Jackson, Bane lead Grizzlies over Jazz, 117-111

MEMPHIS,Tenn. (AP) — Jaren Jackson had 26 points, nine rebounds and fourblocks and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 117-111 onWednesday night in the last game for both teams before the All-Starbreak.

Desmond Banescored 24 points and Ja Morant had 20 points — on 8-of-26 shooting— and nine assists. Jackson also had five steals.

Kelly Olynykled the Jazz with 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Jordan Clarksonhad 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Utah, whichtrailed by 24 in the first half, cut the Memphis lead to 111-110when Ochai Agbaji (17 points) scored on a dunk with 1:28 left. ButMorant scored the next three points for Memphis and the Grizzliesheld on for their second straight victory.

“Being up 24,you definitely don’t want to go into the All-Star break afterlosing a (big) lead, but we survived,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkinssaid.

Jackson saidthere were several key factors that helped Memphis hold on. He saidthe performance “wasn’t great,” but the Grizzlies had enough leftat the end to escape the Utah comeback.

“I can’t tellyou what it was,” Jackson said. “I’m just happy they missed someshots late, and we made some shots late. We got the ball to who wewanted to get it to and finished it out.”

Utah scoringleader Lauri Markkanen was out with right knee soreness. Then, fourminutes into the game, guard Collin Sexton went out with a lefthamstring injury and did not return. That left the Jazzshort-handed and relying on their reserves. Talen Horton-Tucker ledthe Utah bench, scoring 15 points, while grabbing seven reboundsand handing out an equal number of assists.

Memphisbenefitted from poor ball protection by the Jazz in the first half.Fifteen first-half turnovers by Utah resulted in 26 Grizzliespoints. Jackson already had 16 points, cashing in on four3-pointers, while recording three blocks and four steals in thefirst half.

Utahoutscored Memphis 33-25 in third quarter, cutting the lead to 88-80entering the fourth.

“You seeeverybody’s energy and how they played tonight?” Clarkson said.“Nobody ever gave up throughout the whole game. We had turnoversand missed shots early.”

But Clarksonnoted that the youthful energy of the Jazz along with new teammateshelped them overcome early problems in the game while missing keyplayers.

“One shotaway, two plays away from winning the game,” Clarkson said.

TIP-INS

Jazz: F JuanToscano-Anderson made his debut with the Jazz after he was tradedfrom the Lakers at the deadline. He finished with seven points. ...Olynyk was 4 of 4 from 3-point range in the Jazz win over Indianabut missed all three 3-pointers in the first half. He finished 3 of7 from outside the arc. ...In addition to Markkanen, reserve F RudyGay was out with non-COVID illness.

Grizzlies:Brandon Clarke started his seventh game of the season at center.... Are 17-16 against the Western Conference. ... The win marksonly the third time in franchise history that they have reached 35wins before the All-Star break.

STANDINGS WATCH

The Jazzentered the night in 10th place in the Western Conference, holdingonto the last play-in spot a mere half-game ahead of Portland andOklahoma City. Utah coach Will Hardy said there has to be a balanceto watching the logjam.

“It can bedaunting when you look at the standing,” Hardy said. “How tighteverything is. Then you start trying to do math in your head aboutwhat you may have to do.” Then he added: “I’d be lying if I said wedon’t look at the standings. You do.”