Grizzlies blow past Trail Blazers, 119-96

Santi Aldama scored 22 points, while Jaylen Wells and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 17 each as the Memphis Grizzlies built a commanding first-half lead and rolled to a 119-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night. Jock Landale contributed 15 points, helping Memphis win for the seventh time in nine games.

Jerami Grant led Portland with 21 points, and Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe added 17 apiece. Avdija also had seven rebounds and seven assists, but his streak of at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists ended at five games.

The Trail Blazers were without their top two centers, Donovan Clingan (calf) and Robert Williams III (illness), forcing 7-foot-2 rookie Yang Hansen to start his first game of the season; he finished with four points and five rebounds.

Memphis took control early, using Portland’s poor shooting and 14 turnovers to build a 25-point halftime lead at 66-46, matching Portland’s lowest first-half point total of the season. Portland opened the second half with a 19-3 run to cut the deficit to four, but Memphis countered and held a 92-78 lead going into the fourth quarter, cruising to the win.

Portland will travel to New Orleans on Thursday to conclude a five-game road trip, while Memphis hosts Utah on Friday.