MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — Jrue Holiday scored 35 points and Jerami Grant added 30 as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-114 on Wednesday night at FedExForum. Holiday, who also had 11 assists, keyed a decisive third-quarter run that gave Portland control. The Trail Blazers outscored Memphis 34-30 in the period to take a 93-89 lead into the fourth. Robert Williams added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Portland. Jaylen Wells led Memphis with 24 points. The Grizzlies cut a double-digit deficit to four points late but got no closer. Portland improved to 30-33, while Memphis fell to 23-38.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — Jrue Holiday scored 35 points and dished out 11 assists, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 122-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at FedExForum. The win improved Portland’s record to 30-33, while Memphis fell to 23-38 in front of an announced crowd of 14,661. Holiday, the veteran guard from Mission Hills, California, was the catalyst throughout, hitting timely shots and orchestrating the offense. His backcourt partner, Jerami Grant of Portland, Oregon, added 30 points and nine rebounds. The duo combined for 65 points on efficient shooting, offsetting a balanced Grizzlies attack that placed six players in double figures. The most critical sequence of the game occurred late in the fourth quarter after Memphis had trimmed a double-digit deficit. With Portland leading 109-107 and just over two minutes remaining, Holiday took over. He first drove for a floating jumper to push the lead to four. After a GG Jackson basket for Memphis made it 111-109, Holiday answered with a deep 25-foot step-back three-pointer, giving Portland a five-point cushion with 1:40 to play. Memphis could not recover. Following a defensive stop, Holiday sealed the game with another driving floater with 25.7 seconds left, extending the lead to 117-111 and effectively closing the door on the Grizzlies’ comeback attempt. The game was a tale of offensive execution and defensive pressure. Portland scored 122 points on just 100 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 122.6, while Memphis managed 114 points on 107 possessions for a rating of 106.9. The Trail Blazers compensated for a subpar 34.9% shooting from three-point range and 61.1% from the free-throw line by dominating the glass with 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 25 second-chance points. Robert Williams provided a massive interior presence for Portland with 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes off the bench, while also blocking three shots. His energy helped stabilize the Blazers after starting center Donovan Clingan was ejected in the second quarter following a flagrant foul 2 review. Memphis was led by forward Jaylen Wells, who scored 24 points, including four three-pointers. Rookie guard Cam Spencer filled the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 17 points and nine rebounds, and GG Jackson contributed 20 points and three blocks. The teams traded runs in a fast-paced first half. Portland opened an early lead behind Holiday’s hot start, but the Grizzlies responded with a 31-point second quarter to take a 59-59 tie into halftime. The third quarter saw the Trail Blazers begin to create separation, outscoring Memphis 34-30 behind Grant’s 12 points in the period to carry a 93-89 lead into the final frame. Portland’s defense tightened in the fourth, holding Memphis to 25 points on 39% shooting while forcing five turnovers. The Blazers also won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Grizzlies 62-48. The victory gave Portland a three-game season sweep of Memphis, having also won meetings on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7. It also snapped a two-game losing skid for the Trail Blazers, who had dropped contests in Atlanta and Charlotte to begin their road trip. Holiday’s performance continued a strong individual stretch, marking his third game with at least 25 points in his last five outings. His playmaking was pivotal, accounting for 11 of Portland’s 10 total assists on the night. Memphis, coming off a road loss in Minnesota the previous night, struggled to contain Portland’s primary scorers down the stretch and was out-rebounded 53-44. The Grizzlies also hurt themselves at the line, making only 22 of 33 free throws. National Statistical’s ELO system had given Memphis a slight 52.2% probability to win, and Portland entered as a 7.5-point favorite. The total score of 236 points fell just under the over/under line of 237.5. Portland continues its road trip Friday in Houston. Memphis returns to action Saturday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Preview: Trail Blazers at Grizzlies MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies, two Western Conference teams looking to build momentum for the stretch run, will meet Wednesday night at FedExForum. Portland (29-33) arrives after a difficult 135-101 road loss to Atlanta on Sunday. The Trail Blazers have lost three of their last four games. Memphis (23-36) is coming off one of its best performances of the season, a 125-106 victory at Indiana on Sunday, and has won two straight. The teams have split two meetings this season, both in Portland in early February. The Trail Blazers won the most recent matchup 122-115 on Feb. 7. A key matchup will feature Portland’s emerging center Donovan Clingan against Memphis’s playmaking guard Walter Clayton. Clingan is averaging a double-double over his last 10 games and dominated the Grizzlies last month with 20 points and 19 rebounds. In the Feb. 7 game, he played 36 minutes. Clayton, meanwhile, is coming off a 14-assist performance against the Pacers. He dished out seven assists in the earlier loss to Portland this month. The Trail Blazers have struggled defensively lately, allowing an average of 124.5 points in their last four contests. Memphis’s recent wins over Dallas and Indiana showcased an improved offensive flow, averaging 124.5 points in those victories. Portland’s Jrue Holiday, who scored 23 points in the loss to Atlanta, provides backcourt stability. For Memphis, forwards Jaylen Wells and Olivier-Maxence Prosper have provided scoring boosts off the bench. Both teams are navigating challenging schedules. Following this game, Portland begins a four-game road trip, while Memphis hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Wednesday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. CST.