Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De’Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs Tuesday night.
Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lead with 37.3 seconds to go on a baseline jumper. A minute earlier, he had connected on a 3-pointer to trim San Antonio’s lead to 105-104.
Fox, who struggled shooting 4-of-18 from the field, scored seven straight Spurs points, including a floater with 1:39 left, for a 105-101 lead.
Jaren Jackson Jr. matched Spencer with 21 points and had nine rebounds. Jock Landale contributed 19 points and nine boards and Vince Williams Jr., returning from a lengthy injury absence, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Aldama added 10 points and nine boards.
Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to lead the Spurs with 30 points. Julian Champagnie added 23 points and eight rebounds and Stephon Castle had 15 points and eight boards before fouling out with 3:13 to go.
Memphis overcame committing 23 turnovers.
The Grizzlies played without starters Ja Morant, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Morant missed his second straight game with a right calf contusion and his 18th game overall of the team’s 36 contests because of a variety of injuries. Coward sprained his left ankle in Sunday’s loss at the Lakers.
Memphis used a 13-0 run in the opening minutes of the third quarter to grab a 59-57 lead, their first since the opening minutes of the game. A 3-pointer by Jackson gave the Grizzlies an 82-81 advantage entering the final quarter
Champagnie had 19 first-half points, including 15 in the first quarter that helped the Spurs to a 10-point advantage (31-21) entering the second.
Memphis rallied to tie the game at 37-all in the second quarter behind a 16-6 run to open the period. Williams, who had missed the previous eight games with knee tendinitis, had three 3-pointers during the run. The Spurs recovered behind Champagnie and Castle to push ahead 54-46 at the half.
Memphis shot 39.8% on the night, only slightly better than the Spurs’ 37.3% overall, but the Grizzlies finished with a 61-50 rebounding advantage.
