Ja Morant scored 26 points (24 in the paint), and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Hornets 125-118 for their fifth straight win.
The Grizzlies never trailed and led by as many as 35.
During clutch time, the Grizzlies outscored the Hornets 8-1. Desmond Bane scored 4 of the Grizzlies’ 8 on 1 for 1 shooting and 1 for 1 at the line.
Bane had 25 points and 4 steals, and Steven Adams added 15 points (12 in the paint), 11 rebounds and 3 blocks on 6 for 8 shooting.
For the Hornets, Terry Rozier had 35 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, and LaMelo Ball added 25 points with 5 3-pointers. Montrezl Harrell had 20 points and 9 rebounds on 7 for 8 shooting off the bench. Ball scored 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. The Hornets had 3 20-point scorers.
The Grizzlies shot 49.0% from the field and 33.3% from 3 to the Hornets’ 40.2% and 31.1%. They outscored the Hornets 72-50 in the paint. The Grizzlies’ starters outscored the Hornets 23-8 in 7 minutes together. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Adams fouled out for the Grizzlies, and Mason Plumlee for the Hornets.