Morant lifts Grizzlies over Timberwolves, Cunningham sparks Pistons
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 11, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP Jordan Johnson / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP
Memphis star Ja Morant hit the game-winning shot with 18.6 seconds remaining on Saturday, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 117-125 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a tense NBA shootout.
In his second game back from a shoulder injury, Morant scored 12 points and missed all four of his three-point attempts. However, he delivered when it mattered most, driving for a layup to tie the game at 125-125 with 54.1 seconds left. After a Grizzlies steal, Morant drove again and made a floater over Minnesota center Rudy Gobert, completing the Grizzlies' comeback from a six-point deficit 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 won a back-and-forth game 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 added 15.
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham recorded a 23-point triple-double, leading the Pistons to a 123-114 win over the Toronto Raptors. Cunningham also had 10 rebounds and 17 assists, helping Detroit bounce back after their five-game winning streak was snapped by the Golden State Warriors.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 27 points for the Pistons, who made 19 of 33 three-point attempts and swapped the lead 16 times in the game.
“We just needed this win bad,” Cunningham said. “We got to .500, and we didn’t want to go back under. We wanted to keep rolling and get another streak going.”
Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 25 points, while seven Toronto players scored in double figures. The Raptors, who recently gave league-leading Cleveland a scare, have now lost five straight and 16 of their last 17.
Quickley’s step-back basket tied the game at 109-109 with 5:04 to play. Detroit regained the lead with a basket from Tobias Harris, followed by a fadeaway jumper from Cunningham and a dunk from Jalen Duren as the Pistons pulled away.
The Phoenix Suns, fueled by 34 points from Devin Booker, led wire-to-wire in a 114-106 home victory over the Utah Jazz. Kevin Durant added 25 points for the Suns, who led by as many as 16 points on their way to a second consecutive win.
Booker started strong, connecting on seven of eight shots, including four of five from three-point range. He scored 22 points in the first half and finished with six of the Suns' 13 three-pointers.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points. The Jazz pulled within three points early in the fourth quarter but were unable to stop the Suns' surge.
Three games postponed
Three of Saturday’s scheduled games, two in Los Angeles and one in Atlanta, were postponed.
The NBA postponed the Lakers’ home game against San Antonio and the Clippers’ home game against Charlotte due to the wildfires raging across Los Angeles.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, whose home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, said he hoped the team could return to action soon and “give people hope.” The NBA rescheduled the games to avoid diverting resources from firefighting efforts.
On Saturday morning, the league also postponed the Hawks’ game against the Houston Rockets in Atlanta due to a winter storm that made roads hazardous.