Grant scores 23 points to help Trail Blazers rout Grizzlies, 135-115
PORTLAND (AP) — Jerami Grant had 23 points and the Portland Trail Blazers ended a six-game losing streak by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 135-115 Friday night to open a two-game set.
The teams will meet again Saturday evening in Portland.
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Jrue Holiday had 20 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who led by 30 points after pulling away in the second half. Eight Portland players finished in double figures.
Cam Spencer had 18 points coming off the bench for the Grizzlies, who had won their previous two games in a row after a six-game losing streak. GG Jackson II added 15.
Ja Morant missed his eighth straight game with a left elbow injury. Morant remained with the team through Thursday’s trade deadline despite speculation that the Grizzlies could move him.
The Grizzlies were adjusting to a radical trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah in exchange for Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks.
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Anderson was out Friday due to illness, but Clayton and Hendricks entered the game for Memphis.
The Grizzlies led by 15 points in the first half, but Portland tied the game at 51 on Jerami Grant’s dunk. Grant followed with a layup that gave the Blazers the lead and they led 68-64 at halftime.
The Blazers said at halftime that Shaedon Sharpe would not return with left calf soreness.
Portland extended the lead to 94-77 on Grant’s 3-pointer in the third quarter and Memphis never contested.
Scotty Pippen Jr. started his first game of the season for Memphis after undergoing surgery on his left big toe. He had 13 points and six assists in 22 minutes.
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Portland guard Scoot Henderson also played in his first game of the season after recovering from a left hamstring injury in the offseason. He had 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds in just over 21 minutes.
Donovan Clingan finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds for Portland.
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