Ja Morant dazzled with 26 points and 10 assists, capped by a spectacular fourth-quarter dunk over Victor Wembanyama, propelling the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs during Tuesday’s NBA action.
Desmond Bane’s contribution of 24 points was pivotal in the Tuesday night victory, which ended Memphis’s three-game slide. Santi Aldama bolstered the Grizzlies’ effort with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Spurs saw a strong performance from rookie Wembanyama, who led with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks. Keldon Johnson added 19 points for San Antonio, and Julian Champagnie and Jeremy Sochan contributed 12 points each.
The night’s highlight was Morant’s impressive dunk over 7-foot-3 Wembanyama, igniting the Memphis crowd and extending the Grizzlies’ lead. Wembanyama acknowledged Morant’s skill and speed, labeling him as another great player in the league.
“Good player. Very small, so it’s hard to catch up with him,” Wembanyama said of Morant. “Very fast. Just another great player that I see every night in the NBA.”
Morant, for his part, played down the encounter, focusing on the game’s broader objectives rather than personal matchups.
“The moment was just like any other moment for me when somebody is guarding me,” Morant said, adding: “I don’t try to dunk on people like I used to. Just get a bucket. Find a way.”
Memphis showcased a strong defensive game, holding the Spurs to just 42% shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. Aldama credited their defensive success with their effective communication and adherence to the game plan.
“I think we were communicating pretty effectively,” Aldama said. “We were following the game plan discipline, something we’ve been lacking. I think we just let our defense dictate our offense, and we played very hard. When we play that way, it’s very hard to beat us.”
Both teams have struggled this season, sitting at the lower end of the Western Conference standings. The Spurs, with the youngest team in the NBA, are building around Wembanyama, while the Grizzlies have been seeking the right balance and rotations since Morant’s return from suspension.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich praised his team’s effort but highlighted the need for improvement, especially in reducing turnovers. The first half mirrored the teams’ current struggles, with both teams shooting below 40% and the Spurs committing 12 turnovers.
“We can’t have 16 turnovers,” Popovich said. “You’re there. You played a pretty good game. We had a lot of guys who played well, but we have to be sharper.”
The Grizzlies improved their shooting in the third quarter, which helped them build a significant lead in the second half. Johnson acknowledged the Grizzlies’ capabilities, suggesting their record doesn’t fully reflect their potential, especially with Morant back in the lineup.
“They’re a pretty good team,” Johnson said. “The record doesn’t really show, but they’ve got one of their best players back (Morant). Probably them making shots and us missing shots down the stretch let them get away from us.”
Looking ahead, the Spurs will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, while the Grizzlies conclude their three-game homestand against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
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