>
Ja Morant had 27 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 28 points and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a lackluster first half to beat the Indiana Pacers 112-100 on Sunday.
Brandon Clarke had 13 points, making all five of his shots as Memphis snapped a five-game losing streak and raised its home record to 21-3. It was Morant’s fifth triple-double of the season and his second in a row.
“We needed it,” Morant said. “Obviously, we’re going through a rough patch that we haven’t been on in years, losing five games on the road. That is not our identity. Those are not us.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) attempts a dunk as Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23)
But the game started as if Memphis was going to continue to lose. The Grizzlies trailed by 12 at the half, but the second-half turnaround, fueled by defensive adjustments, allowed them to outscore the Pacers 62-38 in the final two quarters.
“It’s pretty clear that the first half was really great and exactly what we were trying to do was make it difficult for them with a solid defense,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. ‘…The second half, they were able to turn everything around.’
Bennedict Mathurin, the sixth pick in the 2022 draft, led the Pacers with 27 points and eight rebounds. Aaron Nesmith had 16 points and Myles Turner added 15 points. Indiana has lost 10 of its last 11.
The Pacers dominated the first half, leading by as many as 19 points. Indiana’s first-half shooting, which wavered by 60% midway through the second quarter, helped build it to a 62-50 lead at halftime.
Morant shoots a three-pointer during the second half against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night
But 14 straight points brought Memphis into the game early in the third quarter, and the Grizzlies outscored Indiana 30-17 in the third to retake the lead.
“It’s difficult to play away from home,” Mathurin said of the second-half collapse. ‘They had momentum. The crowd got into it. … We should have stayed locked up. The defense was pretty bad in the second half.”
Memphis’ 13-2 run to open the quarter opened the game.
“We just accepted the challenge,” said Jackson, who also had five blocks. ‘We have to go out and compete every night. This is nothing new. We are happy to be back at home and get a good win.’
Morant celebrates in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers
DOLLARS 135, PELICANS 110
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 50 points and 13 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks beat New Orleans 135-110 on Sunday, handing the Pelicans their eighth straight loss.
Antetokounmpo’s 50 points were five fewer than a career high he set on Jan. 4 in a 123-113 win over the Washington Wizards. He shot 20 of 26 from the floor, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and was 7 of 12 from free throws.
Antetokounmpo collected 29 points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone. Jrue Holiday scored 17 and Brook Lopez added 15 for the Bucks, who were shooting 55.2%.
New Orleans was missing its top three scorers, so José Alvarado led the Pelicans with 18 points, while Trey Murphy III and Jonas Valanciunas each had 16.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks dunks on the ball Jonas Valanciunas of the New Orleans Pelicans
HORNETS 122, HEAT 117
Terry Rozier scored 31 points, PJ Washington had 27 and Charlotte snapped Miami’s three-game winning streak.
LaMelo Ball scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as Charlotte improved to 7-16 at home. Gordon Hayward was a perfect 7 of 7 from the field for 20 points.
Rozier also had seven assists and six rebounds. He was 11-for-19 from the field, including a 5-for-11 performance from 3-point range.
Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Miami and Tyler Herro had 24.
Charlotte shot 54.2% from the field and outrebounded Miami 47-36.
Hornets’ Terry Rozier (L) reacts after making a 3-pointer as forward PJ Washington looks on
KNIGHTS 122, CLIPPERS 99
Cedi Osman tied his career high with 29 points, Darius Garland had 16 points and 10 assists, and Cleveland led Los Angeles to victory.
All-Star starter Donovan Mitchell scored 11 points in his return with Cleveland after missing three games with a groin strain. Osman, a member of Turkey’s national team, scored all seven 3-point attempts at Turkish Heritage Night
Brandon Boston Jr. scored 24 points and Moses Brown had 13 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, which snapped its five-game winning streak. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard did not suit for the Clippers with knee problems and Reggie Jackson sat out with a strained right Achilles tendon.
Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman (16) dunks during the second half against the LA Clippers