After being suspended for the first 25 games of the NBA season for filming himself with a firearm a second time, Ja Morant returned to the court on Tuesday night. The point guard marked the occasion by scoring 34 points in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 115-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, including the winning shot.
After missing the first 25 games of the season, Ja Morant made a dazzling return to the NBA on Tuesday. The point guard scored 34 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists against the New Orleans Pelicans, while also scoring the game-winner for the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s an encouraging sign for the franchise, which lost 19 games in his absence.
A long-awaited return from suspension
Ja Morant’s suspension on 16 June caused quite a stir in the basketball world. His return on Tuesday was therefore eagerly awaited. Greeted by boos from Pelicans fans every time he touched the ball, the point guard quickly found his feet on the court.
After a sluggish first half with the Grizzlies trailing by just 7 points to 20, the point guard picked up the pace, scoring 27 points, with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the next 24 minutes. With just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Morant made an incisive penetration to seal the victory with a layup. The move not only had the fans jumping out of their seats, but also prompted reactions from the players, including LeBron James.
Can Ja Morant save the Grizzlies ?
After four seasons in the NBA, Ja Morant has established himself as the undisputed leader of the Grizzlies and one of the best point guards in the league. An All-Star last year, he averaged 26.2 points (46.6% shooting), 8.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game. Morant has even been voted MVP for the last two seasons. However, he now faces a unique challenge: qualifying a team for the play-offs despite a record of 6 wins and 19 losses.
Memphis had the NBA’s least efficient attack in his absence, scoring just 105.9 points per 100 possessions. It’s a problem that Ja Morant, this team’s true maestro, should be able to solve – at least in part. All the more so as Memphis have managed to maintain a good level of defensive efficiency at the start of the season. The Grizzlies probably won’t reach second place in the conference as they did in 2022-2023, but the point guard seems to have what it takes to solve their main problem and perhaps reverse the trend.
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