Recap: Ja Morant dunks on Victor Wembanyama, Grizzlies beat Spurs to snap losing streak

The Memphis Grizzlies are back in the win column.

The Grizzlies (11-22) cruised past the San Antonio Spurs (5-28) 106-98 on Tuesday night at FedExForum, snapping a three-game losing streak with a win against the team with the Western Conference’s worst record. Desmond Bane scored 24 points, while Ja Morant added 26, including a highlight-reel dunk over Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio has struggled throughout this season, but the game was close in the first half. The Grizzlies started to pull away in the third quarter and built a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter. The Spurs were never able to cut into the lead enough to seriously threaten a comeback late.

The crowd was mostly invested in the Morant vs. Wembanyama matchup, and it didn’t disappoint. Wembanyama blocked Morant at the rim early in the game, but Morant got his revenge with a dunk in the fourth quarter that electrified the crowd and helped the Grizzlies pull away late.

Memphis is back in action Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors.

What channel is Grizzlies vs. Spurs on today?

• TV channel: Bally Sports Southeast

• Stream: Bally Sports app, FUBO (free trial)

Grizzlies vs. Spurs start time

• Date: Jan. 2

• Time: 7 p.m. CT

Grizzlies vs. Spurs live score updates

Fourth quarter

4:47 left: The Grizzlies are still in front and are in line to win. Morant electrified the crowd when he dunked on Wembanyama early in the quarter and brought the crowd to life. He's up to 20 points and also has 10 assists.

Third quarter

End of quarter: Grizzlies 80, Spurs 68. The Grizzlies have control of the game heading into the fourth quarter. Can they hold on?

4:03 left: San Antonio takes a timeout down 63-55. Bane has had an impressive third quarter and is up to 22 points, while Wembanyama has 16 for the Spurs.

7:47 left: Both teams traded runs to start the third quarter. The Spurs briefly took a lead, but the Grizzlies fought back and went ahead 57-51. Morant appeared to hurt his leg near the end of the first half, but he's back out there for the third quarter. Derrick Rose is out for the rest of the game with left thigh soreness.

Second quarter

Halftime: Grizzlies 47, Spurs 40. Bane has 12 points and Morant has 11, and that's been enough to give the Grizzlies a lead. The crowd has lit up every time Morant goes at Wembanyama, and Morant hit a three pointer when they got switched on to each other just before the half.

3:47 left: Wembanyama has a game-high 11 points, while Bane is the only other player in double figures with 10. Both teams have had trouble scoring, but it's picked up a bit in the second quarter. The Grizzlies lead 37-35.

9:46 left: Popovich calls another timeout after Derrick Rose hits a jumper to put the Grizzlies up by five. It's been a 10-2 start to the second quarter for Memphis.

First quarter

End of quarter: Spurs 23, Grizzlies 20. It's been a defensive struggle, but the Spurs are in front after one quarter.

3:33 left: Gregg Popovich calls timeout after the Grizzlies opened up a three-point lead. Desmond Bane has eight points to lead Memphis in what's been a low-scoring affair so far.

6:37 left: Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama got after it right away, when Wembanyama got switched on to Morant and swatted away his attempted layup. Wembanyama has been a defensive menace in the early minutes, and it's tied 9-9 at the first timeout.

Grizzlies hoping to end losing streak

New year, new Grizzlies?

Fans will be hoping the calendar change also will mean a change in the fortunes of this Grizzlies team, which has struggled to start the season and sits six games out of the play-in with 50 games left to play.

First up in 2024 is a home game against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. It will mark rookie Victor Wembanyama's first trip to Memphis as an NBA player. Wembanyama is averaging 18.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign, but the Spurs have had a rough start to the season.

San Antonio (5-27) has the worst record in the Western Conference and the second-worst record in the NBA entering Tuesday's game. The Spurs have lost seven of their past eight games.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (10-22) have lost three in a row and are coming off a blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings on New Years' Eve. But Memphis finally has a semi-healthy roster, as Ja Morant, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart have re-entered the fold.

Grizzlies vs. Spurs betting odds

• SPREAD: Grizzlies -11

• MONEY LINE: Grizzlies -600, Spurs +440

• OVER/UNDER: 236

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Recap: Grizzlies beat Spurs to snap 3-game losing streak