Ja Morant delivered a near triple-double performance with 32 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies edged the Boston Celtics 127-121 on Saturday night. Memphis snapped a decade-long losing streak at TD Garden, marking their first win in Boston since November 2013.
Jaren Jackson Jr. provided strong support with 27 points and nine rebounds, helping the Grizzlies improve to 16-8 and extend their run of eight victories in the last nine games. The Celtics, who dropped to 19-5, struggled from beyond the arc, converting only 18 of 60 three-point attempts.
The Celtics erased a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, taking a brief 97-94 lead early in the fourth. Memphis responded with a decisive 7-0 run late in the quarter, pushing their lead to 124-115, and closed the game out with solid defense.
Boston’s Jrue Holiday led the scoring for the home team with 23 points, while Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard each added 22. Jayson Tatum had an off night, shooting 6-for-21 from the field and finishing with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists.
The game featured an emotional return for Marcus Smart, who played his first game at TD Garden since being traded to Memphis in 2023. Smart received a standing ovation from the crowd but struggled offensively, shooting 1-for-11 and finishing with just three points in 19 minutes.
Morant showcased his athleticism with a highlight-reel reverse dunk and contributed key plays on both ends of the court in his sixth game back from a hip injury. Memphis dominated inside, outscoring Boston 64-40 in the paint and shooting an efficient 50% from the field.
Boston, playing the second night of a back-to-back, suffered its first such loss of the season, dropping to 4-1 in those situations. Kristaps Porzingis contributed 19 points and eight rebounds but couldn’t offset the team’s shooting woes.
The Grizzlies benefited from strong bench play, with Jay Huff adding 10 points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes. Desmond Bane chipped in 14 points and four assists, while Brandon Clarke posted an efficient 18 points on 9-for-11 shooting.
The Celtics’ comeback attempts were fueled by Pritchard, who connected on six of his 11 three-point attempts, and Brown, who was effective both inside and out. However, the team’s inability to convert consistently from deep proved costly.
