NBA-leading Celtics race past Ja Morant, Grizzlies 119-109

BOSTON (AP)— Derrick White scored 23 points to help a shorthanded Boston teamhold off Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies 119-109 on Sunday.

Sam Hauseradded 20 points, tying his career-high with six 3-pointers, AlHorford had 16 points and Payton Pritchard added 12 for Boston,which won its fourth straight. Celtics star Jayson Tatum didn’thave his sharpest game, finishing with 16 points but making 3 of 16shots and missing 7 of 8 on 3-point attempts.

“That’s thebeauty of this team,” said White, who also had 10 assists. “We’rejust so deep. We’ve got a lot of guys that can do a little bit ofeverything.”

Morant ledthe Grizzlies with 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds, whileDesmond Bane scored 18 and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15 points andseven rebounds.

Boston waswithout starting point guard Marcus Smart, who missed his 10thstraight with a bone bruise in his right ankle, as well as forwardJaylen Brown (facial fracture he suffered from an inadvertent elbowby Tatum) and reserve guard Malcolm Brogdon (sore Achilles).

Bostonmoved to 1 1/2 games ahead of the idle Bucks for the EasternConference’s best record ahead of their matchup in Milwaukee onTuesday.

The Celticswere clinging to a one-point lead early in the final quarter beforeWhite scored six points — with a conventional three-point play and3-pointer from the right wing — during a 16-7 spurt that moved themahead 104-94 with just over four minutes to play.

“We havesome of our top dogs out now and it’s just an opportunity for guysto showcase what they can do,” Hauser said. “Try to fill that voidof the guys that were out. They bring a lot to the table. We try todo our best to do whatever we can to help the team win.”

Horfordnailed three 3-pointers in the final five minutes.

Trailing by13 at halftime, the Grizzlies used a 13-point third quarter byMorant that featured one-handed driving baskets, flips in the laneand twisting shots to wipe out the deficit, taking the lead brieflylate in the third,

Morant saidlast month that he wasn’t worried about facing any team in the Westin the playoffs. He brought it up again Sunday.

“Theconfidence I had when I said that is the confidence that got us tothe point where we’re at now — being one of the top teams in thisleague,” he said.

TIP-INS

Grizzlies:Center Steven Adams missed his 10th consecutive game with a kneeinjury. … Morant missed his first three free-throw attempts. … Theyheld a two-point lead after one quarter despite hitting only 2 of 93s while Boston was 6 of 13. They finished just 12-for-34 frombeyond the arc.

Celtics:Pritchard hit his first three shots from the floor — all 3s. “It’sbig, especially as a role player,” Pritchard said of his start.“When hit your first one it definitely, anybody that says itdoesn’t is lying to you, it definitely gives you confidence.”

OFFWHEN AWAY

TheGrizzlies’ road struggles continued, dropping them to 11-17 awayfrom home.

“How do youcorrect that?” coach Taylor Jenkins said before the game. “It’s gotto be a mentality, for sure, obviously you trust all the workyou’re putting in. … Guys have to be even more confident togetheron the road. We know what our standard is and that’s what it’sabout and we don’t live up to that standard on the road.”

NICE MOMENT

JeannineRussell, wife of late Celtics legend Bill Russell, was seatedcourtside. She got a standing ovation when the PA announcerwelcomed her as she was shown on the videoboard.

UPNEXT

Grizzlies:Host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, starting a stretch of three offour at home.

Celtics: Atthe Bucks on Tuesday in a matchup of the league’s top twoteams.