NBA: Grizzlies stave off fourth-quarter rally to beat Wizards

Trey Jemison scored a career-high 24 points and GG Jackson added 19 as the Memphis Grizzlies led wire to wire in a 109-97 win over the visiting Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

Jake LaRavia had 16 points and Luke Kennard finished with 13 points and eight assists for Memphis, which snapped a five-game home losing skid. Santi Aldama scored 11 points and Jordan Goodwin had a career-high 12 rebounds with eight points.

Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Corey Kispert had 22 points, Deni Avdija scored 16, Bilal Coulibaly added 11, and Jordan Poole chipped in 10.

Washington’s bid for its first three-game winning streak of the season came up short despite a fourth-quarter rally.

The Wizards trailed by 25 before opening the final period on a 13-2 run to pull within 94-88 with 5:24 remaining.

Washington was down seven with 3:25 left before Memphis answered with a 7-0 run and held on for its second wire-to-wire victory of the season.

Jemison scored 10 points in the first five minutes of the game to help give the Grizzlies a 29-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Memphis closed the half on an 18-5 run to move ahead 67-42. Jemison had 16 points and six rebounds to lead the Grizzlies.

Kuzma scored six points during an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 77-65 with 5:51 left in the third quarter. LaRavia’s trey at the end of the period put the Grizzlies ahead 92-75.

Memphis played without 11 injured players, including Jaren Jackson Jr. (right quad injury), Lamar Stevens (left adductor soreness) and Vince Williams Jr. (left patellar tendon soreness).

Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III missed his fourth straight game because of lower back spasms, while forward Richaun Holmes sat out due to a left toe sprain.

Memphis earned a split of the season series against Washington after losing 113-106 on Oct. 28.

–Field Level Media/ Reuters