Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Memphis Grizzlies, fueled by a triple-double from teenager Cameron Boozer, topped the Portland Trail Blazers 124-103 in a battle of NBA unbeatens on Thursday. Portland guard Ja Morant’s first game against his former team ended with an injury. Boozer, taken third in June’s NBA draft, scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and 12 assists for the Grizzlies.
The game in Portland was billed as Morant’s reunion with the Grizzlies, the team that drafted him second overall in 2019. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 and emerged as a star in his seven-year tenure in Memphis. He also had a pair of lengthy suspensions and, after multiple injuries limited him to 20 games last season, he was traded in June. Morant finished with 14 points, two rebounds, and three assists before exiting in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.
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Boozer, meanwhile, stole the show, becoming at 19 years and 103 days the second-youngest player in NBA history to post a triple-double, after Josh Giddey in 2022 (19 years, 84 days). “It’s nice,” Boozer said. “I’m going to keep going. Season just started, we’ve got 77 more (games) — so a lot more to come.” Isaiah Stewart added 18 points off the bench and eight players scored in double figures for the Grizzlies, who improved to 5-0. They and the 5-0 Houston Rockets are the only remaining unbeaten teams.
– Pelicans earn first win –
The New Orleans Pelicans, fueled by a 22-point, 13-assist double-double from Jeremiah Fears, bagged their first win of the season with a 132-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Fears, 20, added eight rebounds, four blocked shots, and two steals, and Zion Williamson scored 22 points for the Pels, who had seven players score in double figures to improve to 1-4. “We’re not off to a great start, but we’re changing this thing around for sure,” Fears said.
Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr., the seventh overall pick in the draft, continued his strong rookie season with 34 points and 14 assists — topping his previous career-high of 33 points set last week against Portland. De’Andre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa added 24 points each for the Kings, but Sacramento fell to 0-5. They’re one of two remaining winless teams along with the 0-4 Brooklyn Nets.
The Hawks got a much-needed win in Atlanta, taking charge with a 43-point third quarter and holding on for a 114-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Onyeka Okongwu scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points, and Aaron Wiggins added 20 points off the bench for the Hawks, who had lost three straight and grabbed their first home win of the fledgling season.
James Harden scored 24 points for the Cavs, who led by as many as 15 in the first half. Donovan Mitchell added 22, including a driving layup that pulled Cleveland within 112-111 with 20.6 seconds remaining. Alexander-Walker made a pair of free throws, and Mitchell missed a pair of potential game-tying three-pointers in the waning seconds.
© 2024 AFP
