INDIANAPOLIS — Ja Morant had 23 points, 10 assists and another brutal dunk as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Indiana Pacers 130-112 on Saturday night, extending the NBA’s current longest winning streak to nine games.
Desmond Bain scored 25 points to lead the Grizzlies, who tied Denver for the best record in the Western Conference at 29-13.
Neither Bunn nor Morant were needed in the fourth quarter. Morant’s layup over Jaylen Smith made it a 20-point game with 4 minutes, 20 seconds left in the third, and Memphis led by 34 in the fourth.
Morant averaged 28.7 points during Memphis’ winning streak.
When asked if the knife was his best, Morant replied: “Yes, it’s easy” because of the difficulty, then added. “It’s what everyone has been waiting for. I finally made it.”
Bain added:
The game was tied in the second quarter before Memphis outscored the Pacers 27-11 to take a 68-52 halftime lead. Morant had five points and four assists in that span.
“Obviously, we have fun out there, play a lot and play together,” said Bain, who grew up in Richmond, Indiana.
Santi Aldama added 17 points and Ziair Williams added 13 for the Grizzlies.
“We’re not playing perfect basketball,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of the streak. “I’m just happy that our guys are finding different ways to win, whether we’re playing with a lead or coming from behind. Each game presented a different challenge for us and our guys stayed the course.”
Reserve defender Chris Duarte scored 25 points for the Pacers. Rookie Benedict Maturin had 16 and TJ McConnell 13.
“It could very well be the best team on the planet right now,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “They are very difficult to play.”
The Pacers, without two starters, have lost three straight. Indiana’s leading scorer and the NBA’s leading scorer, Tyrese Halliburton, is expected to miss two weeks after suffering a left elbow strain and left knee contusion. Center Myles Turner, who is averaging 17 points, is out with back spasms.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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