Fox and Barnes Carry Spurs to 111-101 Win Over Grizzlies Without Wembanyama or Morant

When the San Antonio Spurs took the court against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 18, 2025, nobody expected them to win — not with their two biggest stars out, not with the Grizzlies’ roster still reeling from injuries, and certainly not with the odds stacked against a team that had lost four of its last five road games. But De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes didn’t care about expectations. They just played. And in a 111-101 victory at the Frost Bank Center, they reminded everyone that basketball isn’t always about superstars. Sometimes, it’s about who shows up when the lights are on and the names on the back of the jerseys don’t include Wembanyama or Morant.

Star Power? Not Tonight

Victor Wembanyama, the 21-year-old French phenom who’s been the centerpiece of San Antonio’s rebuild, was sidelined with an undisclosed issue. Ja Morant, the electrifying point guard who’s carried Memphis through three injury-plagued seasons, was also out — his absence the third straight game. Neither team released specifics, but the absence was felt. The Spurs entered the game without their franchise player. The Grizzlies, without their heart and soul. What followed wasn’t a collapse. It was a revelation.

De'Aaron Fox, traded from Sacramento last summer and still finding his footing in Texas, delivered his best performance as a Spur: 26 points, 3 steals, and 3 three-pointers in just 32 minutes. He didn’t force shots. He didn’t try to do it all. He moved, cut, and punished Memphis’ overaggressive defense with precision. Meanwhile, Harrison Barnes, the 33-year-old veteran who once won a championship with Golden State, looked like he was playing for a new contract. Nine of his 14 field goals went in. Four of his eight threes found the net. He didn’t just score — he controlled tempo. And when the Grizzlies made a run in the third quarter, cutting the lead to four, Barnes hit a step-back three from the left wing that silenced the crowd — and the visitors.

Grizzlies’ Grit Couldn’t Close the Gap

Cedric Coward, the 24-year-old power forward who entered the season as a fringe rotation player, became the unexpected face of Memphis’ effort. He finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds — his first double-double of the season — and played every minute of the second half with a quiet ferocity. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey, both centers, combined for just 14 points and 15 rebounds, struggling to match the Spurs’ physicality. The Grizzlies’ bench, led by Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr., kept them alive, but couldn’t overcome San Antonio’s cohesion.

“We knew they’d be ready,” said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich after the game. “When your stars are out, you don’t panic. You just play the way you’ve practiced. Fox and Barnes? They didn’t wait for someone else to lead. They just led.”

The Spurs’ depth was the difference. Kelly Olynyk added 12 points and six assists off the bench. Jeremy Sochan, the 22-year-old forward who’s often criticized for inconsistency, posted a career-high 14 rebounds — including five on the defensive glass in the final five minutes. Even Carter Bryant, the rookie point guard who’d played just 11 minutes all season, came in with 2:17 left and hit a clutch free throw to seal the win.

Home Court Advantage, and a Pattern

This win extended the Spurs’ home record to 7-1 at the Frost Bank Center, the best mark in the Western Conference among teams without a top-5 MVP candidate. The Grizzlies? Their road record fell to 1-7. They’ve lost by double digits in six of their last eight away games. And while their roster has been decimated by injuries — Morant, Dillon Brooks, and Jaxson Hayes all out — the lack of resilience is becoming a trend.

San Antonio, meanwhile, is now 10-4 — third in the Southwest Division with a .714 winning percentage. They’re one game behind the Dallas Mavericks, but with a schedule that eases up in December, they’re quietly positioning themselves as a dark horse playoff contender. The Grizzlies, at 4-11, are now tied for last in the division. Their .267 win percentage is the worst in the West.

What’s Next? A Rematch in January

The two teams will meet again on January 15, 2026FedExForum in Memphis. That game could be a turning point. If Wembanyama and Morant are both back, it’ll be a completely different matchup — a clash of rebuilding titans. But if they’re still out? The Spurs might be the team that’s already built for the long haul.

And that’s the real story here. The NBA doesn’t always reward the most talented. Sometimes, it rewards the most prepared. The Spurs didn’t have a superstar on the floor Tuesday night. But they had discipline. They had chemistry. They had guys who knew their roles — and executed them.

Behind the Numbers

• De'Aaron Fox: 26 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3/7 from three
• Harrison Barnes: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4/8 from three (50%)
• Cedric Coward: 19 points, 11 rebounds (team-high for Memphis)
• Spurs’ three-point shooting: 15/34 (44.1%)
• Grizzlies’ bench scoring: 38 points (led by Spencer’s 11)
• Spurs’ assist-to-turnover ratio: 28:11 — a sign of controlled offense

The YouTube highlight package, uploaded on November 19, 2025, at 1:00 AM UTC, has already drawn 244,000 views — not because of star power, but because of the surprise. People watched because they didn’t know what to expect. And what they saw? A team that didn’t need a name on the back to win.