Ja Morant is back – and he might just be better than ever!
The Memphis Grizzlies superstar hit a game winner to cap off an epic 27-point second half and lead his side past the New Orleans Pelicans in a thriller 115-113.
His full line included scoring 34 points on 12-of-24 shooting from the field, 10-of-12 from the line, adding six rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block in 34 minutes, while the win saw Memphis improve to 7-19 on the season.
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With the scores all tied up at 113-113 after CJ McCollum’s three-point miss at the other end, the Grizzlies gave Morant the ball after a timeout and let him go to work.
He drove into the lane, and surrounded by several Pelicans defenders, made a tough shot in the pain that rolled in to steal a big win for the visitors – and even bigger return for Morant.
It made for some sort of remarkable season debut after Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the season for flashing a gun in an Instagram Live video.
Memphis and Morant sink Pelicans | 01:42
“I’m a dog. I’ve been putting work in, I ain’t play a game in eight months. Had a lot of time to learn (about) myself, lot of hard days I went through. But basketball is my life and what I love and therapeutic for me,” he told TNT post-mach.
“I’m just excited to be back.”
The Grizzlies, who trailed by 17 at half-time, came to life in the third under the lead of Morant.
Morant, after a quiet first half, looked his best in the game – and like the Morant we’re used to – during a hot eight-point run from the star guard in that third quarter, which included consecutive and-one finishes.
It was clear from that stage Morant was officially rolling again, while he needed to head to the bench for several minutes to catch his breath as Memphis suddenly had a spring in its step.
That continued throughout the fourth quarter as the Griz gradually clawed back the scoreboard, with Jaren Jackson Jr. tying up the scores at 109-109 inside the last two minutes in the fourth.
Morant made a driving layup on Memphis’ next offensive trip to give the visitors their first lead since the opening term.
Both teams then traded buckets until Morant had the last laugh with the game winner, which made for joyous scenes in the Grizzlies camp as they huddled around the controversial superstar in celebration after an otherwise tough season to date.
Elsewhere, Jackson Jr. (24 points, six rebounds three blocks) and Desmond Bane (21 points, five assist) also lit up for the Griz.
Brandon Ingram (34 points, six assists) and Jonas Valanciunas (22 points, 14 rebounds) led the way for the now 16-12 Pelicans, while Zion Williamson (13 points) was quiet in a battle between the top two picks in he and Morant from the 2019 NBA Draft.
STEPH’S DAGGER SINKS TITLE FAVOURITES
And that’s why you can’t ever count out the Warriors with Steph Curry on the court.
The superstar had 33 points including a dagger three in overtime to sink the title favourites Boston 132-126 at home.
With Golden State’s season on the brink it was up to Curry and a wayward but still important Klay Thompson performance (24 points on nine of 21 shooting) to save the day.
The Warriors trailed by 17 late in the third quarter before forcing overtime.
In the extra period, with the margin down to one and just 10 seconds remaining, an offensive rebound allowed the Warriors to shoot it out to Curry who found nothing but net – and sent the Celtics to sleep.
It was just the sixth loss of the year for the Celtics, all of which have come on the road. They are 14-0 at home and now sit a half-game ahead of Milwaukee for the No.1 seed.
As it stands the Warriors are still out of the play-in, at 13-14 ahead of only Utah, Memphis, Portland and San Antonio, and a game back of Phoenix.
‘The GREATEST SHOOTER to ever play’ | 01:33
LILLARD MAKES HISTORY IN MAULING
Damian Lillard went off for 40 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double and the Milwaukee Bucks downed the San Antonio Spurs 132-119.
It came in a game Lillard, who scored 19 of his 40 points in the first quarter alone to set up for the one-sided affair, became just the 51st player in NBA history score 20,000 points
Lillard finished with 40 points and seven triples, while Antetokounmpo racked up 11 points, 14 rebounds and 16 assists and Bobby Portis added 23 points and 10 boards in a strong cameo off the bench.
With it, the Bucks claimed their fifth-straight win and improved to 20-7 overall as Adrian Griffin’s team is starting to really hit its stride.
Meanwhile San Antonio, who was missing Victor Wembanyama due to ankle soreness – just the second game the star rookie and No. 1 draft pick has missed this season – fell to 4-21 despite big games from Keldon Johnson (28 points, 12 rebounds) and Zach Collins (22 points, eight boards, two blocks).
ALL RESULTS
GRIZZLIES 115 PELICANS 113
SPURS 119 BUCKS 132
SUNS 104 TRAIL BLAZERS 109
CELTICS 126 WARRIORS 132 (OT)
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