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Raptors ward off Grizzlies, start 2024 2-0

Jan 3, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) drives to the basket between Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) and forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Immanuel Quickley scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam added 24 as the visiting Toronto Raptors withstood a fourth-quarter charge by the Memphis Grizzlies to pick up a 116-111 win on Wednesday.

Scottie Barnes had 20 points and Dennis Schroder had 16 for Toronto, which led by as many as 20 in the third quarter. RJ Barrett finished with 14 points, and Jakob Poeltl chipped in seven points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

Ja Morant led Memphis with 28 points and nine assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points, Desmond Bane added 22 and Ziaire Williams had 18.

Memphis battled back from a 17-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to pull within 108-103 when Williams’ 3-pointer capped a 19-6 run with 3:15 remaining.

Barnes made two foul shots with 56.5 seconds left to put Toronto ahead 112-105, and the Raptors held on for their second straight win following a five-player trade with the New York Knicks on Saturday that included Barrett and Quickley.

Toronto connected on 48.2 percent of its field-goal attempts and was 12 of 26 (46.2 percent) from 3-point range. Quickley finished 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back set, Memphis shot 42.6 percent from the field, including 15 of 42 (35.7 percent) from beyond the arc.

Memphis led for a good portion of the first quarter, but Toronto closed the frame on a 10-2 run to move ahead 30-29. Bane scored 12 points in the period.

The Raptors held a 62-48 advantage at the break after closing the first half on a 17-5 run.

Siakam had 16 points to lead all scorers at intermission. Toronto held the Grizzlies to 38 percent shooting in the first half, including 6 of 20 (30 percent) from 3-point range.

Quickley scored 13 points in the third quarter to help give the Raptors a 93-76 lead heading into the final period.

–Field Level Media

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