NEW ORLEANS — A few moments before Tuesday night’s Grizzlies–Pelicans matchup, Ja Morant’s first time back on an NBA court in more than seven months, the 24-year-old All-Star guard leaned against the wall inside the tunnel to collect his thoughts.
His teammates were going through their final stretches and preparing to huddle one last time, but Morant needed some time to himself first.
He was later introduced at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans to mixed reactions — elated, nervous traveling Grizzlies fans and the roaring Pelicans faithful that booed his every dribble — but there were no more anticipatory countdowns, no more hypothetical situations. Morant was back after missing the first 25 games of the season while suspended for multiple instances of brandishing a gun in public over the last year. He returned just in time for a struggling Memphis team sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference with a 6-19 record.
Morant also returned to NBA action in poetic fashion, finishing with 34 points, eight assists, six rebounds, a steal and a block in 35 minutes of action, including the game-winning layup at the buzzer in a stunning 115-113 win over the Pelicans. So much for rusty legs.
“I’m a dog,” Morant said after the game. “I put the work in day in and day out. I haven’t played a game in eight months. Had a lot of time to learn about myself. A lot of hard days where I went through it but basketball is my life, what I love and (it’s) therapeutic for me and I’m excited to be back.”
Morant’s constant pressure, playmaking and persistence were key components of a tough and gritty Grizzlies team that refused to quit, storming back from as many as 24 points down and finishing the game on a 13-5 run. At the heart of everything was Morant, who fought tooth and nail for every inch on the floor. He showed little to no signs of fatigue, shaking off some first-half rust and responding in impressive fashion in the second half.
“(Morant) relishes these moments,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “He was beyond excited to get out there with his teammates and play basketball, the game that he loves.
“I thought he came out and set a tone for us on both ends of the floor. Love his poise in certain situations — pick-and-roll, setting up his teammates, hitting rollers, finding teammates — it becomes infectious.”
Memphis has largely had to rely on the strengths of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. for the entirety of the first 25 games of the season without Morant, but recently found some offensive rhythm in December. Both players continued their strong run of play against New Orleans, combining for 45 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Between Morant, Bane and Jackson, the Grizzlies now believe they have the necessary base to begin to climb out of the conference cellar and up the standings.
“When you can bank on Ja, Jaren and Des being guys that you’re going to lean on both offensively and defensively, it’s huge,” Jenkins said. “It allows us to get organized. We’ve been in some close games in the fourth quarter and maybe haven’t closed it out, but we haven’t had a game like this where it came down to the last possession. Having those three guys to lean on is awesome. Just gotta keep building one day at a time.”
With the win, the Grizzlies improved to 7-19, sitting 13th in the Western Conference. They host the Indiana Pacers on Thursday before traveling for four games — against the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers.
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(Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
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