Memphis Grizzlies rally, nip Spurs on late block

Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) and center Luke Kornet defend during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at FedExForum Tuesday. (Petre Thomas-Imagn Images)
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Updated 07 January 2026
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Memphis Grizzlies rally, nip Spurs on late block

  • Luka ​Doncic and ‌LeBron James both scored 30 points as Los Angeles won in New Orleans 111-103 to win their third straight
  • Darius Garland posted 29 points and six assists as Cleveland won in Indianapolis, sending Indiana to their franchise-record 13th consecutive loss

NEW YORK: Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De’Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lead with 37.3 seconds to go on a baseline jumper. A minute earlier, ​he had connected on a 3-pointer to trim San Antonio’s lead to 105-104. Jaren Jackson Jr. matched Spencer with 21 points and had nine rebounds. Jock Landale contributed 19 points and nine boards and Vince Williams Jr., returning from a lengthy injury absence, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to lead the Spurs with 30 points. Julian Champagnie added 23 points and eight rebounds and Stephon Castle had 15 points and eight boards before fouling out with 3:13 to go.

The Grizzlies played without starters Ja Morant, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Morant missed his second straight game with a right calf contusion and his 18th game overall of the team’s 36 contests because ‌of a variety ‌of injuries. Coward sprained his left ankle in Sunday’s loss at the Lakers.

Lakers 111 Pelicans ⁠103

Luka ​Doncic and ‌LeBron James both scored 30 points as Los Angeles won in New Orleans to win their third straight. Doncic also had 10 assists while James had eight boards and eight assists.

Doncic had 11 first-quarter points and 16 at the half despite missing all six of his 3-point shots. Deandre Ayton paired 18 points with 11 rebounds as the Lakers opened the fourth on a 9-0 run to take control of the game.

Trey Murphy III had a career-high 42 points for New Orleans, who frittered away a position of strength to suffer their eighth successive defeat. Zion Williamson added 15 points and Derik Queen posted 10 points, ⁠13 rebounds and eight assists.

Cavaliers 120 Pacers 116

Darius Garland posted 29 points and six assists as Cleveland won in Indianapolis, sending Indiana to their franchise-record 13th consecutive loss.

Evan ‌Mobley had 20 points and Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points ‍and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who have won four ‍of their last five. Sam Merrill also scored 19. Cleveland won despite resting Donovan Mitchell, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer at ‍29.8 points per game, and losing Dean Wade after eight minutes when he re-injured his left knee.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 22 points, Jay Huff scored 20 and Johnny Furphy had nine points and 11 rebounds. The Pacers’ most recent win was Dec. 8 over the Sacramento Kings. Indiana, which had lost 12 consecutive games four prior times since joining the NBA in 1976, owns the worst ​home record in the league at 5-15.

Timberwolves 122 Heat 94

Anthony Edwards scored 26 points in 29 minutes, and Minnesota cruised to a win over Miami in Minneapolis.

Jaden Daniels added 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting ⁠for Minnesota, which won its third game in a row. Julius Randle (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (13 points, 17 rebounds) each registered double-doubles, and Naz Reid scored 14 points off the bench.

Norman Powell. Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware grabbed 11 rebounds apiece. One bright spot for the Heat was the return of Tyler Herro, who played for the first time since Dec. 9. He showed no signs of a right big toe injury as he finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench.

Wizards 120 Magic 112

CJ McCollum scored 27 points and Alex Sarr added 23 to go along with eight rebounds, fueling host Washington past Orlando. Justin Champagnie had 17 points off the bench for Washington, who made 31 of 33 shots from the free- throw line.

Bilal Coulibaly recorded 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the Wizards, who have won five of their last seven.

Orlando rookie Jase Richardson scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Desmond Bane scored ‌15 points, Paolo Banchero had 14 and Tristan da Silva added 13 for the Magic, who committed 19 turnovers that led to 29 points by Washington. The Magic whittled a 26-point deficit down to two late in the game, but a 10-2 Wizards run sealed ‌their victory.


