Morant scores 34 points in season debut to lift Grizzlies over Pelicans 115-113

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ja Morant capped a stirring, 34-point season debut with a spinning dribble in the lane to set up a game-winning floater as time expired in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 115-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.

The Grizzlies, who entered on a five-game skid and were 6-19 during Morant’s 25-game suspension for his social media antics with guns, trailed by 24 in the first half but took a 113-111 lead on Morant’s inside basket with 1:22 to go.

The Pelicans tied it and the teams exchanged missed 3-pointers before Morant’s winner.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points and Desmond Bane had 21 for Memphis, which also snapped the Pelicans’ four-game winning streak.

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Brandon Ingram scored 34 points for New Orleans, but Zion Williamson’s time on the court was limited by foul trouble and he finished with just 13 points.

WARRIORS 132, CELTICS 126, OT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry swished a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in overtime on the way to scoring 33, and the Golden State Warriors rallied past the Celtics to snap Boston’s five-game winning streak.

Jonathan Kuminga made a steal and uncontested dunk to put the Warriors ahead in overtime then grabbed a key rebound on the other end that led to another scoring play, and Boston missed key chance after chance when it mattered most.

Jaylen Brown finished with 28 points for Boston, while Derrick White scored 30 in Boston’s second loss in the last 10.

Jayson Tatum added 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Celtics began a four-game trip in California.

TRAIL BLAZERS 109, SUNS 104

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — DeAndre Ayton had a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds, Anfernee Simons had 23 points and seven rebounds, and Portland erased a 22-point deficit to beat Phoenix and snap a seven-game losing streak.

The Suns lost for the fifth time in their last seven games. Phoenix’s Kevin Durant led all scorers with 40 points in the loss while Devin Booker had 26 points and seven assists.

Jerami Grant also had 22 points for Portland, while Malcolm Brogdon had 14 points and four assists off the bench.

Portland was hot from the 3-point line all night, making 14 of 28 3-pointers to just five for Phoenix.

BUCKS 132, SPURS 119

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard scored a season-high 40 points to push his career total over 20,000, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a career-high 16 assists, 14 rebounds and a season-low 11 points and Milwaukee trounced San Antonio.

The Spurs played without Victor Wembanyama, who sat out the game with a sore right ankle.

Lillard increased his career point total to 20,034 and became the 51st person in NBA history to reach 20,000 points.

Bobby Portis added 23 points and 10 rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 17 points and Brook Lopez had 14 points and six blocks for the Bucks.

Keldon Johnson had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, while Zach Collins added 22 points and Devin Vassell had 17.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) —

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