather a lot greater than that,” Stevens mentioned. “It felt like he was getting what he needed off the glass.”
Boston trailed by 9 halfway by way of the fourth quarter. However Sensible discovered Daniel Theis for a tying alley-oop dunk with 7.3 seconds left in regulation, sending it to time beyond regulation.
Brown, who related on 10 of 18 from 3-point vary en path to 34 factors in a win over Orlando on Sunday, struggled by way of a lot of three quarters, beginning 3 of 11 from the sphere. He completed 11 of 24.
“We performed collectively. We had been related on the market,” Brooks mentioned. “We had minor slippage, however we discovered a option to overpass it and make the suitable performs to win the sport.”
TIP-INS
Celtics: Brown has reached double figures in every of his 40 video games this season. He has scored not less than 20 in 30 of these video games. … Defeated the Grizzlies 126-107 on Dec. 30 when Brown had a career-high 42 factors. … Walker sat out his seventeenth recreation to cope with left knee harm administration. Teague began in his spot. Fourth-year F Semi Ojeleye began for Tatum. … Teague was 5 for five within the first half, together with a pair of 3-pointers. His earlier season excessive was 19 in opposition to Milwaukee on Dec. 23.
Grizzlies: Had not defeated Celtics in final 10 conferences. Their final dwelling win over Boston was Jan. 10, 2016.
SECOND NIGHT PROBLEMS
The Celtics have misplaced six straight on the second evening of back-to-backs, a lot of these with out Walker.
“We began the 12 months off nice on the second evening of back-to-backs, and haven’t been good the previous month,” Stevens mentioned, later including: “The method doesn’t change simply since you performed yesterday. You must have the power for guys which might be contemporary to affect the sport.”
UP NEXT
Celtics: Journey to Milwaukee for the second of a four-game street journey on Wednesday.
Grizzlies: Play at Oklahoma Metropolis on Wednesday.
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