Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) fights around Boston forward Sam Hauser in the first half of Saturday's Memphis victory at TD Garden.
Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) fights around Boston forward Sam Hauser in the first half of Saturday's Memphis victory at TD Garden.Mark Stockwell/Associated Press
In the end, in the fifth game in seven nights, the Celtics just didn’t have enough.
They climbed all the way back against a rested and physical Memphis Grizzlies team to take the fourth-quarter lead, and then had little left.
In what could be considered a schedule loss, the Celtics succumbed to Memphis' interesting defensive strategy and porous 3-point shooting in a 127-121 loss on Saturday at TD Garden. It was the Grizzlies' first win on Causeway Street in over a decade.
Boston didn’t lead until the final period, chasing the athletic and motivated Grizzlies the entire night. After taking a 103-99 lead with 9 minutes, 20 seconds left on a Jrue Holiday 3-point play, the Celtics yielded a 25-12 run by Memphis behind the relentless paint work of Jaren Jackson Jr., who scored 14 of his 27 points in the final period.
He scored 11 consecutive points as the Grizzlies pulled away. The Celtics, having played a brutally physical game Friday against Milwaukee, couldn’t convert offensively in the final minutes.
Jayson Tatum finished with 17 points on 6 for 21 shooting and missed 9 of 10 3-point attempts. Holiday, whom the Grizzlies allowed to shoot at will, led Boston with 23 points but on 8 of 26 field goals. He attempted a career high 17 3-pointers, making only four.
Ja Morant led Memphis with 32 points, including 4 of 6 on 3-pointers, and added 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Marcus Smart, making his return to Boston in uniform, scored 3 points in 19 minutes.
The Celtics were just 18 of 60 from the 3-point line and missed nine free throws.
With the Grizzlies dominating the paint in the first half, Mazzulla opted for the double big lineup with Kristaps Porzingis and Neemias Queta to protect the paint to start the third quarter. The result was an 18-8 run that cut a 12-point deficit down to 2.
The Celtics trailed the entire night but mustered up enough defense and shot making to remain competitive into the fourth quarter.
And that was despite Morant looking flawless from the 3-point line. He entered the game 15 for 57 from beyond the arc for the season, but nailed his first four and had 29 points through three periods. He also wowed the crowd with a double-pump reverse dunk after driving baseline.
Tatum was able to get going offensively with some drives and a timely 3-pointer, but he still missed 12 of his 17 shot attempts. The Celtics were shooting under 40 percent from the field and 3-point line until a fourth-quarter surge changed the game.
The Grizzlies were a difficult matchup, considering their athleticism and size, and coach Taylor Jenkins implemented an interesting game plan to offset the Celtics’ 3-point dominant offense.
Memphis defenders allowed Holiday to take open threes, and he obliged in the first half. He attempted eight in the first seven minutes — his career high for a game was 13. And he finished the first half with 17 shot attempts in 17 minutes, including 12 3-point attempts. He set his career high for 3-point attempts early in the third quarter.
The ploy was successful because it limited the shot attempts by the Celtics primary scorers. Jaylen Brown attempted just four shots in 18 first-half minutes, while Tatum struggled, going 3 for 11 and missing all seven of his 3-point attempts.
The Celtics were on a record-pace in 3-point attempts, launching 31 in the first half but making only nine. The Grizzlies attacked the paint with the shifty Morant and the powerful Jackson Jr., and then hit timely threes. They went on an 11-4 run in the final 3:08 of the half to take a 66-54 lead.
In addition, the Celtics were suddenly shorthanded with Porzingis appearing to sprain an ankle and heading to the locker room, while Sam Hauser left with adductor tightness. Porzingis returned to the game to begin the third quarter and spark a Celtics run with a pair of 3-pointers.
Smart entered the game with 8 minutes and 50 seconds left in the first period to a standing ovation. The gracious Smart raised his hand in acknowledgment but struggled in his comeback game. He was 1 for 9 shooting with 3 points in 12 first-half minutes.
The Celtics won’t play again until Thursday, and have just two games over the next 11 days because of the in-season tournament schedule adjustment.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.