PHILADELPHIA — Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant drove to the basket, hung within the air in entrance of the 6-foot-11 Andre Drummond and tied the sport on the finish of regulation on Monday evening towards the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Middle.
An nearly equivalent state of affairs occurred late in extra time. Morant drove once more however was met by Drummond and a herd of defenders who collapsed and took away any look Morant had on the basket.
Down by one, Morant handed it to rookie Ziaire Williams, whose 3-pointer rimmed out within the last seconds. The Sixers bought the lengthy rebound, added a transition layup and defeated the Grizzlies 122-119.
Missed alternatives haunted the Grizzlies (35-18). Morant missed large free throws within the fourth quarter and had 9 of the Grizzlies’ 14 turnovers. The Sixers (31-19) bought a mixed 64 factors from Tyrese Maxey (33 factors) and Tobias Harris (31 factors) to spoil the 71-point effort between Morant (37 factors) and Desmond Bane (34 factors).
Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 factors, however no different Grizzlies participant scored in double figures. Williams completed with eight factors, 9 rebounds and missed all six of his 3-pointers.
“If it occurs once more, I will make the identical go,” Morant stated. “I handed it as a result of I imagine in him and know he is able to making that shot. … If it is anyone you wish to be mad at, it may be me. I had 9 turnovers.”
The Grizzlies began gradual and trailed by as many as 15 factors within the second quarter. The deficit was reduce to 5 at halftime because the Grizzlies protection began to ramp up the depth. Memphis compelled 21 turnovers and outscored the Sixers 30-17 in factors off turnovers.
Highway Bane
Bane shoots 52.5% on the street. At dwelling he is at 41.9%. True to his splits, Bane was the offense’s prime performer in the primary half. One in every of his greatest photographs got here within the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies trailed 88-85 earlier than a Brandon Clarke steal led to Bane pulling up in transition and quieting the group with a 3-pointer. He then put the Grizzlies up 99-98 with 4:53 remaining left within the fourth quarter. Bane was 12 of 21 taking pictures and made 5 3-pointers. His 34 factors was a profession excessive.
Capturing woes harm
The Sixers made the six 3-pointers within the first quarter. That was the quantity the Grizzlies made throughout your complete sport. The Grizzlies have made the least quantity of 3-pointers per sport within the NBA throughout January (9.6), and so they’ve shot simply 32% — twenty seventh within the league. Memphis has overcome a lot of its taking pictures struggles with fast-break factors, elite rebounding, paint manufacturing and protection. That formulation will not work towards the league’s greatest groups. The Grizzlies shot 6-for-30 on 3-pointers and 19 of 28 on free throws. The Sixers made 11 of 31 3-pointers and shot 13-for-15 on free throws.
Earlier than the tip of regulation and extra time insanity, Jackson missed each his free-throw makes an attempt early within the third quarter. The Sixers crowd was shaking its white boomsticks behind the objective and bought as loud because it had been as any time as much as that time of the sport for the reason that misses resulted in free Wendy’s frostys for the group.
“It is simply basketball,” Bane stated. “If I’m going out and shoot 100 photographs, there isn’t any telling what number of I’ll make. You simply proceed to place the reps in and put the time in.”
Earlier than the tip of regulation and extra time insanity, Jackson missed each his free-throw makes an attempt early within the third quarter. The Sixers crowd was shaking its white boomsticks behind the objective and bought as loud because it had been as any time as much as that time of the sport for the reason that misses resulted in free Wendy’s frostys for the group.
“It is simply basketball,” Bane stated. “If I’m going out and shoot 100 photographs, there isn’t any telling what number of I’ll make. You simply proceed to place the reps in and put the time in.”