(Basketball news) The Memphis Grizzlies thrashed the Milwaukee Bucks 142-101. For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Dillon Brooks added 18 points and Tyus Jones had 16 as eight Grizzlies scored in double figures. Memphis led from start to finish in its seventh straight win. For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis led the scoring with 19 points apiece. Memphis’ win, coupled with New Orleans’ overtime loss to Utah on Thursday night, moved the Grizzlies into first place in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies opened a 50-point lead in the fourth quarter for the NBA’s largest advantage this season
”When teams face us, they’ve got to be ready to come out and play,” Morant said, adding: ”We’ve got multiple guys who can go out and score the ball. If you scout us, you’ve got to name everybody on the list.”
”I don’t think it is anything earth-shattering,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of the defensive effort. He added that the Grizzlies were disciplined and showed multiple players against Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
”We were just beaten soundly in every way, shape and form, and we have to own that,” Budenholzer said.
“They were just playing well. Knocking down shots,” Antetokounmpo said. ”They were running. Their pace was really fast. They were just playing good basketball.”
The Phoenix Suns snapped the Los Angeles Clippers’ winning streak as they beat them 111-95. For the Suns, Mikal Bridges scored 27 points, Chris Paul added 15 points and 13 assists as Devin Booker scored 14 points in his return from a two-game absence with a hamstring injury. For the Clippers, Terance Mann scored a season-high 22 points while John Wall had 12 points and five assists in his second start. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Norman Powell, Reggie Jackson and Ivica Zubac didn’t play, leaving Los Angeles without its top three scorers, four of its starters. With this result the Suns improved their record to 17-12 to move 4th in the Western Conference standings.
”Ain’t no easy nights in this league,” said Bridges, who went 11 for 18. ”I know they were missing some players, but they’re still in the league. We came out here and we played hard. Felt good to make some shots early.”
”I’m happy we finally got a win out of this road trip, and we’re going to try to keep this train moving,” Paul said.
”He’s a prideful player,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. ”He needed a forklift to get his lip off the ground the other night, he was so down about his performance. … When he’s shooting the ball like (tonight), we’re a pretty good team.”
Also read: NBA: Warriors lose back to back games while Nuggets rout the Wizards
