Morant, Valanciunas lead Grizzlies past Heat 118-111

Dec 17, 2019, 05:28 am

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- This time, Ja Morant and Memphis landed the final punch against Miami.

Morant had 20 points and 10 assists to lead the Grizzlies to a 118-111 victory over the Heat on Monday night.

Jonas Valanciunas finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds as Memphis won for the fourth time in five games. De'Anthony Melton scored 16 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 15.

The Grizzlies also played Miami in their season opener on Oct. 23, losing 120-101 when the Heat rallied in the fourth quarter. The Heat put together another big finish Monday night, but the Grizzlies responded with their own push.

"We just learned," Morant said of the difference since the first game of the season. "I feel like we lost a lot of games late in the fourth quarter. A team would go on a run, and we weren't able to bounce back from it. ... We're just learning from our mistakes."

Miami had won four of five, including three overtime victories. Jimmy Butler had 25 points and eight assists, and Tyler Herro scored 22 points.

"Our (man) defense was pretty poor all the way through," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The zone defense gave us a little bit of life. I don't know if it was because it got them out of rhythm or because we were just more active."

The Grizzlies were up by 11 when Butler went on his own 7-0 run in the fourth. Derrick Jones Jr. then scored five points to help Miami take a 107-104 lead with 5:30 left.

Memphis responded with 11 straight points for a 115-107 lead on a Morant drive with 2:31 left.

Jones finished with 15 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo recorded his sixth straight double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

It was Miami's first loss of the season to a sub-.500 team.

"Even in the midst of the second half (the Heat) were going on, you wouldn't believe the communication the guys had," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said, later adding: "No one was overthinking it and putting their heads down, which were some of the moments earlier in the season."

BAM AWARD

Adebayo was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday after averaging 20 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists in three games last week.

"I love it. I love it for him," Spoelstra said. "He's all about the right things. This won't go to his head. It's not like he is doing this for individual accolades."

TIP-INS

Heat: Adebayo has 17 double-doubles this season. ... Butler took only three shots in the first half, but did have five assists. ... Butler has nine straight games of at least 20 points.

Grizzlies: F Jae Crowder, who missed Saturday's home game against Washington with left ankle soreness, returned to action. ... Memphis' 73 first-half points were a season high for a half and the fifth-highest in franchise history.

UP NEXT

Heat: Complete a three-game road trip Wednesday night in Philadelphia

Grizzlies: Play at Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.

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