Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots as the Memphis Grizzlies (15-16) defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (12-19) 125-104 on Friday night at FedExForum.
Ja Morant returned from a four-game absence and contributed 17 points and 10 assists, helping Memphis extend its streak to eight straight double-digit wins over Milwaukee.
Cam Spencer added 19 points off the bench as the Grizzlies relied on balanced scoring and interior defense to keep the game under control.
Milwaukee kept it close early, with AJ Green tying his season-high of 20 points on 6-of-11 three-point shooting and Kevin Porter Jr. Posted 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Memphis built a 60-50 lead at halftime, made possible by Jackson’s 17 points in the first half and Morant’s contributions in the second quarter, including 10 points as the Grizzlies outscored Milwaukee 35-15 in the period.
The Bucks took the Memphis lead early in the fourth quarter, cutting it to 92-85, but the Grizzlies responded with a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 14 points.
Memphis continued to shoot above 50% while extending the lead to 15 midway through the third quarter, forcing Milwaukee to play catch-up despite solid individual performances.
Bobby Portis Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins each scored 15 points for Milwaukee, but the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, out eight games with a right calf strain, left the Bucks without a leading scorer.
The Grizzlies shot 43 of 85 from the field, including 13 of 34 from three-point range, while Milwaukee made 14 of 39 from beyond the arc and converted 18 of 24 free throws.
Memphis defeated the Bucks 51-48, sharing the ball effectively with 12 assists from Jackson Jr. and Morant, keeping the offense fluid throughout the game.
The win gives Memphis momentum heading into Sunday’s road game in Washington, while Milwaukee will travel to Chicago to face the Bulls on Saturday.
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