Wizards shut down Ja Morant, roll past Grizzlies / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports Credit Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Seven players scored in double figures to complement stifling defense by the Washington Wizards in their 115-87 rout of the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Player of the Game EFF 20 Montrezl Harrell Points 18 Accuracy 9-11 Rebounds 8 Assists 0

Stingy defensive play to close both the second and third quarters allowed the Wizards to open up a double-digit lead, and they cruised from there.

Washington held Memphis to just three points over the final 4:24 of the second quarter, then went on a 23-9 run over the final 6:12 of the third quarter. Over a stretch during the decisive third-quarter run, the Wizards scored 16 consecutive points on shots in the paint.

Montrezl Harrell, who finished with a game-high 18 points and team-high eight rebounds, threw down three dunks and scored a layup during that stretch in the third.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 13 points and nine rebounds. Washington held Ja Morant to just 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting, and Desmond Bane scored 10 points.

Raul Neto joined Harrell in double-figure scoring off the bench with 15 points.

All five Washington starters also hit for double figures.

Bradley Beal scored 17 points and dished a game-high seven assists, while Kyle Kuzma shot 3-of-4 from 3-point range and totaled 13 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored all 12 of his points on 4-of-7 3-point shooting, and Spencer Dinwiddie added 12 points and six assists.

The win pulled Washington out of a two-game losing skid and ended Memphis' two-game run after the Grizzlies won back-to-back games against the Denver Nuggets.

The Grizzlies finished at only 35.4 percent shooting from the floor, including 6-of-31 from 3-point range.

Washington successfully capitalized on its stout defense with high-percentage shot attempts, shooting better than 58 percent from the floor. Washington also hit 10-of-25 from beyond the arc, which helped to offset 18 turnovers.

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