Ja Morant's triple-double puts the Grizzlies over the Bucks

Ja Morant scored 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the undermanned Memphis Grizzlies to a 122-99 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The triple-double was the 12th of Morant's career.

The Grizzlies, snapping a two-game losing streak, also got 19 points and nine rebounds from Santi Aldama. Jaylen Wells and Scotty Pippen Jr. each scored 16 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 13 points, Jake LaRavia had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Zach Edey had 10 points and eight boards.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 37 points and 11 rebounds. Brook Lopez scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 11.

Memphis had all starters in double figures. Aldama and Wells started for Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane, who missed the game due to injuries sustained in Wednesday's loss to Brooklyn. Smart injured his right ankle and Bane suffered an oblique strain.

Milwaukee, playing on the road for the fourth time in its five games this season, lost its fourth straight after opening the season with a 124-109 win at Philadelphia.

The Bucks had no answer for Morant, who missed most of last season due to a suspension and injury.

Behind Morant, the Grizzlies built a 19-point lead in the first quarter as they scored 24 points in the game in the first 12 minutes. In a stretch that began midway through the quarter, the Grizzlies scored 14 straight points to take a 36-17 lead.

Morant nearly had a triple-double at halftime. His 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds gave Memphis a 70-48 lead going into halftime.

“When I heard the guys telling me it was me driving them, I just came out and tried to be aggressive… make the right plays,” Morant said. “We started it early and were able to maintain the lead.”

In the third quarter, the Grizzlies took a 95-65 lead after a layup by Jackson. The 30-point lead was Memphis' largest early in the season.

The Grizzlies shot 51 percent in the half and had 38 paint points. Antetokounmpo had 17 points and nine rebounds at halftime.

Overall, Memphis outscored Milwaukee 52.4 to 42.7 percent on the night and had a rebounding advantage of 56 to 38.

–Field level media