Trouble is, Memphis shot 47% from 3PT range and tore up the fast break, 26-12, narrowly won the interior 46-44, scorched the bench battle 45-24. The Grizzlies had 9 blocks as a team. The Spurs even won the rebounding war and had 11 steals, but the Grizzlies had 9 steals, leading by as much as 10 points to the Spurs eight-point spread at one moment in the game.
Dillon Brooks was the reason with 27 points, hitting 5 heart-crushing three-pointers and the fifth came late, putting the Spurs on the brink of defeat. Tyus Jones had 15 points, with Ja Morant struggling to score for just 12 points (5-12, 3 turnovers). Jarren Jackson, Jr., had 13 points. Justice Winslow had 12 points also. Jonas Valanciunas had 21 rebounds, a beast down low.
"They played one hell of a game," Coach Popovich spoke after the buzzer.