Smylie, Uihlein tied for lead entering first fourth round in LIV Golf history

Updated 07 February 2026
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Smylie, Uihlein tied for lead entering first fourth round in LIV Golf history

  • Smash GC’s Talor Gooch is third just 1 shot behind, the closest pursuer of 17 players within 6 shots of co-leaders

RIYADH: LIV Golf enters uncharted territory on Saturday at Roshn Group LIV Golf Riyadh.

The league’s first 72-hole regular-season tournament, part of the significant format adjustments made for the 2026 season, concludes with Saturday’s fourth round at Riyadh.

New LIV Golf player Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC and original league member Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC are tied for the lead at 16 under. Smash GC’s Talor Gooch is just a shot back, the closest pursuer of 17 players who are within six shots of the co-leaders.

In the team competition, Torque GC — fueled by the twin 7-under 65s by Mexican Olympic teammates Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz — are at 46 under, two shots ahead of Smash, who are seeking to deliver a victory to Gooch on his debut as captain. Ripper, eyeing next week’s home tournament at LIV Golf Adelaide, are another shot back.

Had the tournament been played under the old 54-hole format, Uihlein and Smylie would have had to settle things in a playoff on Friday. But now the leaders and contenders get 18 more holes to crown a champion.

“Yes, thanks for bringing that up,” laughed Uihlein, who has appeared in all 51 LIV Golf tournaments and is seeking his first league individual title.

“I feel like 72 holes fits me a little better. If you would have told me at the beginning of the week, hey, you’d be tied for the lead after 54 and you have a chance to win, that’s where you’d want to be. I’d take it. (I’m) looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”

Smylie, 23, who is making his first LIV Golf start after joining the all-Australian Rippers last month, had never competed in the 54-hole format but is looking to send a message to his new competitors. He said he was in “total control” of his shots during Friday’s bogey-free 7-under 65.

“Without a doubt I want to prove my worth in this league, and I want to establish myself as one of the best guys in this league,” the left-hander said. “The best way to do that is by going out and making a statement this week.”

Ancer is among the group of players now getting a fourth round to chase a LIV Golf trophy instead of having to be satisfied with a high finish. The new Torque player won his first LIV Golf individual title two years ago in the 54-hole format while playing for Fireballs GC. He welcomes the opportunity to have an extra 18 holes to claim a second title.

“I feel like 54 holes was good enough to figure out who’s playing the best golf,” said Ancer, whose 65 was highlighted by a 50-foot-plus eagle putt.

“You just feel like it’s a little bit more of a sprint, have a little bit less time for you to make mistakes and come back from them. But then playing 72 holes, you feel like if you’re a steady player, that would maybe help you rise to the top of the leaderboard.”

Two of the steadiest LIV Golf players are Gooch and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm, who have combined to win the last three season-long Individual Championships. They have each celebrated 13 trophies — individual and team successes — and are tied for the most in league history, remaining in contention for more hardware thanks to the additional fourth round.

Gooch, who follows the rule of 67 — everything takes care of itself by shooting 67 or better — shot his third consecutive 67 as he seeks a fifth individual tournament title.

Rahm shot his second 67 of the week and is tied for fourth with Ancer, Smash GC’s Jason Kokrak and 4Aces GC’s Thomas Detry, who, like Smylie, is making his league debut in Riyadh.

Despite increased winds and rainy weather on Friday, with players expecting the tougher conditions to impact scoring, the field shot its lowest average of the week, nearly 3.5 strokes under par during a lively third-round Moving Day.

Uihlein, who opened his round with four consecutive birdies en route to a 66, said: “It didn’t feel like it was easier than yesterday, but everyone went low.

“I’m expecting it to be a shootout, but we could come out here tomorrow and it’s blowing 15, 20 again, so you never know.”