De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points and Harrison Barnes added 23 as the San Antonio Spurs held off the Memphis Grizzlies 111-101 on Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio overcame the absence of All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, while Memphis played without Ja Morant, snapping the Grizzlies’ four-game winning streak.
Barnes scored seven straight points down the stretch on a running hook, floater, and three-pointer to give the Spurs a 107-101 lead with under a minute remaining.
Keldon Johnson contributed 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting as San Antonio outscored Memphis 25-14 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Memphis grabbed a 22-2 advantage in second-chance points and outrebounded the Spurs 59-38, exploiting Wembanyama’s absence in the paint.
Cedric Coward led the Grizzlies with 19 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points, but the team’s shooting woes from deep and turnovers in the final frame hindered a comeback.
Memphis opened the game on an 8-0 run, forcing a quick timeout, and San Antonio struggled early, hitting just 17% of their first 12 shots.
Fox also contributed 10 assists for the Spurs, helping San Antonio maintain ball movement and control despite missing multiple starters.
Other contributors included Devin Vassell with 10 points and Kelly Olynyk adding 10 off the bench, helping San Antonio absorb Memphis’ second-chance scoring.
The Spurs have now won two straight and five of seven games, while the Grizzlies fall to 4-11 overall and face Sacramento at home on Thursday.
San Antonio will host the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, aiming to continue their strong start without Wembanyama, who is expected to miss two to three weeks with a left calf strain.
