By ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEMPHIS, Tennesee (AP) — Cam Spencer scored 21 points, including five in the final 1:26, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat San Antonio, 106-105, on Tuesday night, Jan. 6, offsetting 30 points by the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama in his return after a two-game absence.
Spencer’s 10-foot baseline jumper with 36.5 seconds left were the final points. San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox took a 15 footer with 5 second left but was blocked by Memphis’ Santi Aldama, and the Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing streak.
Jaren Jackson Jr. also had 21 points for Memphis, and Jock Landale finished with 19 points. Spencer had eight rebounds and eight assists.
Wembanyama’s 30 points led the Spurs while Julian Champagnie finished with 23. Stephon Castle had 15 points before fouling out with 3:13 left. Wembanyama, who played 21 minutes, was 10 of 20 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from outside the arc.
Memphis led 101-100 with 2:44 left when Fox, who started 1 of 13 from the field, was in the midst of six straight points, taking the San Antonio lead to 104-101 with 1:39 to play. But Spencer’s late burst gave Memphis the victory.
After a poor first half, Memphis opened the third on a 20-7 run to erase San Antonio’s 11-point lead. Wembanyama had 12 in the period and Memphis held an 82-81 advantage into the final quarter.
The first half was rather sloppy with both teams making less than a third of their shots until late in the second frame. Memphis had 13 turnovers as the Grizzlies struggled to generate any offense.
Meanwhile, LeBron James scored 30 points, Luca Doncic capped his 30-point, 10-assist performance with a pair of off-balance, bail-out 3s as the shot clock wound down, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans, 111-103.
Deandre Ayton had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the fourth time in their past five games while sending the Pelicans to their eighth straight loss.
Trey Murphy scored a career-high 41, Zion Williamson scored 15 points and rookie Derik Queen had 10 points and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which led by as many as nine points late in the third quarter.
The Lakers opened the fourth quarter on a 18-4 run that included two deep 3s by James, a 3 by Dalton Knecht and a pair of baskets in the paint by Ayton. The surge put Los Angeles up 97-90 and the Pelicans could not get closer than four after that.
Neither team led by more than seven until Karlo Matkovic’s free throws gave New Orleans an 83-74 lead late in the third quarter.
James’ three free throws and breakaway dunk quickly trimmed the Lakers’ deficit to four before Murphy, who had 20 points in the third quarter, hit a driving reverse scoop as he was fouled to make it 86-79 heading to the final period.
Herb Jones, returning from a right ankle injury that has sidelined him seven games, struggled with his shooting, missing eight of nine shots. The Pelicans missed five of their 18 free throws, with Williamson missing four.
The Lakers also finished shooting 50.6% (43 of 85). The Pelicans shot 44% (40 of 91) and missed 30 of the 40 3-pointers they attempted.
