Ja Morant delivered a stellar performance with 29 points and 12 assists, guiding the Memphis Grizzlies to a 120-118 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Memphis (41-24) overcame an early 16-point deficit to secure its third consecutive win, strengthening its hold on fourth place in the Western Conference.
Phoenix (30-35) started strong with a 25-9 lead but could not maintain momentum, falling further behind in the play-in race.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 35 points, while Devin Booker added 26, but Durant’s last-second three-pointer missed, sealing Phoenix’s defeat.
Rookie Cam Spencer, playing on a two-way contract, made a significant impact off the bench with a career-high 16 points, including two clutch free throws with 14.4 seconds remaining.
The game remained tight throughout the fourth quarter, with both teams exchanging baskets in the closing minutes.
Memphis was without Jaren Jackson Jr. for the fourth straight game due to a left ankle sprain, while Phoenix rested Bradley Beal for left calf injury management.
Durant and Spencer had a heated exchange late in the third quarter after the rookie drained a three-pointer over him, leading to technical fouls for both players.
Phoenix was highly efficient from beyond the arc, hitting 20-of-38 threes (52.6%), with Durant leading the way at 7-of-9.
Morant controlled the tempo, attacking the paint and distributing effectively, while Desmond Bane and GG Jackson provided key contributions with 10 and 14 points, respectively.
Spencer’s late-game heroics, along with strong bench play from Scotty Pippen Jr. and Lamar Stevens, kept the Grizzlies in control in the final minutes.
Despite Phoenix’s dominance on the boards (46-39 rebounding advantage), costly turnovers and missed defensive assignments allowed Memphis to capitalize late.
The Suns entered the night 1.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the final play-in spot but missed an opportunity to gain ground.
