Rookie Cameron Boozer recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his first career triple-double, and reserve Isaiah Stewart also scored 18 as the Memphis Grizzlies remained unbeaten with a solid 124-103 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
Cedric Coward registered 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals, and Zach Edey added 13 points as Memphis improved to 5-0. The Grizzlies and Houston Rockets are the last two remaining unbeaten teams after Memphis handed Portland its first loss.
Backup GG Jackson scored 12 points while Ty Jerome, Jaylen Wells and reserve Quinten Post added 10 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who outscored Portland 66-45 in the second half.
Deni Avdija had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to pace the Trail Blazers.
Portland’s Ja Morant had 14 points and three assists in 23 minutes before departing in the fourth quarter due to a left hamstring injury. Morant was playing against the Grizzlies for the first time since being traded in June. Morant spent seven seasons with Memphis.
Toumani Camara had 13 points and Donovan Clingan added 11 for the Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard had just nine points on 3-of-13 shooting as Portland shot 40.7% from the field and 12 of 49 (24.5%) from 3-point range.
The Grizzlies were 18 of 42 (42.9%) from behind the arc and shot 46.1% overall. Boozer was 4 of 5 from distance.
A 3-pointer by Jerome gave Memphis a 101-89 advantage with 8:43 left in the contest and started a 13-0 burst. Coward drained a 3-pointer to conclude it and make it 111-89 with 5:31 remaining.
Wells scored on a layup to make it 117-93 with 3:52 left as Memphis cruised to the finish.
The game was tied at halftime but Memphis went on a 12-2 burst in the third quarter with Wells capping it with a 3-pointer to give the Grizzlies a 72-66 lead with 6:13 to play.
Portland later moved within two before Memphis rattled off 10 straight points. Coward culminated the run with a hoop to make it 87-75 with 2:09 remaining.
Lillard drove against former teammate Jerami Grant for a layup with 0.6 seconds left in the third as Portland trailed 91-83 entering the final stanza.
The contest was tied at 58 at halftime when Avdija scored 13 for Portland and Boozer had 13 for Memphis.
