Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 points, including the game-winning shot with 1.2 seconds remaining, as the visiting Memphis Grizzlies rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 99-97 on Friday.
In a game between teams already eliminated from playoff contention, the Spurs led by 17 points midway through the second quarter but by only one at halftime.
After a back-and-forth third quarter, Memphis took a three-point advantage into the fourth.
The Grizzlies gradually wore down San Antonio, taking an 85-78 lead when Jordan Goodwin scored a jumper with 4:43 remaining.
The Spurs (15-55) tied the game at 97 with back-to-back 3-pointers by Devin Vassell and Tre Jones, the latter with 19 seconds to go, before Jackson leaned in for a floater with 1.2 seconds remaining.
Memphis (24-47) ended a four-game losing slide and has now defeated the Spurs 13 straight times, dating back to January 2021.
Scotty Pippen Jr. tallied 18 points for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, Jake LaRavia added 15 points, and GG Jackson had 14.
Victor Wembanyama, a rookie wonder, led the Spurs with 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals. Vassell scored 27 points and Jones had 16 as San Antonio lost for the fifth time in six games.
San Antonio led by 14 points after Keldon Johnson’s alley-oop layup off Vassell’s assist with 1:11 left in the first period. At the end of the quarter, the Spurs led 30-18.
Memphis cut its deficit to six points after Pippen’s 3-pointer with 4:06 left in the second quarter, and then to 41-38 after GG Jackson’s driving layup with 1:56 remaining.
Aldama then slammed in a jumper from beyond the arc to pull the Grizzlies within 44-43 at the intermission.
Wembanyama led all scorers with 15 points in the half, while Memphis’ Aldama had 11 points and seven rebounds.
The third quarter featured nine lead changes and four ties, with Pippen’s 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left giving Memphis a 71-68 lead heading into the fourth.
The Spurs’ first home back-to-back game was the sixth of their season-high eight-game homestand.
