The Memphis Grizzlies appeared to be in trouble.

A similar story was forming. One that was reminiscent of how the Grizzlies had already lost two games against the San Antonio Spurs earlier this season. In those games, the Spurs closed strong and pulled away in the final moments.

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After De’Aaron Fox made a running floater to give San Antonio a four-point lead with 1:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Spurs were going to close strong again. The Grizzlies had different plans this time. Cam Spencer made two clutch baskets, then Santi Aldama made a game-winning block on Fox in the final seconds to secure a 106-105 win on Jan. 6 at FedExForum.

Memphis (16-20) snapped a four-game losing streak. Next up is a matchup against the Phoenix Suns (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).

As time expired, Aldama said he “blacked out” with the ball in his hands. Teammates ran up, chest-bumped and celebrated with him.

“It was funny just looking at Cam, Jock and the guys just pumped,” Aldama said. “That got me even more pumped.”

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Cam Spencer steps up when it matters most

Spencer had been struggling. He made just two 3-pointers and failed to score in double figures in four straight games after doing so in 14 consecutive appearances.

All of that changed in the second half against San Antonio. He scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, including the final five to steal the win.

“I really was only thinking about winning, just making the right play for the team guarding well and locking into the scouting report that the coaches set for us,” Spencer said. “Just really happy that everybody got the job done for us tonight.”

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Memphis trailed 105-101 when Spencer made a 3-pointer, then buried a midrange jumper with 37.3 seconds remaining.

“It’s Cam,” Jaylen Wells said. “I’ve seen the work he’s put in. He’s in the gym all the time. He shoots those shots and puts in the work. When he shoots any shot, I’m 100% confident it’s going in.”

“With him, it’s very hard to think about bad shots,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “I don’t think bad shots exist for him.”

Santi Aldama’s winning block

The Spurs opted to not call a timeout after Grizzlies center Jock Landale missed two free throws that would have grown the lead to three.

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Fox dribbled up the floor and got to his preferred spot. While it was a spot that Fox makes a lot of shots, Memphis executed its own plan.

Vince Williams Jr.’s job was to force Fox to the right, and Aldama was to provide the help. Aldama did just that, swatting the shot out of Fox’s hands.

When the game ended, Landale may have been just as excited as Aldama. He let out a loud scream that may have been a mixture of excitement and relief.

“Thank God,” Landale said. “. . . I felt a little bit of responsibility on that last possession. It would have been a dark, dark night had we lost that game and Santi not come up big with that block.”

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Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Santi Aldama, Cam Spencer lead Memphis Grizzlies to win vs Spurs