Jaylen Wells scored seven points in overtime as the host Memphis Grizzlies held off the Phoenix Suns 151-148 on Tuesday night.
Phoenix’s Kevin Durant missed two 3-point attempts in the final five seconds.
Ja Morant shook off a rough shooting night to finish with 29 points and eight assists to lead the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 28 before fouling out in the fourth quarter and Desmond Bane scored 25 with nine assists.
Five Suns, led by Devin Booker, had 20 or more points. Booker finished with 28 and 10 assists and Durant contributed 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Bradley Beal had his first double-double of the season with 24 points and 11 assists. Bol Bol scored 23 with eight boards and Grayson Allen had 21, 15 in the fourth quarter.
The Suns lost for the ninth time in 11 games.
The Grizzlies improved to 22-6 at home and 3-0 against Phoenix this season.
Durant gave the Suns a 140-139 lead early in the overtime period with a 3-pointer, but the Grizzlies closed strong and took the lead for good on a tip in by Brandon Clarke off a Morant miss for a 149-148 advantage with 37 seconds to go.
Allen sank three consecutive 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter and give the Suns a 112-107 advantage.
Later in the quarter, Morant made six straight free throws to give the Grizzlies a 132-129 lead with 1:58 go. Two free throws by Beal put the Suns up 135-132 with 33 seconds left.
Memphis rallied on a 3-pointer by Morant and his leaner with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 137. Durant missed a deep baseline jumper and the game went into overtime.
Jackson Jr. fouled out with 3:58 remaining in regulation and the game tied at 126, and Booker picked up his sixth foul about a minute later.
In the third quarter, the Suns gradually built a 10-point cushion, mostly behind Beal and Bol. Phoenix led 96-86 with 3:12 left after a 3-pointer by Bol.
But the Grizzlies responded with a 13-1 run powered by two 3-pointers by Luke Kennard. Santi Aldama’s breakaway for a dunk with 1:13 to go in the third gave the Grizzlies a 99-97 lead.
Phoenix recovered in the closing minute to lead 103-101 entering the fourth.
Durant had 14 points and six rebounds at the half for the Suns. Beal had 11 points and seven assists. Morant was 0-for-8 shooting in the first half and had six points from the free-throw line.
Phoenix led 62-58 at the half.
–Field Level Media
