Ja Morant had a terrific first game back with the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only did the NBA superstar score 34 points, but he also hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer against the New Orleans Pelicans.
“I feel like it was the perfect ending, perfect day,” Morant said.
Morant played 34 minutes versus the Pelicans. He finished with 34 points, six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and five turnovers while shooting 12-of-24 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.
“Obviously, I’ve been working hard, but it’s nothing like NBA basketball. So that’s pretty much just doing the inhaler to try to get more oxygen in the body to be able to go out there and deliver,” Morant said. “When I got back in at that eight-minute mark, they pretty much told me, ‘You’re not coming out.’ I just had to lock in and just push through. Pretty much my life. Just continuing to push no matter what.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
The Grizzlies beat the Pelicans by a final score of 115-113. Morant scored 14 points in the final 7:15, helping Memphis outscore New Orleans 38-26 in the fourth quarter.
“It felt different out there, having our guy back, our leader,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane said about Morant. “He does so much for us on the court, of course, but the spirit and the energy and all that that he plays with is infectious. … I ain’t surprised at all. I’ve seen him do a bunch of crazy things. I’m not going to say I was expecting something like this, but I knew he was going to be himself.”
The Grizzlies are 7-19 on the season. They have an uphill climb to get into the playoff picture, but with Morant back in the fold, Memphis is confident it can turn its season around.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies Updates
Morant has career averages of 22.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.4 assists with the Grizzlies. He’s made two All-Star teams and one All-NBA team. Morant also won the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2021-22 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
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