Ja Morant's triple-double sparks Grizzlies over Thunder
- Sports
- Reuters
- Published Date: 07:25 | 08 December 2022
- Modified Date: 07:25 | 08 December 2022
Ja Morant had 26 points, a career-high-tying 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 123-102 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
The Grizzlies have won a season-high four consecutive games and six of their last seven.
The Thunder's three-game winning streak was snapped.
Morant took over in the third quarter after Oklahoma City trimmed the Memphis lead to 75-73 with 5:37 left.
He scored seven consecutive points, in a variety of ways. Morant got to the free-throw line, drained a 3-pointer and hit a finger roll as the Grizzlies stretched their lead to nine, their biggest at the time.
Dillon Brooks also picked up Memphis in the third with three 3-pointers.
He scored 11 of his 24 points in the quarter.
Santi Aldama added 14 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. 12.
Jackson scored seven consecutive points in a 10-2 Memphis run to start the fourth that helped them begin to pull away for good.
Morant clinched the triple-double with a steal and feed to Brandon Clarke for a dunk with just more than three minutes remaining.
The triple-double was the second of the season and sixth of Morant's career, setting the Grizzlies' all-time mark since the franchise moved to Memphis.
Morant missed Monday's win over Miami with left ankle soreness.
Clarke scored eight of his 17 points in the fourth.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 26 points, going just 4 of 14 from the floor.
It was the first time in eight games Gilgeous-Alexander failed to reach the 30-point mark.
Gilgeous-Alexander helped keep Oklahoma City in the game, especially early, by getting to the free-throw line.
He was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line in the first quarter and wound up attempting a career-high 19 free throws, making 17.
The Thunder shot just 37 percent from the field, tying a season-low.
Oklahoma City's Luguentz Dort missed the game with a left knee contusion and Kenrich Williams (knee) missed his second consecutive game.
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