(Field Level Media) Rookie guard Ja Morant scored on a drive to the basket with 0.7 seconds left to give the Memphis Grizzlies a 119-117 victory against the host Charlotte Hornets last night.
Terry Rozier missed on a potential winning 3-point attempt for Charlotte on the game’s last shot.
Morant got back in the groove offensively and scored 23 points, as the Grizzlies recovered from two sluggish second-half stretches. Morant had a total of 17 points in the past two games in which he played, but he was steadier on the offensive end in this game.
That helped the Grizzlies win their second game in a row, both on the road.
Devonte’ Graham hit a tying 3-pointer for the Hornets with 23.4 seconds left during a furious comeback, after New Orleans trailed by 10 with 2:25 to play.
Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 16 and Dillon Brooks poured in 15 for Memphis, which was nearly undone by 23 turnovers.
Brandon Clarke hit a 3-pointer at the 3:21 mark as the Grizzlies stretched their lead to 112-102. He finished with 13 points off the bench.
Terry Rozier erupted for 33 points for his best outing as a member of the Hornets, who have lost four consecutive games. They shot 48.9 percent from the field.
Reserve guard Malik Monk pumped in 20 points, and Graham, who moved into Charlotte’s starting lineup, had 19. Cody Zeller had 16 points, and Miles Bridges had 14.
Charlotte broke a 79-79 tie with a 12-0 run in the third quarter, capped by PJ Washington’s alley-oop dunk. The Grizzlies came storming back to close within two by the end of the quarter.
Memphis began the fourth quarter with an 11-0 spurt, with Morant getting inside for a couple of baskets.
The Hornets led 64-63 at halftime, with Charlotte shooting 53.8 percent and Memphis at 53.1.
The Grizzlies scored the game’s first nine points, but Charlotte pulled ahead later in the first quarter.