PORTLAND — Jerami Grant had 23 points and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a six-game losing streak, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 135-115 on Friday night to open a two-game set.<\/p>\n
The teams will meet again Saturday night in Portland.<\/p>\n
Jrue Holiday had 20 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who led by 30 points after pulling away in the second half. Eight Portland players finished in double figures. <\/p>\n
Cam Spencer had 18 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who had won their previous two straight after a six-game losing streak. GG Jackson II added 15. <\/p>\n
Ja Morant missed his eighth straight game with left elbow injury. Morant remained with the team at Thursday’s trade deadline despite speculation the Grizzlies might move him. <\/a><\/p>\n The Grizzlies were adjusting to a sweeping trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah in exchange for Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks. <\/p>\n Anderson was out Friday because of illness but Clayton and Hendricks came in off the bench for Memphis. <\/p>\n The Grizzlies led 15 points in the opening half but Portland tied the game at 51 on Jerami Grant’s dunk. Grant followed with a layup that gave the Blazers the lead and they were ahead 68-64 at the half. <\/p>\n The Blazers said at halftime that Shaedon Sharpe would not return with a sore left calf. <\/p>\n Portland extended the lead to 94-77 on Grant’s 3-pointer in the third quarter and Memphis never challenged. <\/p>\n Scotty Pippen Jr. started in his first game<\/a> of the season for Memphis after undergoing surgery on his left big toe. He had 13 points and six assists in 22 minutes.<\/p>\n Portland guard Scoot Henderson also played in his first game of the season<\/a> after recovering from an offseason left hamstring injury. He had 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds in just over 21 minutes.<\/p>\n Donovan Clingan finished with 13 points and 17 rebounds for Portland. <\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n