Jackson scores 28 as Grizzlies rally late to defeat Mavs

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the sideline before an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the sideline before an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 points, including a key layup with 17 seconds left as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-108 on Monday night in Ja Morant's first game back with the team after an eight-game league suspension.

Santi Aldama added 22 for Memphis and Desmond Bane finished with 17 as Memphis won its sixth in the last seven.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 28 points, but missed all eight of his shots in the fourth quarter as Memphis outscored Dallas 29-12 in the period.

Morant did not dress for the game but was on the Memphis bench, coming out to a hearty ovation from the fans just before tipoff. The NBA assessed the suspension after a video from a Denver-area strip club earlier this month showed Morant brandishing a gun.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks were again without leading-scorer Luka Doncic, who missed his fifth game with left thigh soreness.

That left the Dallas offensive surge to Irving, picked up in a trade deadline deal, along with Christian Wood, who scored 20.

Dallas built its lead to 16 points in the third quarter, but Memphis crafted a 24-7 run in the fourth, and the game settled into an exchange of leads for both teams.

The game was tight through the first half with seven ties and three lead changes before the Mavericks carried a 60-57 lead into halftime, led by 20 points from Irving. The third quarter belonged to Dallas, stretching lead to 96-83 as Hardy scored 10 in the stanza, while the Mavericks shot 62%.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: While Doncic missed his fifth game with a left thigh strain, it marked the eighth time in 17 games since acquiring Irving at the trade deadline that one or both of the All-Stars has been out. ... Davis Bertans' 3-pointer in the second quarter was the 800th of his career.

Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks picked up a technical foul for taunting after a dunk. It was his 18th of the season, and per league rules, he will be suspended for Wednesday's game against Houston. ... Memphis is 11-2 against the Southwest Division, with the only losses coming to Dallas and the New Orleans Pelicans.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Golden State on Wednesday night.

Grizzlies: Play the first of consecutive home games against Houston on Wednesday night.

Hornets 115, Pacers 109

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 28 points, and the Charlotte Hornets erased a 21-point first-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 115-109 on Monday night behind a strong finish to snap a six-game home losing streak.

Terry Rozier added 23 points and Gordon Hayward had 22 for the Hornets, who outscored the Pacers 19-4 over the final six minutes to deal the Pacers' postseason hopes a big blow.

Myles Turner and Buddy Hield each had 20 points for the Pacers, who fell 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 109-105 in double overtime on Monday night.

"Believe me, an opportunity lost for sure," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.

Oubre said he and his Charlotte teammates are well aware that some Hornets fans don't want them to win at all at this point in the season with the team eliminated from playoff contention, hoping to have a better shot at the upcoming NBA draft's two prize prospects Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson.

T'Wolves 140, Knicks 134

NEW YORK -- Julius Randle scored 57 points to tie the third-highest game in Knicks history, but the Minnesota Timberwolves rode a sizzling start and a steady finish to beat New York 140-134 on Monday night.

Taurean Prince scored a season-high 35 points and went 8 for 8 from 3-point range for the Timberwolves, while Mike Conley added 24 points and 11 assists. His three free throws gave Minnesota the lead for good with 2:17 remaining.

Randle's final basket, a three-point play with 42 seconds remaining, cut it to 137-134, but he was beaten to a rebound by Kyle Anderson on Minnesota's next possession, and a cutting Prince scored inside with 10.1 seconds left before Conley made a free throw after Randle was called for a technical foul.

In a spectacular display of shooting and scoring, the Timberwolves made more than 70% of their shots in the first half and led by 17, before Randle carried the Knicks back with a franchise-record 26 points in the third quarter.

He finished tied with Richie Guerin behind the only two 60-point games in Knicks history, Carmelo Anthony's 62 on Jan. 24, 2014, and Bernard King's 60 on Christmas Day in 1984. But the Knicks had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Bulls 109, 76ers 105, 2OT

PHILADELPHIA -- Zach LaVine scored 26 points, DeMar DeRozan had 25 and the Chicago Bulls defeated Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers 109-105 in double overtime Monday night to snap their eight-game winning streak.

Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls, who have won three games in a row and five of six. Chicago is fighting for the final playoff spot in the East.

Embiid had 37 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out with 3:54 left in the second overtime. It was the 10th straight game in which he has scored at least 30 points.

The teams meet again in the second game of a home-and-home on Wednesday night in Chicago.

Philadelphia could've clinched a playoff spot with a victory, but the 76ers struggled once Embiid left the court after a foul on LaVine.

photo Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands on the sideline before an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
photo Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2), Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., center, and center Dwight Powell, right, struggle for control of the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
photo Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
photo Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman (2) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
photo Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman (2) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Christian Wood (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 20, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

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