SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies clinched second place in the Western Conference with a 25-point Tyus Jones 112-111 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
Memphis never trailed, despite Ja Morant missing for the sixth straight game with a knee injury. The Grizzlies improved to 19-2 without Morant on the season.
San Antonio closed within a point, 112-111, on a Keldon Johnson basket with 27.8 seconds left. After a foul by the Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane, Johnson failed to hit a contested layup with 2.7 seconds left.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Spurs, the longest of the season. San Antonio fell a half-game behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the race for 10th place in the West and for the final spot in the qualifying minitournament.
Memphis finished with five players scoring in double figures and shooting 48% (44-for-91). Dillon Brooks had 21 points, while Bane and De’Anthony Melton each had 16 points for the Grizzlies.
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