NBA Daily: Spurs Rally from 10-Points Down to Beat Grizzlies 131-119
By Reylan Loberternos
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Dec 2020
Tagbilaran City, Bohol – Fresh from missing the playoffs for the first time in more than two decades, the San Antonio Spurs employed a balanced attack to overcome Ja Morant’s career-high 44 points and notch an opening day victory over the Memphis Grizzlies 131-119 on Wednesday night (Thursday morning, Philippine time) at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN.
Seven Spurs finished with double figures, including three starters that scored at least 20 points, led by DeMar DeRozan’s team-high 28 markers on a 7-for-14 field goal shooting and 14-for-15 from the charity stripe, to go along with 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
The Spurs were without injured Derrick White, who recently signed a $73M contract extension to stay in San Antonio for four more seasons. Dejounte Murray stepped up big time in White’s absence, producing 21 points, 6 boards, 9 dimes, and 2 steals.
LaMarcus Aldridge overcame a slow start to finish with 20 markers, while wingmen Lonnie Walker IV and Keldon Johnson chipped in 16 points apiece for San Antonio, who also got 13 and 10 from Patty Mills and Rudy Gay, respectively, off the bench.
Both teams connected on more than half of their shot attempts and showcased excellent ball-movement, but the Spurs’ aggressiveness was apparent starting in the second quarter that led to 29 total trips from the freethrow area, converting 25, while the Grizzlies could only connect 11 of 18.
Up next for the Spurs are the Toronto Raptors in San Antonio on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Philippine time).
On the other hand, the Grizzlies will try to bounce back as they travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks on the same night.
How They Scored:
Spurs 131 – DeRozan 28, Murray 21, Aldridge 20, Johnson 16, Walker IV 16, Mills 13, Gay 10, Poeltl 4, Vassell 3.
Grizzlies 119 – Morant 44, Brook 16, Valanciunas 15, Clarke 10, Anderson 7, Jones 7, Allen 6, Bane 6, Dieng 5, Melton 3.
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