Morant, Wells, Jackson Jr. score 20 apiece as Grizzlies beat Lakers 131-114

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant scored 20 points before leaving in the third quarter with a right hamstring injury and the Memphis Grizzlies used their 3-point shooting to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 131-114 on Wednesday night.

Rookie Jaylen Wells and Jaren Jackson Jr. also scored 20 points each for the Grizzlies. There was no immediate word on the extent of Morant's injury.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 39 points, while Austin Reaves added 19 despite going 2 for 9 from 3-point range.

The Lakers played without starting center Anthony Davis, who was suffering from left heel soreness. Rui Hachimura was also out with an illness, givig rookie Dalton Knect from Tennessee his first NBA start.

Meanwhile, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins missed the game because of a death in the family. Assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo led the team.

Lakers: With Davis out, Los Angeles was missing 32.6 points and 11.6 rebounds a game and a dominant force in the middle. James tried to make up for the scoring but got little help.

Grizzlies: Davis' absence in the middle helped the Grizzlies stay right at their average scoring 60 points in the paint.

Memphis held a 72-68 lead in the third quarter when reserve Jay Huff, a 7-foot-1 center, connected on three consecutive 3-pointers, then capped the run off with an offensive rebound leading to a reverse dunk. The rally took the Grizzlies' advantage to 85-71.

Neither team attempts a lot of 3-pointers compared to the rest of the league, but Memphis was shooting 48% from outside the arc at the midway point of the fourth period. Meanwhile, the Lakers were stuck at 25%.

Lakers host Philadelphia on Friday while the Grizzlies host Washington,.

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) shoots defended by Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (7), of Spain, shoots defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dribbles the ball defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) looks to pass defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)

HOUSTON (AP) — Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet had 21 points each and the Houston Rockets built a huge lead early and coasted to a 127-100 win over the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night.

Houston never trailed and had built a 25-point lead by halftime. The Rockets were up by 27 points when coach Ime Udoka cleared the bench with about 6½ minutes remaining.

Alperen Sengun added 16 points for the Rockets, who won for the fourth time in five games. VanVleet had 10 assists and seven rebounds — both season-highs — to go with his top scoring effort of the season.

Victor Wembanyama had 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks for the Spurs, who lost a second straight game. They were playing a third consecutive game without coach Gregg Popovich, who is out indefinitely while recovering from an illness. Mitch Johnson is filling in as interim coach while the 75-year-old Popovich, who did not travel with the team on this road trip, is out.

Spurs: San Antonio’s defense suffered Wednesday in its first game without top on-ball defender Jeremy Sochan, who suffered a fractured left thumb that will require surgery in Monday’s game. Rookie Stephon Castle, who started in his place, will need to step up with Sochan likely out for an extended period.

Rockets: After failing to play consistently for four quarters in the last two games, Houston finally put together a complete game against the Spurs.

The Rockets were up by 7 with about five minutes left in the first quarter before using a 7-0 run, with the first five points by VanVleet, to make it 22-8. The Spurs didn’t get closer than 10 points after that.

The Rockets dominated inside, outscoring the Spurs 66-46 in the paint.

San Antonio hosts Portland on Thursday night and the Rockets visit Oklahoma City on Friday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) tries to put up a shot as San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, back, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, left, attempts to block the pass by San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, front, loses the ball as Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, reaches in and Spurs guard Stephon Castle, right, tries to grab the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) looks to pass the ball under pressure from Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) dunks the ball over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) shoots over San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)