UNDATED (AP) — It was a record-breaking night for the Memphis Grizzlies despite playing a third straight game without injured star Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies have won the most lopsided game in NBA history, a 152-79 dismantling of the Thunder. Jaren Jackson Jr. nailed six 3-pointers and contributed a season-high 27 points, while John Konchar had 17. De’Anthony Melton scored 19 points, connecting on 8 of 10 shots, 3 of 5 from outside the arc.
The 73-point victory eclipsed Cleveland’s 148-80 win over Miami in December 1991.
Memphis shot 61% over the first three quarters, including 15 of 28 from 3-point range.
Lu Dort had a team-high 15 points in Oklahoma City’s eighth loss in a row.
Meanwhile, the Suns set a team record with their 18th consecutive win, 114-103 over the Pistons. Cam Johnson and Cameron Payne both scored 19 points to help Phoenix win despite not playing leading scorer Devin Booker for the first time this season. Johnson and Payne sparked a stellar effort from the Suns bench, which finished with 48 points.
Phoenix shot 76% in the second quarter and led 69-51 by halftime.
Checking out Thursday’s other NBA action:
— The Raptors have ended Milwaukee’s eight-game winning streak as Fred VanVleet scored 29 points and the Raptors took advantage of the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Bucks, 97-93. Pascal Siakam had 20 points as the Raptors won for the first time in four games and snapped a five-game home losing streak. Antetokounmpo was out because of soreness in his right calf, a day after he scored 40 points in a win over the Hornets.
— DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic provided all of the Bulls’ fourth-quarter points and finished with a combined 88 in their 117-115 triumph over the Knicks. DeRozan delivered 18 of his 34 points in the final period, including Chicago’s final six. LaVine and Vucevic each had 27 for the Bulls, who held on after blowing a 21-point lead.
— Bryn Forbes had 18 points off the bench and the Spurs extended their winning streak to a season-high three games with a 114-83 pounding of the Trail Blazers. Doug McDermott added 16 points and Dejounte Murray had 15 points and 13 assists for San Antonio. CJ McCollum and Norman Powell each had 16 points for Portland, which had won 10 straight at home.
LeBron can play Friday
UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been cleared to return to the team after missing one game under the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The league said today that James is not positive for COVID-19 despite a series of tests that produced conflicting results on Monday. Additional testing cleared James to play when the Lakers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
In other NBA news:
— Bucks center Brook Lopez has undergone surgery to address the back injury that has kept him from playing since their season opener. Team officials didn’t provide a timetable for his eventual return. The 33-year-old averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season while helping the Bucks win the NBA title.
— The Pelicans say soreness in Zion Williamson’s surgically repaired right foot has derailed plans for the 2020 All-Star forward to take part in his first full practice of the season this week. Pelicans coach Willie Green says the plan is now to rest the 2019 top overall draft choice for a few days to see if pain subsides. The Pelicans have started the season 6-18 without Williamson.
