Jay Huff scored a career-high 20 points in 14 minutes to highlight a balanced attack by the Memphis Grizzlies, who earned a 124-107 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
A 27-year-old journeyman, Huff was playing under a two-way contract until signing a four-year deal with Memphis on Monday. He shot 7 of 10 from the floor and 5 of 7 from 3-point range off the bench and was one of seven Grizzlies who scored in double figures.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and rookie Jared McCain had a career-high 19 to pace the Sixers, who continued to play without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George. Both players practiced fully on Friday, including five-on-five scrimmages.
Kelly Oubre Jr. made three 3-pointers to help Philadelphia lead 28-24 after the first quarter, but Memphis began to take control late in the second.
The Grizzlies trailed 51-45 with 3 1/2 minutes left when Scotty Pippen Jr.’s 3-pointer ignited a 14-1 run to end the half. Ja Morant scored five points during the surge before Zach Edey’s tip-in sent Memphis into intermission with a 59-52 lead.
Huff was the star of the third quarter, scoring 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. The Grizzlies outscored the Sixers 33-23 in the period to take control of the contest.
Morant’s layup pushed the lead to 69-58, and a free throw by Jaren Jackson Jr. gave Memphis a 20-point cushion with 2:04 left in the quarter. Huff drained three 3-pointers and recorded a dunk in just over two minutes as the Grizzlies pulled away.
Memphis led by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Jackson paced the Grizzlies with 27 points, while Morant had 18 points and 12 assists. Jaylen Wells chipped in 15 points, and Pippen (12 points, 13 assists), Santi Aldama (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Edey (10 points, 10 boards) each registered double-doubles.
