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NEW YORK – Ja Morant scored 36 factors and 5 Grizzlies scored in double figures as Memphis prolonged its successful streak to 5 video games with a 118-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night time.
Desmond Bane scored 29 factors, Brandon Clarke added 16, and Jarrett Culver and Tyus Jones had 12 apiece.
“Since I (got here) right here, I have been saying we deserve extra respect,” Morant mentioned. “The stuff we’re doing now, clearly that recognition and all the things will come.”
Kevin Durant led the Nets with 26 factors on 8-for-24 capturing from the sphere, together with 2 for 8 from 3-point vary. James Harden added 19 factors on 5-for-14 capturing. Nic Claxton added 11 factors and Blake Griffin and Bruce Brown every completed with 10 factors as Brooklyn misplaced its third straight.
“It is about coming into the video games with a way of urgency on each ends of the ground,” Durant mentioned, when requested to diagnose what has gone unsuitable for Brooklyn in its final three video games. “Making the right play on each ends of the ground.”
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Morant scored 18 factors within the third interval and had a spectacular tomahawk dunk that drew a puff from the Barclays Middle crowd of extra 17,000, which included NFL extensive receiver Antonio Brown, whose profession is on maintain after leaving the sphere and his Tampa Bay teammates within the Buccaneers’ win over the Jets on Sunday.
“Our expectations,” mentioned Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins, “(are) to exit and influence the sport at a excessive stage.”
The primary of two regular-season matchups between the leaders within the Atlantic and Southwest divisions involved Brooklyn coach Steve Nash. Nash, in his pregame feedback, pointed to the Grizzlies’ capacity to offensive rebound and pressure turnovers, elements of the sport during which the Nets have struggled.
Memphis scored 14 factors off 9 Brooklyn turnovers within the opening quarters and led 56-47 at halftime. The Grizzlies additionally grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, which helped them rating 18 second-chance factors.
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Memphis constructed its result in as many as 25 factors within the third quarter by constantly attacking the paint, led by Morant’s acrobatic drives.
“Folks will debate whether or not or not he must be an All-Star,” Bane mentioned of Morant. “I feel we must be debating whether or not or not he is the most effective level guard within the league.”
The Grizzlies prolonged their result in 28 factors within the fourth quarter. With Durant and Harden on the bench, Brooklyn’s reserves minimize the deficit to 10 factors, however acquired no nearer.
Brown scored seven of his 10 factors within the interval, and Jevon Carter (six), Day’Ron Sharpe (six), and Cam Thomas (eight) scored all of their factors throughout the ill-fated comeback try.
“I really like the younger guys and what they convey to our crew,” Durant mentioned. “Good to see them get some minutes and alternatives to make it a sport, they usually did. For certain.”
TIP-INS:
Grizzlies: The NBA introduced earlier than the sport that Morant was named the participant of the week within the Western Convention. The second total choose within the 2019 draft averaged 34.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds, and 34 minutes in three video games — all wins — over the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs. Morant, who was awarded participant of the week for the primary time in his profession, is averaging 24.7 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.48 steals in 32.4 minutes, and has began each sport this season for Memphis.
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Nets: The Nets have had their season upended by the pandemic. Brooklyn, which had 10 gamers in COVID-19 protocol way back to Dec. 17, introduced previous to the sport that the NBA rescheduled 5 of its video games. The Nets will host San Antonio at midday on Jan. 9, earlier than flying to Portland to play the Path Blazers the following night time. Brooklyn’s sport towards Denver, initially scheduled for Dec. 19, was moved to Jan. 26. That pressured the league to maneuver the beforehand scheduled matchup towards the Toronto Raptors to Feb. 28. Lastly, the league shifted the Dec. 21 sport towards Washington to Feb. 17. … The Nets had been short-handed as beginning heart LaMarcus Aldridge missed the sport with a sore proper foot.
UP NEXT:
Grizzlies: Go to Cleveland on Tuesday night time.
Nets: Go to Indiana on Wednesday night time.
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