Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies score, highlights: Portland holds off Memphis, advances to first round

Jordan Greer

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Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies score, highlights: Portland holds off Memphis, advances to first round image

The Trail Blazers won't need an extra game to eliminate the Grizzlies.

Portland advanced to the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs with a 126-122 victory over Memphis on Saturday afternoon. Damian Lillard (31 points) and CJ McCollum (29 points) were productive throughout the league's first-ever play-in game, but Jusuf Nurkic was arguably the best player on the floor. The 25-year-old center, playing with a heavy heart after announcing the death of his grandmother, totaled 22 points, 21 rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks in 41 minutes.

Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant scored a game-high 35 points to keep the game close, but the Trail Blazers made more clutch plays down the stretch and punched their ticket to the postseason. They will now enter the playoff bracket as the Western Conference's No. 8 seed and face the top-seeded Lakers.

Sporting News provided updates during the play-in game between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies. Check out all of the highlights you missed below.

Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies score

Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Grizzlies 19 33 42 28 122
Trail Blazers 31 27 31 37 126

Follow SN's live scoreboard for more.

Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies updates, highlights from Game 1

(All times Eastern)

Final: Trail Blazers 126, Grizzlies 122

5:05 p.m. — A valiant effort by the Grizzlies, but the Trail Blazers will advance to the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs. 

5 p.m. — Damian Lillard finds Carmelo Anthony in the corner and... dagger.

4:55 p.m. — CJ McCollum with some TOUGH shots. He hits two contested jumpers in a row over Ja Morant. Trail Blazers 119, Grizzlies 113 with just over a minute to go in regulation.

4:45 p.m. — JA MORANT HITS THE TURBO BUTTON.

4:35 p.m. — Questionable calls on Grayson Allen. First, he gets hit with a personal foul after appearing to block Damian Lillard's shot attempt. Then, he receives a technical foul for... being too demonstrative? Strange sequence.

End of third quarter: Grizzlies 94, Trail Blazers 89

4:25 p.m. — The rookies are shining. Ja Morant (21 points, eight assists) and Brandon Clarke (20 points, 4-of-5 on 3-pointers) help give the Grizzlies a lead heading into the fourth quarter.

4:15 p.m. — OH MY. DAMIAN LILLARD IS NOT MESSING AROUND.

4:05 p.m. — Dillon Brooks launched this one from Animal Kingdom.

4 p.m. — After missing his first three attempts from beyond the arc, Ja Morant confidently steps into a 3-pointer. He'll need to take those shots if his defender chooses to go under screens.

Halftime: Trail Blazers 58, Grizzlies 52

3:40 p.m. — What a performance from Jusuf Nurkic. He is already up to 15 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two steals.

3:25 p.m. — Kyle Anderson has been terrific so far. He's got six points and five assists in 12 minutes. He looks extremely comfortable in the pick-and-roll.

3:20 p.m. — A strong response from the Grizzlies to start the second quarter. They cut the Trail Blazers' lead down to one point with a 13-2 run.

End of first quarter: Trail Blazers 31, Grizzlies 19

3:05 p.m. — So Jusuf Nurkic is hitting 3-pointers now? The Grizzlies might be in trouble.

2:55 p.m. — OK, Dame. This is just rude.

2:45 p.m. — And here we go. CJ McCollum hits a couple of free throws on the opening possession.

2:25 p.m. — Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, who announced Saturday morning his grandmother had died from the coronavirus (COVID-19), will start in the play-in game.

1:55 p.m. — Memphis football is here to support the Grizzlies.

1:45 p.m. — There was some hope that Tyus Jones would be available for the play-in game, but he is listed as out on the official injury report.

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.