Apr 3, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots and scores the game-winning shot over Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) during the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Ja Morant hit a step-back jumper in the lane over 7-footer Kel’el Ware at the buzzer to lift the visiting Memphis Grizzlies over the Miami Heat 110-108 in the NBA on Thursday night.
The Grizzlies (45-32) snapped a four-game losing streak behind Morant, who finished with 30 points, including 27 in the second half. Desmond Bane contributed 17 points and nine rebounds and Scotty Pippen Jr. came off the bench to contribute 17 points and seven assists. Zach Edey grabbed 13 rebounds.
READ: NBA: Ja Morant’s dad ejected late in Grizzlies loss to Thunder
Miami (35-42) had its season-best six-game winning streak end in a game that had eight ties and 19 lead changes. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 35 points and nine rebounds, Bam Adebayo added 26 points and seven boards and Ware finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
Interim Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo won for the first time since taking over for fired head coach Taylor Jenkins last week. He had lost his first three games.
Call 12 📞@JaMorant called game 😤 pic.twitter.com/C3OMMx4MLA
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) April 4, 2025
The Grizzlies led 100-95 with 6:13 remaining in the game following the second of back-to-back putbacks by Morant. Miami fought back and tied the game on two occasions in the final 2:33, once at 103-all on a drive by Adebayo and again at 108-108 with 14 seconds to go following a 11-footer in the lane by Herro.
READ; NBA: Ja Morant, Grizzlies push Suns further out of playoff contention
Memphis led for most of the third quarter — mostly behind Morant and Bane — and built its largest advantage (70-62) with 6:35 to go. The Heat recovered as Herro scored 19 points in the third, and Miami led 85-84 entering the fourth.
The Heat played without Andrew Wiggins (hamstring) and Kevin Love (personal reasons). Duncan Robinson returned after missing the past five games, including Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics, because of a stomach illness.
Miami, which scored the game’s first nine points, led 50-49 at the half despite shooting 37.8 percent. –Field Level Media
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