The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 100-96, in a Western Conference play-in game at FedEx Forum on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies (39-34) couldn't have asked for a better start, as they came out of the gates hot by forging a 38-19 lead through a dominant opening period. That seemed to bring the Spurs (33-39) to life, as San Antonio put a 12-point dent into its deficit before halftime by limiting Memphis to 18 points during the second quarter. After each squad matched each other bucket for bucket in the third, the home squad was able to build eight points of separation with just 1:25 remaining and then held off the visitors with the aid of a late Ja Morant free throw after Rudy Gay's three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left got the Spurs within three.

DeMar DeRozan and Gay co-led the Spurs with 20 points each, with Gay also pulling down seven rebounds. Keldon Johnson generated an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included one assist. Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl posted matching 10-point tallies; Murray added 13 rebounds and 11 assists, while Poeltl recorded 10 boards and five blocks.

Dillon Brooks paced the Grizzlies with 24 points, supplementing them with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Jonas Valanciunas posted a 23-point, 23-rebound double-double that also included one assist and three blocks. Morant furnished 20 points, six boards, six assists and one steal. Jaren Jackson delivered 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.

The Spurs are now eliminated, while the Grizzlies will play the loser of Wednesday night's Lakers-Warriors showdown on Friday night.