JA Morant notched franchise records with 52 points and 22 field goals to lift the host Memphis Grizzlies to a 118-105 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
The impressive display came two days after Morant scored a franchise regular-season-record 46 points in a victory over the Chicago Bulls. His previous career high for any contest was 47 in a playoff loss to the Utah Jazz last season.
Morant provided a number of signature moments, including an emphatic dunk over Jakob Poeltl late in the second quarter and a buzzer-beating jumper to give the Grizzlies a 68-58 lead at halftime.
De’Anthony Melton scored 15 points for Memphis, which recorded its 11th win in 14 outings overall and prevented San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich from tying Hall of Famer Don Nelson’s NBA record for regular season coaching victories (1,335). Lonnie Walker IV led the Spurs with 22 points.
In other games, it was the Raptors 133, Nets 97; Bucks 130, Hornets 106; Heat 112, Bulls 99; Wolves 127, Cavs 122; Magic 119, Pacers 103; and Kings 131, Thunder 110.
Raptors 133, Nets 97
Rookie Scottie Barnes tied a career high with 28 points and collected a career-best 16 rebounds as Toronto routed Brooklyn in New York.
The Raptors, still without Fred VanVleet (knee), bounced back from losing by a combined 59 points in a weekend back-to-back at Charlotte and Atlanta – Toronto prevailed even though Pascal Siakam was held to eight points on 2-of-14 shooting from the floor.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Nets with 15 points while Bruce Brown and rookie Cam Thomas added 14 apiece for Brooklyn, which allowed 31 points off 23 turnovers. The Nets also were coached by lead assistant Jacque Vaughn after announcing Steve Nash was placed in health and safety protocol shortly before the opening tip.
Bucks 130, Hornets 106
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his fifth consecutive double-double as Milwaukee defeated visiting Charlotte to snap a two-game losing streak.
The two-time MVP amassed 26 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and four blocks plus a 14-of-14 performance from the free-throw line. Jrue Holiday contributed 21 points and Bobby Portis finished with 20 to go along with 10 rebounds. — Field Level Media
