Grizzlies stun Spurs in OT to complete 29-point comeback

The Memphis Grizzlies made the biggest comeback in the NBA this season after coming back from a 29-point deficit in the third quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 126-120 in overtime on Friday night.

Memphis was nine points behind in the final minute of regular time before sending San Antonio 9-0 into overtime.

“We came at halftime, regrouped and talked about it,” said Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 28 points. “I just came out firing [in the second half]. If you hack around long enough, you’ll make noise.”

Desmond Bane added 21 points, including eight points in overtime, and Tyus Jones had his first career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Grizzlies.

Friday’s comeback, which is also the biggest in franchise history, surpassed the Brooklyn Nets’ 28-point comeback against the Boston Celtics on March 3.

It came as Ja Morant neared his return to Memphis. The all-star guard missed his seventh game of an eight-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the league.” Memphis improved to 4-3 without Morant.

Devin Vassell had 25 points and Zach Collins added 24 for San Antonio, who fell to 0-5 in overtime this season after being outplayed 63-40 in the second half.

“We’ve been competitive all year,” said Collins. “We shouldn’t have lost that game. We were 30 up. We shouldn’t have lost.”

After being 29 behind, Memphis was at 109 with a 3-pointer from Dillon Brooks, with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation. Vassell’s desperate 36-foot lever failed to reach the rim when regulation ended.

Brooks finished with 16 points while going 4-for-8 with 3 points.

“Our defense really struggled to the track where we were trying to keep them off the boards,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “A few tough jumps but we made enough games on the track.”

San Antonio was without key reserves Doug McDermott (bruised right hip), Devonte’ Graham (sore left quadriceps) and Romeo Langford (managed injured left adductor) and lost Jeremy Sochan after eight minutes. Memphis was without Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke.

“We’ve gotten a little thin,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “And on the track they fired shots. They did three 3s in a row, you have to give them their credit. Still a great game. I learned a lot to compete as hard as we do. Proud of her. Did a good job.”

The Grizzlies called two timeouts within 37 seconds midway through the first quarter after a three-pointer from Collins and another from Vassell.

“Really started at halftime,” Jenkins said. “We didn’t watch a movie. I just opened the floor for the players to talk and said, ‘What do you have for me?’ Four or five guys spoke up and said it was unacceptable what we did in the first half.

“We were too casual, we didn’t communicate, we didn’t carry out our reporting, we didn’t play with physicality, we didn’t trust the pass.”

The Spurs shot 12 to 24 with 3 points in the first half and built a 25-point lead. But San Antonio shot 31% from the field in the second half, including 6-to-20 with 3-pointers while committing 14 turnovers.

Brooks and Jackson combined for 26 points in the second half.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.