Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points and Zach Edey matched his career high of 21 rebounds to help the Memphis Grizzlies rally to a 112-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in NBA Cup play on Friday at Inglewood, Calif.
Vince Williams Jr. added 16 points and Jaylen Wells and backup Santi Aldama scored 13 points apiece as Memphis recovered from a 16-point third-quarter deficit. The Grizzlies went 3-1 in West Group B play but didn’t advance to the knockout round. Los Angeles went 2-2.
Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting but couldn’t prevent the Clippers from losing for the 12th in the past 14 games.
James Harden had 23 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds for Los Angeles. Kris Dunn added 11 points, seven rebounds and five steals, and John Collins logged 10 points and seven rebounds.
Memphis outscored the Clippers 62-44 in the second half.
Grizzlies reserves Jock Landale (12 points, seven rebounds), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (12 points on four 3-pointers) and Cam Spencer (10 points) joined Aldama in double digits as the Memphis bench had a 47-15 scoring edge over the Clippers’ backups.
Leonard slammed home a dunk with 19.9 seconds remaining and drained a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left to bring the Clippers within 110-107.
Wells then made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to seal it.
Memphis connected on 44.3% of its shots, including 17 of 40 (42.5%) from 3-point range. The Grizzlies owned a 53-39 rebounding advantage.
The Clippers made 42.7% of their attempts and were 12 of 38 (31.6%) from behind the arc.
The Grizzlies tied the contest at 83 on Jackson’s 3-pointer with 11:14 remaining in the contest.
Leonard’s 3-pointer gave Los Angeles a 91-89 lead with 8:10 left before Memphis went on a 14-4 surge. Spencer and Landale made treys to end the run and give the Grizzlies a 103-95 lead with 4:18 remaining.
Spencer’s 3-pointer made it 106-97 with 2:40 to go. Los Angeles later moved within 108-102 on Leonard’s basket with 41.2 seconds left.
Wells made two free throws with 31 seconds left to give Memphis an eight-point lead.
Leonard scored 18 points and Harden added 17 as the Clippers led 63-50 at halftime. Caldwell-Pope had 12 in the half for Memphis.
Los Angeles increased the lead to 16 on two free throws by Harden early in the third quarter before the Grizzlies began whittling away at their deficit.
Memphis pulled within 78-74 on Aldama’s trey with 2:54 left in the quarter. The Clippers took an 81-78 lead into the final stanza.
