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Ja Morant and Jonas Valanciunas helped the Memphis Grizzlies clinch a spot in the Western Conference play-in game on Thursday as they became the first pair of players in team history to each record a triple-double in the same game.
Morant accomplished the feat for the second time this season after recording 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists while Valanciunas notched his first career triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists in the 119-106 victory.
The Grizzlies entered the matchup needing a win to clinch a spot in the play-in game while a loss would have resulted in elimination from contention. The team received some help after Giannis Antetokounmpo was suspended for the matchup after headbutting Moritz Wagner on Tuesday night.
Memphis can now clinch the eighth seed in the play-in game with a loss by the Portland Trail Blazers later on Thursday. However, a win by the Trail Blazers will drop the Grizzlies to ninth place as the two teams would begin the play-in game on Saturday.
.@JaMorant (12 PTS, career-high 13 REB, 10 AST) and @JValanciunas (26 PTS, 19 REB, career-high 12 AST) are the first @memgrizz teammates to post triple-doubles in the same game.
Today marks Morant's second career triple-double and Valanciunas' first.
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) August 13, 2020
The Grizzlies entered the restart in a good position to secure either an outright playoff berth or a spot in the play-in game after holding a 3.5-game lead over the Trail Blazers in ninth place. However, after starting off 1-6, Memphis nearly missed a chance to be in the play-in and, of course, can still miss the playoffs entirely.
The team has struggled since arriving at Wide World of Sports Complex and has desperately missed Jaren Jackson Jr. after he suffered a torn meniscus on Aug. 3. While teams have used the restart to improve, the Grizzlies have seemingly fallen backward and now face an even tougher road to the playoffs.
The Grizzlies will play either the Trail Blazers or Phoenix Suns in the play-in game, which is scheduled to tip-off on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
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