Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on January 31, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images / AFP
Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton scored 23 points each for hosts Memphis Grizzlies, who took an 18-point lead before taking a stretch shot in a 132-120 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
The Nets fell despite 43 points from Kyrie Irving and 35 from Kevin Durant, and even though Memphis played without Ja Morant, who was sidelined for the second straight game due to a sore right knee.
The Grizzlies (50-23) hit 50 wins for the fifth time in franchise history and improved to 15-2 in games Morant has missed this season.
“I guess that says it all.”
The @memgrizz here! pic.twitter.com/hjuAEkcI0S
– NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2022
Bane and Melton each hit six 3-pointers as the Grizzlies went 19/38 from long distance. Bane made his three dribbles in the decisive 18-2 game, turning a 107-105 deficit into a 123-109 lead with the remaining score at 5:20.
Dillon Brooks added 21 and Tyus Jones, filling in on Morant, contributed 16 points and 10 assists as the Grizzlies beat the Nets (38-35) for the sixth time in a row.
Desmond Bane knocks out a second trio in a row to make it 10-0 @memgrizz run!
5 minutes left on ESPN pic.twitter.com/zgqOQ7QKgk
– NBA (@NBA) March 24, 2022
Memphis’ Brandon Clarke added 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. Jaren Jackson Jr ranked 13th and Kyle Anderson ranked 10th.
The Nets were held to 16 points in the fourth inning, when Durant scored just two. Brooklyn missed 10 of 17 shots and made six spins in final time.
Andre Drummond added 15 and Bruce Brown scored 13 for the Nets, who shot 49.4 percent but also allowed 27 points in 14 spins.
Melton, Brooks and Bane added up 32 points as the Grizzlies led 40-32 in the opening half. Brooks made it 63-45 with 5:57 left in the half, and the Grizzlies led 76-62 at halftime after Anderson stole the ball from Durant and sank with 4.6 seconds remaining.
Irving’s four-point play gives Brooklyn 90-87 at the 5:57 mark of the third inning. The Nets took their first lead since the first inning when Durant hit a pair at 2:34 in the third inning to make it 98-97.
Brooklyn took a 104-103 lead in game four after Durant briefly connected with Brown with 2.4 seconds remaining.
Durant contributed 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Irving also finished with eight assists.
BUT RELATED STORY
Get the hottest sports news straight to your inbox
Continue reading
Registration INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to news, download as early as 4am and share media articles society. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints or enquiries, Contact us.
