The Memphis Grizzlies will look to sweep a mini-series from the San Antonio Spurs when the teams meet on Friday in the second of two games in three nights in the Alamo City.
The Grizzlies took the first game of the set 129-115 on Wednesday behind 21 points and 12 assists from Ja Morant. Memphis has won two of its past three games and three of its last five as it’s alternated wins and losses since Jan. 6.
Memphis overcame a 12-point halftime deficit on Wednesday, turning the game around by outscoring San Antonio by 18 in the third period (43-25) and by 26 in the second half (78-52). Much of that damage was produced by Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Jackson was just 2-for-11 from the field in the first half and had plenty of issues dealing with San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama. Jackson hit six of his 13 shots in the second half.
“I was just making it too easy,” Jackson said of his first-half difficulties with the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama. “I was doing moves that I’ve been doing, which I can’t really do against someone like him. He presents a different problem that no one else does, so you just have to pivot.”
Desmond Bane added 21 points and Santi Aldama amassed 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as Memphis’ reserves outscored the Spurs’ bench players 57-37.
“I think we did a good job understanding what it was going to be like to win a tough game in a place like (San Antonio),” Bane said.
Rookie Stephon Castle led the Spurs in Wednesday’s loss with a season-high 26 points, 22 of which came in the second half. Devin Vassell added 21 points for the game, Keldon Johnson scored 17 off the bench and Wembanyama posted 13 points with 12 rebounds. All eight of the French phenom’s blocked shots came in the first half.
San Antonio did just about everything well in the first half and almost nothing correctly after halftime.
“We did a poor job guarding. When you get in the bonus early as fast as Memphis plays and they made shots, it takes a lot to get to 43 (points),” Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson explained. “And so disappointed in that because I thought the first half we were pretty good. Just could not sustain it for 48 minutes.”
Vassell said Wednesday’s game was full of trash-talking and contentiousness, as one would expect between heated Southwest Division rivals.
“I’m super excited to play them again,” Vassell said. “I’m excited to take that challenge on. They’re a good team. Give credit where credit is due, they’re a good team, but I think that we’ll have the answer next time.”
The Spurs have dropped four of their past five games. San Antonio’s contest on Friday is their last at home before a road game in Miami and then a two-game set overseas against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 23 and 25 in Paris.
–Field Level Media
