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02/05 21:01 CST Siakam, Raptors rally past Grizzlies 106-103 as Morant sits
Siakam, Raptors rally past Grizzlies 106-103 as Morant sits
By CLAY BAILEY
Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) --- Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, including a pair of
free throws with 9 seconds left, and the Toronto Raptors rallied from a
15-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 106-103 on Sunday.
Jaren Jackson Jr. missed a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left that would have tied
the game for the Grizzlies, who played without star Ja Morant because of right
wrist soreness.
Toronto won its second straight game and went 4-3 on its season-long seven-game
road swing. Memphis has lost three straight and eight of nine.
Chris Boucher scored 17 points and matched his season high with three
3-pointers for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes scored 13 of his 16 points in the
fourth quarter, including a pair of key baskets down the stretch. Fred Van
Vleet had 15 points and seven assists.
"Things got tight in the fourth quarter," Barnes said. "It was just the ball
was coming to me, and I was having a ball. I was just trying to get downhill
and win the game."
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 26 points, while Jackson had 18 points and four
blocks. In addition to Morant, the Grizzlies were missing center Steven Adams
(right knee) and forward Dillon Brooks, who served a league-assessed one-game
suspension for his confrontation with Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell on Thursday.
Toronto put the game away by outscoring Memphis 28-17 in the fourth quarter,
and Bane said there are obviously things that need to change.
"I think just valuing every possession," the Grizzlies guard said.
"Understanding the magnitude of every possession for a full 48 minutes, but
especially down the stretch. When it comes down to it, we've got to be able to
rebound the basketball and not allow teams to get second chances."
Memphis led most of the game before Toronto asserted itself late. The Grizzlies
were ahead 81-66 with 4:44 left in the third quarter. The Raptors got within
86-78 entering the fourth.
"You don't want to try and come down and out-jump-shoot teams," Raptors coach
Nick Nurse said. "They were open shots, but we needed to get in attack mode and
attack the paint. (Jump shots) are great when they all go in, but when none of
them go in, it looks and feels really bad, and you put yourself in a big hole."
Precious Achiuwa got free for a baseline dunk with 2:32 left that gave the
Raptors a 100-99 lead. From there, the teams traded baskets until Barnes hit a
pair of shots, the latter with 20.1 seconds left for a 104-103 advantage.
"It was a great win ... to close it out with that fourth quarter," VanVleet
said. "Things were not really going our way. We just hung in there and made a
couple of more plays at the end."
TIP-INS
Raptors: F O.G. Anunoby, whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors, missed
his fifth straight game with a left wrist sprain. ... VanVleet handed out his
2,000th career assist in the first quarter. ... Barnes had his 100th career
block in the third quarter. ... Gary Trent Jr. had 10 points, ending his streak
at 11 straight games with at least 15 points.
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama finished with 15 points. ... Tyus Jones recorded his
500th career steal in the first quarter. ... The loss prevented Memphis from
sweeping the series with Toronto. It hasn't won both games against the Raptors
in the regular season since 2012-13.
MORANT FRIEND PUNISHED
Morant tweeted that a friend of his has been banned from games at FedExForum
for a year. The punishment stems from a confrontation on Jan. 29, when the
Grizzlies hosted Indiana. During the game, there was barking between Pacers
players and friends of Morant seated along the sideline. The talking apparently
continued into the players' parking area after the game, leading to an
investigation by the league. Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said he was aware of
the league's investigation and that the team addressed the matter internally.
He did not elaborate further.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Host San Antonio on Wednesday night.
Grizzlies: Host Chicago on Tuesday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
