- by Zander Quillington
- on 21 Nov, 2025
The Memphis Grizzlies’ season unraveled in the final minutes at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, as they surrendered a commanding rebounding edge and a 22-2 advantage in second-chance points to fall 111-101 to the San Antonio Spurs. The loss marked their fifth straight defeat, sinking their record to 4-11 in the 2025-26 NBA season — a brutal slide that’s raising urgent questions about their identity without Ja Morant. Meanwhile, the Spurs, playing without All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, improved to 10-4 with a gritty fourth-quarter surge that exposed Memphis’ inability to close out games.
They Had the Rebounds. They Didn’t Have the Clutch.
Memphis dominated the glass, outrebounding San Antonio 59-38, and turned 14 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points. For 35 minutes, it looked like they’d bulldoze their way to victory. But basketball isn’t played on the offensive glass alone — it’s decided in the final five minutes. And that’s where the San Antonio Spurs turned the tide. After shooting just 17% in the first five minutes, they found rhythm. By the fourth quarter, they were hitting shots with cold precision. A 11-0 run, capped by Harrison Barnes’s seven straight points — a running hook, a floater, then a dagger three — sealed it. With 53.2 seconds left, the Spurs led 107-101. The Grizzlies never recovered.Fox and Barnes Carry Spurs Without Wembanyama
Without their 7’4" phenom Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have gone 18-31 in his absence since his rookie season. But this wasn’t a fluke win. It was a statement. De'Aaron Fox, acquired in a blockbuster trade last summer, led all scorers with 26 points, three three-pointers, and three steals. He scored 11 of his points in the third quarter, quietly taking control as Memphis’ defense drifted. Barnes, the 33-year-old veteran, was the emotional engine. His 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting included four three-pointers, and he didn’t miss a shot in the final 4:12. Keldon Johnson added 18 points, and the Spurs shot 45% for the game despite that awful start.Grizzlies’ Star Absence Still Haunts
On paper, Cedric Coward had a career night: 19 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks. He played like a man trying to carry a sinking ship. Vince Williams Jr. chipped in with solid minutes, but the Grizzlies’ offense stalled without Morant’s playmaking. The numbers don’t lie: Memphis is 76-93 in games without him since he entered the league. This isn’t a coincidence — it’s a pattern. When Morant sits, the offense becomes predictable. When he’s gone, the team loses its rhythm, its confidence, its ability to execute in crunch time. Tuesday night was just the latest example.
What Happened in the Fourth Quarter?
The Spurs were down by 12 early in the fourth. By the 3:00 mark, they were up by four. How? Discipline. Ball movement. And clutch shooting. Memphis, meanwhile, went silent. Their guards forced jumpers. Their bigs didn’t move without the ball. The Spurs’ defense, led by San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, switched everything, denied the paint, and made Memphis shoot contested threes. The Grizzlies went 1-for-8 from deep in the final period. That’s not bad luck — that’s poor execution under pressure.What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Memphis Grizzlies return home to FedExForum on Thursday, November 20, to face the Sacramento Kings. They need a win. Badly. A loss would make it six straight — and fan frustration could turn into outright anger. The Spurs, meanwhile, host the Atlanta Hawks on the same night. With Wembanyama still out, they’re proving they can win without him — not just survive. That’s the difference.
Why This Loss Hurts More Than the Others
This wasn’t just another close game. It was a moral defeat. Memphis had every statistical advantage — and still lost. They led by 15 in the third. They outworked San Antonio on the boards. They out-hustled them for loose balls. And yet, when it mattered most, they folded. That’s the kind of loss that lingers. It doesn’t just hurt the record — it hurts the locker room. The players know it. The coaches know it. And the fans? They’re starting to wonder if this team can ever grow up.Frequently Asked Questions
How has Ja Morant’s absence impacted the Grizzlies’ performance this season?
Since Ja Morant’s last full season, the Grizzlies are 76-93 in games without him — a winning percentage of just 45%. This season, without him, they’ve gone 1-7. His absence doesn’t just reduce scoring; it collapses the offense’s structure. Teams can now sag off shooters, knowing there’s no playmaker to exploit the gap. The Grizzlies’ assist-to-turnover ratio has dropped from 1.8:1 with Morant to 1.1:1 without him.
Can the Spurs sustain their success without Victor Wembanyama?
They’re proving they can — but it’s not sustainable long-term. Without Wembanyama, they’re 10-4 this season, relying on De’Aaron Fox’s pace, Harrison Barnes’ shooting, and Keldon Johnson’s athleticism. But their defensive rating drops by 7.2 points per 100 possessions without him. They’re winning now because of coaching and depth, but if Wembanyama misses more than 20 games, their playoff hopes could slip.
What made Harrison Barnes so effective in the fourth quarter?
Barnes exploited Memphis’ defensive indifference. With the Grizzlies focused on Fox and Johnson, Barnes was left wide open. He used his veteran IQ — stepping into his three-pointer with perfect balance, then hitting a floater over two defenders. He scored seven straight points in under 90 seconds, none of them contested. That’s not luck. That’s experience.
Why did the Grizzlies’ rebounding advantage mean so little?
Rebounding only matters if you convert. Memphis had 59 boards, but turned just 22 of them into second-chance points — the same number as San Antonio. They missed 12 of 18 put-back attempts. The Spurs, meanwhile, took smarter shots: quicker releases, better spacing. Memphis’ big men were slow to reset, and their guards didn’t crash the glass hard enough after misses. Quantity doesn’t equal quality.
How does this loss affect Memphis’ playoff chances?
It’s a death knell for now. At 4-11, the Grizzlies are tied for the 14th-worst record in the NBA. With the Western Conference being so deep, they’d need to go 28-17 the rest of the way just to sneak into the play-in. Without Morant, that’s nearly impossible. The front office may be forced to consider a rebuild — or at least trade assets before the deadline to avoid another lost season.
What’s the biggest takeaway from this game?
It’s not about who’s injured — it’s about who’s in charge. The Spurs won without their superstar because their role players stepped up. The Grizzlies lost despite dominating the stats because no one on their roster could take over when it mattered. Leadership isn’t just about talent. It’s about poise under pressure — and Memphis is running out of both.