LOS ANGELES – Memphis star Ja Morant scored the game-winner with 18.6 seconds left on Saturday, lifting the Memphis Grizzlies to a 127-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a tension-packed NBA shootout.
Morant, playing his second game back from a shoulder injury, scored a modest 12 points and missed all four of his three-point attempts.
But he came through when it mattered, driving for a layup that made it 125-125 with 54.1 seconds left and then, after a Grizzlies steal, driving again and lofting a floater over Minnesota center Rudy Gobert to complete the Grizzlies’ fightback from six points down with less than five minutes to play.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards missed an awkward three-point attempt as time expired.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 33 points and Desmond Bane added 21 for the Grizzlies, who came out on top in an intense duel that featured 25 lead changes.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Timberwolves with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels scored 21 points, Naz Reid had 19 off the bench and Edwards chipped in 15.