LOS ANGELES — Ja Morant led five starters in double figures with 28 points and the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 in their home opener Saturday night.
Morant burned Cleveland for 37 points — second-most in franchise history in a season opener — in the Grizzlies’ 11-point win. He came back strong to open a four-game West Coast trip in which the Grizzlies face three playoff teams from last season.
The Clippers twice got within two points in the final 1:14 on baskets by Paul George, who finished with 41 points — seven off his career high — and 10 rebounds.
But Jaren Jackson Jr. answered with a 3-pointer that kept the Grizzlies in front 119-114 with 17 seconds to go.
“You can hear the crowd just feel sick,” Jackson said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said, “Ja collapsing the defense and then kicking out and trusting his teammate to make a big shot. That’s leading by example.”
George missed a 25-footer and Luke Kennard fouled Desmond Bane, who made 1 of 2 free throws. George missed again from the left side as the Clippers fell to 0-2 to start the season.
“I’m happy we fought, but that can’t be who we are, just be happy that we played hard,” George said. “Play hard should be a given. We got to win games.”
De’Anthony Melton added 22 points, Jackson had 21 points, Bane had 19 points and Steven Adams 17 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies.
“To close out this one was good, especially on the road,” Jackson said.
Reggie Jackson added 17 points for the Clippers.
Memphis outscored the Clippers 30-11 to open the third and take an 89-73 lead after trailing much of the first half. Morant and Adams scored nine points each, and Melton and Bane hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
“He’s just explosive. He’s so good and so fast,” George said of Morant. “He made it tough for us, he put a lot of pressure on us.”
The Clippers closed with a 14-8 spurt, including consecutive 3-pointers from George, to trail 97-89 going into the fourth.
“They were going zone, going physical, trapping and doing everything to get us out of our rhythm, but we made some big-time plays,” Jenkins said.
