NBA: Jaren Jackson Jr. returns to power Grizzlies past Sixers

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 30 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots and the Memphis Grizzlies used a late 11-0 run to rally past the host Philadelphia 76ers 115-109 on Wednesday.

Jackson was back from a three-game absence caused by a quadriceps injury.

Memphis’ Jake LaRavia added 19 points and 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Vince Williams Jr. and Santi Aldama scored 17 points apiece and Luke Kennard had 15, who won their second game in a row following a five-game skid.

The Grizzlies, who trailed by 15 points in the third quarter, outscored the Sixers 34-16 in the fourth.

The depleted Grizzlies were missing Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Yuta Watanabe, Ziaire Williams and Derrick Rose.

Kennard and LaRavia each hit two free throws in the final 22.7 seconds to seal the victory.

The short-handed Sixers played without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, De’Anthony Melton and Robert Covington.

Kelly Oubre Jr. led the Sixers with 25 points while Paul Reed added 17 points and 11 rebounds and Cameron Payne had 16 points. Buddy Hield had 15 for the Sixers, who dropped their second in a row.

Jackson scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to cut Memphis’ deficit to 93-85.

Jackson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 9:45 remaining and the Grizzlies trailed 96-90.

Nicolas Batum’s dunk with 5:19 left gave the Sixers a 102-97 lead, and Philadelphia soon went ahead 104-100 before Memphis’ 11-point surge. Aldama sparked the run with a three-point play and Jackson scored the last four points at the foul line to give the Grizzlies a 111-104 edge with 1:36 to go.

Jeff Dowtin Jr. provided a surprising spark off the bench and his second 3-pointer with 4:59 left in the second quarter gave the Sixers a 50-45 advantage.

The Sixers elevated their defensive pressure and wound up taking a 64-56 lead into halftime. Oubre and Reed led the way with 15 points apiece before the break. Jackson paced the Grizzlies with 12 prior to intermission.

The Sixers extended to an 85-70 lead with 5:18 left in the third on a dunk by Batum.

Jackson appeared to sustain a right wrist injury with 4:24 to go in the third after colliding with LaRavia. Jackson immediately went back to the Grizzlies’ locker room but returned to the game a few minutes later.

The Sixers led 93-81 at the end of the third.

–Field Level Media/Reuters