Bane’s late burst leads Grizzlies past Trail Blazers 119-109

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 30points and keyed a fourth-quarter rally, Ja Morant added 23 pointsand nine assists and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated theshort-handed Portland Trail Blazers 119-109 on Tuesday night.

Luke Kennard added 20 for Memphis, converting 6 of 103-pointers.

Skylar Mays, who signed a 10-day contract with Portland lastweekend, led the Trail Blazers with 24 points and seven assists.Shaedon Sharpe added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists.Jabari Walker finished with 16 points.

Portland held the lead with nine minutes left, but Baneconnected on a trio of 3-pointers over a four-minute stretch midwaythrough the fourth. That was part of a 22-2 Memphis run to put awaythe feisty Trail Blazers.

“We tied it up, and we went on a nice run,” Memphis coach TaylorJenkins said of the fourth quarter when Memphis outscored Portland23-14. “Des (Bane) helped spark that.”

As it has in recent games, Portland played without key pieces,such as leading scorers Damian Lillard (32.2 points a game),Anfernee Simons (21.1 points) and Jerami Grant (20.5 points), alongwith top rebounder Jusuf Nurkic (9.1 boards per game).

That left a number of reserves to carry the Trail Blazers, whoare out of the playoff hunt. But Portland coach Chauncey Billupspraised his team for their fortitude in a hostileenvironment.

Memphis not only won its 50th game of the year, but finished theseason 35-6 at home, clinching the best home slate in theleague.

“I thought we definitely played hard,” said Walker, who was 6 of11 from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers. “We were in itthe whole game, and that speaks volumes to all the guys, howcompetitive we are and how much heart we have.”

The Trail Blazers chipped away at a 19-point Memphis lead in thefirst half when the Grizzlies became lackadaisical with the ball.That, and a much more focused Portland defense, led to Memphisholding a slim 66-62 lead at the break.

“We just went to old habits,” Morant said of the lackluster playin the game’s middle stages. “Just no energy. That was pretty muchit. We weren’t taking them lightly at all. We’d seen what they’vedone the last couple of games.”

At the start of the third quarter, Portland’s intensitycontinued, and the Trail Blazers not only pulled even, but took thelead. They were still tied until Bane and the Grizzlies pulled awaywith the late burst.

“For us to be able to stay together and come back and get a winwas big-time,” Morant said.

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Portland was one of the few visiting teams todefeat the Grizzlies this season, winning 122-112 on Feb. 1. ...Portland already had eight players listed as “out” with the earlyinjury reports. By the time Billups got to the podium for hispregame comments, three more previously listed as questionable werenot available. That left nine Trail Blazers in uniform. ...Jeenathan Williams, the rookie out of Buffalo signed by Portland onSaturday, started his first game and finished with four points.

Grizzlies: F Dillon Brooks took the night off with right hipsoreness. Kennard started in Brooks’ spot. ... The win snapped afour-game losing streak to Portland at FedExForum.

KENNARD ACCURACY

Kennard started the game hitting all four of his 3-pointersbefore finishing 6 of 10 from outside the arc. He has made betterthan 50% of his 3-pointers since joining the Grizzlies in a tradedeadline deal in February. Morant told Kennard to keep shootingwhen he is on that kind of streak. “Whatever shot he likes, welove,” Morant said.

UP NEXT

Trail Blazers: Play Thursday at San Antonio against theSpurs.

Grizzlies: Play the Pelicans in New Orleans onWednesday.