MEMPHIS, ( Associated Press) — Desmond Bain scored 25 points, Ja Morant added 24 and tied a franchise record 11 points as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-114 on Wednesday night.
Memphis set the franchise record last season at roughly the same time — between December 26, 2021 and January 13, 2022.
Steven Adams scored the winning point with 16 seconds to go. Adams moved into position to eliminate Morant’s missed shot, and Dillon Brooks blocked Darius Garland’s 3-pointer as the clock expired to secure the win.
Morant said, “(Adams) did what he’s done all season… dominated the boards.” “He got us the win.”
Garland led Cleveland with 24 points, Caris LeVert had 23 and Evan Mobley added 18 points and 15 rebounds. Cleveland was without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who had a strained left groin.
The Grizzlies led by seven at the half, but the Cavaliers stayed close in the third quarter and took a 91–89 lead on Lamar Stevens’ 3-pointer in the final seconds.
In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies jumped out to a quick six-point lead after a 3-pointer by Bain, but the Cavs responded with a 9–0 run. He remained the closer until the final seven minutes of the game.
“We put ourselves in a great position down the stretch,” Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said. “They did just one play more than us.”
The Grizzlies also reached 11 straight games with at least 115 points.