The San Antonio Spurs have moved Keldon Johnson to the bench, but that hasn't stopped him from establishing himself as a leader for the team.

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs lost at home to the Memphis Grizzlies 140-112. San Antonio was outscored 40-22 in the third en route to the loss versus Memphis. Victor Wembanyama finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Harrison Barnes had 13, and Chris Paul had six and six assists.

The Grizzlies outscored the Spurs 40-22 in the third quarter Friday, closing the period on an 18-2 run. Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here .

The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves could agree upon a trade including Julius Randle to reshape the West.

The San Antonio Spurs are turning heads this NBA season with a revitalized mindset and competitive edge. With star players like Victor Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson leading the charge, the Spurs are no longer the team that endured an 18-game losing streak.

During the summer of 2024, the San Antonio Spurs signed Chris Paul and traded for Harrison Barnes. Both of those moves proved to be worth it, but as Victor Wembanyama proves he can lead a championship team, the Spurs have been urged to make a bigger deal.

Leads San Antonio in scoring

• Including Wednesday's 129-115 victory at the Frost Bank Center, Memphis has won 14 of the past 15 meetings against the Spurs. The Grizzlies have won 10 in a row in San Antonio, with their most recent loss in the Alamo City coming Jan. 5, 2019.

The San Antonio Spurs battled back from an early deficit behind Victor Wembanyama's strong defensive outing, but ultimately couldn't finish the job in the first of two straight matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies.

When the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, their timeline immediately shifted. Instead of being five years away from competing, the Spurs immediately became relevant again and can chase a title as soon as their young star is ready.

Memphis opened the third quarter with a 12-2 spurt as Bane's layup pared the Spurs' lead to 65-63 two minutes into the period. The Grizzlies leapfrogged to an 85-82 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers by Kennard, the latter with 3:14 remaining in the third. Memphis led 94-88 heading into the final period. The teams reconvene Friday in San Antonio.

The Atlanta Hawks could really use a backup point guard. The loss of Kobe Bufkin to a season-ending shoulder injury has not only weakened their depth, but creat