The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat the host Memphis Grizzlies 142-126 Monday night and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made 3-pointers in a game.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and nine boards for Cleveland, which won for the ninth time in 11 games.
Plagued by injuries throughout the season, Memphis (25-54) lost its fifth straight and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the 3-point mark when Adama Bal’s 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. Memphis finished 29 of 59 (49.2%) from long range.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper paced the Grizzlies with 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting, while Dariq Whitehead and Bal came off the bench to score 20 apiece. Lucas Williamson added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Walter Clayton Jr. added 10 points and 11 assists.
Cleveland played without Donovan Mitchell (right ankle), James Harden (personal reasons) and Max Strus (left foot) but won its seventh straight game in the series.
Cleveland trailed 44-27 in the second quarter but bounced back to lead 68-64 at the half. Behind 10 second-period points from Ellis, the Cavaliers outscored the Grizzlies 44-28 in the quarter while shooting 63%.
The Cavaliers extended their lead to 17 points late in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Merrill and maintained a double-digit advantage for most of the fourth quarter. Memphis trimmed the margin to 10 points late in the fourth on Bal’s record-tying 3-pointer, but the hosts got no closer.
With an abundance of key players out because of injuries, including season-ending injuries to star guard Ja Morant and big man Zach Edey, Memphis is limping its way to the regular-season finish line. The Grizzlies placed a lineup on the floor that included four players on 10-day contracts.
–Field Level Media
