Desmond Bane scores 23, Memphis beats Trail Blazers 113-103

Updated Dec. 16, 2021 12:46 a.m. ET

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 23 points and the Memphis Grizzlies stretched their winning streak to four games with a 113-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

Dillon Brooks scored 22 points and Steven Adams had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Grizzlies, winners of nine of their last 10 games.

Norman Powell scored 25 points in Portland's seventh straight loss.

The teams meet again on Sunday in Memphis.

The Blazers led by as many as 10 points after taking the lead in the third quarter, but Memphis closed within 82-80 going into the final period and then went on a 14-0 run to go up 94-82.

Brooks' 3-pointer made it 108-96 with 3:44 left and all but sealed the win.

The Blazers were playing the second of a back-to-back after a 111-107 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns a night earlier.

Portland has dealt with a spate of injuries. Damian Lillard missed five games with abdomen tendinopathy earlier this month.

His backcourt partner, CJ McCollum, is currently out with a collapsed lung, but the Blazers reported earlier Wednesday that McCollum had a CT scan on Tuesday and is showing improvement.

However, he won't travel with the team for an upcoming two-game trip.

“McCollum will continue his recovery protocol, which includes light conditioning, and will be reevaluated next week, ” the team said in a statement.

Ja Morant missed his 10th game for the Grizzlies because of a left knee sprain and the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

The Grizzlies went on a 16-3 run to wrap up the opening quarter with an early 24-19 lead. Memphis stretched it to as many as 16 points before going into the half ahead 55-47.

Lillard's deep 3-pointer tied it at 59, then Powell added another 3 and a free throw to put the Blazers in front. Bane's basket briefly gave a 66-65 lead back to the Grizzlies, but it was short-lived.

Powell's two-handed dunk made it 72-66 for the Blazers, but they couldn't maintain the momentum.

TIP INS

Grizzlies: Memphis had won four straight on the road going into their short two-game West Coast trip. ... Dillon Brooks, who played for the Oregon Ducks, was greeted with warm applause when he was introduced as a starter. ... Memphis had six players in double figures.

Trail Blazers: Portland won the first of the four-game series against the Grizzlies this year. ... Portland had 10 first-quarter turnovers for 12 Memphis points. ... Norman Powell briefly left for the locker room after a hard hit in the first half, but he returned.

UP NEXT

The Grizzlies visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

The Trail Blazers host Charlotte on Friday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports