Marcus Smart converted a go-ahead, three-point play with 52 seconds left, Avery Bradley added a clutch jumper with eight seconds remaining and the Boston Celtics ended a five-game losing streak against the Memphis Grizzlies with a 95-92 victory on Wednesday night.
Bradley scored 17 points for the Celtics, who won their second in a row as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Smart put Boston ahead 91-90 with the last of 14 lead changes in the game, which ended when Mike Conley missed a deep 3-pointer for Memphis just before the buzzer.
Conley led Memphis with 20 points despite missing time in the second half with an injured ankle or knee. Tony Allen added 16 and Zach Randolph scored 14, pulled down eight rebounds and added five assists.
Kelly Olynyk scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half and pulled down six rebounds. Jae Crowder added 16 points, and Tyler Zeller and Brandon Bass had 12 points apiece. Zeller also led Boston with nine turnovers but hit a pair of foul shots with 40 seconds left to put Boston up 93-90.
The Grizzlies made all of their 13 foul shots and outscored the Celtics 50-36 inside, but could not overcome 21 turnovers.
Olynyk scored nine in the third period despite having to sit out a few minutes after drawing his fourth foul with just under 4 minutes left. He returned from the bench in time to hit an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer that gave the Celtics a 64-63 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Conley’s 3-pointer with 5:18 left gave Memphis an 80-78 lead, which the teams traded throughout the fourth until coming down to the last possessions.
After Crowder’s 3-pointer for Boston tied it at 88-all, Randolph hit a layup to restore the Grizzlies’ lead at 90-88. Boston went back up when Evan Turner threw a long inbound pass for an alley-oop layup by Smart, who was fouled and converted the three-point play to give Boston a 91-90 lead with 52 seconds left.
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TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Conley had 12 points at halftime and was the only player to score in double figures in the first half for the Grizzlies. … F Jeff Green was playing his first game in Boston since joining the Grizzlies in a three-team deal involving the Celtics, Grizzlies and Pelicans.
Celtics: Phil Pressey hit a buzzer-beater from about 10 feet beyond the 3-point line to give Boston a 23-18 lead after the first period. … G Isaiah Thomas sat out with a bruised lower back. Coach Brad Stevens said Thomas is likely out for the weekend and hopes to have him back Monday when Philadelphia visits.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: At Washington on Thursday.
Celtics: Host Orlando on Friday.