The Memphis Grizzlies extended their unbeaten start to the National Basketball Association season with a 124-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, anchored by a night from Cameron Boozer.
Cameron Boozer recorded the first triple-double of his NBA career with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in just his fifth professional appearance, powering Memphis to a 5-0 record. After a tight first half that ended in a 58-58 tie, the Grizzlies pulled away in the second half by outscoring Portland 66-45. Isaiah Stewart added 18 points off the bench for Memphis, while Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.
The decisive turning point arrived in the second half of the third quarter. With Memphis holding a slim two-point edge following the tied intermission, the Grizzlies orchestrated a 10-0 burst to push their lead to 87-75 with 2 minutes and 9 seconds remaining in the frame. Portland dropped to 3-1 with the defeat, suffering their first loss of the season.
Ja Morant Exits Early Against Former Team Due to Injury
Facing his former team for the first time, Ja Morant contributed 14 points and 3 assists in 23 minutes of action. However, his evening ended prematurely in the fourth quarter when a problem at the hamstring forced him to leave the floor without returning. Damian Lillard also endured a difficult shooting night for Portland, converting just 3 of 13 attempts from the field.
Zach Edey connected on a three-pointer with 9 minutes and 47 seconds left in regulation to extend the Grizzlies’ advantage to 96-85, prompting a Trail Blazers timeout. Ty Jerome answered immediate Portland pressure with back-to-back baskets to re-establish a double-digit cushion at 101-89, finishing the contest with 10 points despite a 3-of-12 shooting night. Memphis then sealed the outcome by winning the final period 33-20.
New Orleans and Atlanta Secure Narrow Victories
In other NBA action, the New Orleans Pelicans claimed their first victory of the campaign by defeating the Sacramento Kings 132-120 in a matchup between two previously winless teams. Jeremiah Fears tallied 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Zion Williamson chipped in 22 points. The Pelicans secured the win behind a pivotal 21-4 run in the third quarter. Darius Acuff Jr. posted 34 points and 14 assists for Sacramento, which fell to 0-5.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks halted a three-game skid by edging the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-111. Onyeka Okongwu paced the Hawks with 29 points and 12 rebounds, complemented by Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 25 points and Aaron Wiggins’s 20 points off the bench. Cleveland mounted a late charge to narrow the deficit to one point in the closing seconds, but Alexander-Walker converted two crucial free throws with 15.3 seconds left, and Donovan Mitchell missed subsequent attempts from beyond the arc to tie the game.
