De’Aaron Fox capped a back-and-forth affair with a tiebreaking 20-footer with 2.1 seconds remaining Saturday night, allowing the visiting San Antonio Spurs to complete a 130-128 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Fox finished with 20 points, as did Devin Vassell, and Stephon Castle had a team-high 24 off the bench for the Spurs, who won for just the second time in six games since Victor Wembanyama was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a game-high 42 points for the Grizzlies, who lost a second straight nail-biter and dropped into a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings.
Fighting an uphill battle after the Spurs exploded for 46 points in the second quarter, the Grizzlies finally drew even at 125-all on a short Jackson jumper with 49.8 seconds left.
Fox seemed to put San Antonio back in control with three free throws with 29.1 seconds to go but Jackson struck again, this time with a 3-pointer that produced a 128-128 tie with 23.4 seconds remaining.
That left San Antonio with one more possession and Fox made the most of it, stepping back for a jumper that produced the difference in the game.
Electing to sit Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams Jr. on the second night of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies watched San Antonio’s 46 second-quarter points create a 77-58 difference at the break. Jeremy Sochan had 11 of his 18 points in the quarter for the Spurs.
But the short-handed hosts appeared to catch their breath at halftime and roared back with a 38-point quarter of their own, closing within 99-96 at the end of the third and setting up the tight finish. Jackson had 18 points in the third period.
All four Spurs reserves who saw action scored in double figures, with Keldon Johnson chipping in with 15 points and Julian Champagnie 14 points to go with Castle’s and Sochan’s totals. Sochan also found time to complete a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds.
Chris Paul added eight points and a team-high eight assists for the winners.
The Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama also posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists to go with eight rebounds, while Jaylen Wells had 18 points, Zach Edey 17 with a team-high nine rebounds, Luke Kennard scored 14 and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12.
Edey, who made all seven of his shots, also had three blocks.
–Field Level Media
