In a quick pit stop back home before a brutal stretch-nine cities in 18 nights-the San Antonio Spurs managed to catch their breath and grab a win against a shorthanded but scrappy Memphis Grizzlies squad. No Ja Morant?
No problem-for the Grizzlies, at least for most of the night. But in the end, the Spurs leaned on timely shot-making and a fourth-quarter surge to pull out a 126-119 victory, their second home win over Memphis this season.
That’s notable, considering they hadn’t beaten the Grizzlies at home since 2019.
This one was a rollercoaster from start to finish. Twenty-two lead changes, no team ever up by more than seven-it had the feel of a game that was going to come down to who could string together one last run. That run came from San Antonio, and it came when it mattered most.
Harrison Barnes Turns Back the Clock
Let’s start with Harrison Barnes, who looked every bit the savvy veteran the Spurs hoped he’d be when they brought him in. He dropped a Spurs-career high 31 points, torching the Grizzlies from deep with a 7-of-12 performance from beyond the arc. He got hot early and stayed hot, keeping the Spurs afloat during some shaky stretches.
De’Aaron Fox, meanwhile, took a little while to get going. But when the fourth quarter hit, so did he.
Fox poured in 29 points, most of them coming in the second half, and hit several clutch shots down the stretch. We’ve seen this version of Fox before-when the game tightens up, he tightens his focus.
And once again, he delivered.
Grizzlies' Depth Shows Up Without Their Stars
Credit to Memphis, though. With Morant sidelined and Jaren Jackson Jr. battling foul trouble all night, they still put up a fight.
Six players scored in double figures, led by Cam Spencer’s 21 off the bench and 20 from Jaylen Wells. Zach Edey added a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double, though he wasn’t quite the dominant force we’ve seen in recent games.
Still, it was the kind of gritty, next-man-up performance that’s kept Memphis competitive despite missing their stars.
Three-Point Feast, Two-Point Famine
The Spurs came out firing from deep-six of their first eight makes came from three-point range. They didn’t even hit a two-pointer until nearly eight minutes into the game, when Dylan Harper finally converted a putback layup. By the end of the first quarter, five different Spurs had hit a three, and Carter Bryant beat the buzzer to give San Antonio a 36-32 lead.
That outside shooting was both a blessing and a curse. The Spurs shot 11-of-22 from three in the first half, but just 10-of-23 from inside the arc.
Fox and Devin Vassell, in particular, struggled to convert inside, going a combined 2-of-9 on twos despite hitting 4-of-6 from deep. The result?
A 63-59 halftime lead that felt like it could’ve-and maybe should’ve-been more.
A Game of Runs-and Reviews
The third quarter followed the same script. When the threes were falling, the Spurs surged ahead.
When they weren’t, Memphis clawed back. By the end of the third, the Grizzlies had taken a one-point lead, and it felt like momentum was starting to shift their way.
There was also a classic Bill Kennedy moment early in the second quarter. After a scuffle between Jeremy Sochan and Edey-sparked by Edey pulling Sochan to the ground during a scramble for a loose ball-Kennedy delivered his trademark smirk and dry delivery during the review announcement. The result: a foul on Edey, no technicals, and a few laughs even in a tense moment.
Fourth Quarter Belongs to the Spurs
Midway through the fourth, it looked like Memphis might be pulling away. The Spurs’ shooting cooled off, and the Grizzlies were taking advantage.
But then foul trouble caught up to them. Both Edey and JJJ had to sit with five fouls, and San Antonio pounced.
Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper went into attack mode, getting downhill and forcing the issue at the rim. The result?
A 9-0 Spurs run that flipped the game. Luke Kornet was a defensive anchor during that stretch, swatting five shots on the night, including a few big-time rejections on Edey.
And once again, Fox closed the door with clutch buckets in the final minutes.
Jeremy Sochan Steps Up
This was also one of Jeremy Sochan’s better all-around games in a while. He played within himself, hit his shots, grabbed offensive boards, and brought energy on defense.
He finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, six rebounds, and two steals. He even earned the trust to stay on the floor in the second half, which meant no minutes for Kelly Olynyk.
That’s a testament to how well Sochan was playing-and how much the Spurs needed his two-way impact.
Looking Ahead
Before the game, assistant coach Mitch Johnson said that Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle wouldn’t travel to Orlando for the next game, though they could rejoin the team later on this four-game road swing. Both are back practicing and working their way toward full speed, but the Spurs are clearly being cautious. And with the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals looming in Los Angeles on December 10, there’s a chance we see them back in action when the stakes get higher.
For now, though, the Spurs will take this one. A hard-fought win, a big night from Barnes, a clutch finish from Fox, and contributions up and down the roster. With the road ahead looking grueling, this was the kind of win that can help a young team stay grounded-and maybe even build some momentum.