NBA: Ja Morant leads Grizzlies over Kings

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January 1, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) passes the ball behind him as Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) defends during the second half at FedExForum.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) passes the ball behind him as Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (40) defends during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Ja Morant scored 35 points as the host Memphis Grizzlies pulled away for a 118-108 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

The Grizzlies won their third straight by putting together an effective fourth quarter to separate themselves from the Kings.

Morant scored nine points in the fourth, as the Grizzlies held the Kings to 21 points. Morant made 13 of 23 shots along with eight free throws and also finished with eight rebounds and five assists.

Steven Adams helped Morant match his career-high 23 rebounds, including a career-best 13 offensive rebounds. Adams sent at least 20 rebounds for the second straight game and midnight big on the glass helped Memphis outrebound Sacramento 57-47 and scored 64 points in the paint.

Reserve Tyus Jones contributed 18 points as the Grizzlies shot 46 percent and beat the Kings eight times in their past nine meetings. Dillon Brooks added 15 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. count 14.

Dishing, dunking, doing everything 🐻

Ja Morant opens 2023 with 35 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST and a @memgrizz win! pic.twitter.com/ziZwayX1jw

— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2023

De’Aaron Fox scored 19 points but shot 7 of 18 and committed five turnovers as the Kings fell short of their third straight win. Domantas Sabonis had his 13th double-double with 18 points and 14 boards, while Malik Monk also contributed 18 points.

The Kings turned a 59-58 halftime deficit into a 79-74 lead when rookie Keegan Murray hit a 3-pointer with 6:58 left in the third. Sacramento then went on the ice as the Grizzlies went on a 12-0 run and took a 91-87 lead into the final frame.

The Grizzlies began to pull away early in the fourth when Jones hit his fifth 3-pointer for a 99-90 lead. The lead reached 105-92 when Adams used one hand to beat Sabonis for an offensive rebound and converted a putback dunk with 6:49 left.

Back-to-back layups by Morant and baskets by Brooks opened the lead to 113-99 with 4:05 left, but Kevin Huerter’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 113-106 minutes later. After a timeout, Memphis iced the game when Morant hit the hoop and made a free throw.