The Memphis star returned from injury in style on Sunday, scoring 24 points and dishing 13 assists to lead his team to a 126-109 win over Orlando.
Ja Morant, who had clashes with the Grizzlies coaching staff earlier this season and had been at the center of trade rumors this month as he recovered from a calf injury, put everything aside in the gala match at the O2 Arena.
“It was nice“he said as he returned to the field.”Especially being able to do it — the first time playing a real match abroad… I needed it.“
Anticipation was high for the 10th NBA championship game in London, the first since 2019, although transatlantic tensions were felt when a single spectator shouted “Leave Greenland alone” during Vanessa Williams’ pre-match performance of the US national anthem, in reference to President Donald Trump’s plan to take control of the self-governing Danish territory.
The Grizzlies also opened up a 33-point lead, taking the lead with 40 points in the first quarter. Memphis lately has made a habit of coming back after double-digit leads, as happened Thursday in Berlin against Orlando, when it squandered a 20-point margin in the first half.
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said Morant’s energy was key in keeping the Magic from coming back again on Sunday.
“His speed, his intensity, his energy level: when he enters the pitch he is difficult to mark,” commented Mosley. “He’s a bolt of lightning when he attacks the iron.“
Morant made his presence felt immediately, scoring 20 points and providing 10 assists in the first half. After the game, asked about rumors that the Grizzlies would be willing to listen to trade offers for him, Morant implied he didn’t want to leave.
“I have the logo on my back”
“Anyone here who knows me knows that I am a very loyal person,” he said. “I have the logo on my back, so it should be clear where I want to stand.“
Australian Jock Landale scored 21 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who had six players in double figures. The team finished 52.7 percent from the field, including 13 three-pointers.
The Magic, however, struggled to find rhythm on offense, with Anthony Black the best scorer with 19 points. Star Paolo Banchero scored just 6 points in the first half, later finishing with 16.
“I think I had some unlucky rebounds, I missed a completely free dunk“Banchero said.”I think there was a lid on the basket for the team, especially at the start of the game in the first half.“
Despite this, Mosley stressed that the Magic’s European tour, with all the media commitments, was a valuable experience.
“The attention they received, the things they had to do in the time they were here, are all important elements for the future and what we have to learn to deal with,” he explained.
Durant more and more in history
In other NBA games on Sunday, Kevin Durant moved up to sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-110.
Durant passed former Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki with a free throw in the fourth quarter to move past Nowitzki’s 31,560 points.
“It means a lot“, Durant said after the game. “Dirk was a role model for me and I even played against him. I’m grateful to be among the greats. And doing it here, at home, was amazing.“
In Colorado, the Charlotte Hornets (16-27) achieved a surprising 110-87 victory against the Denver Nuggets decimated by injuries.
Brandon Miller was Charlotte’s leading scorer with 23 points against a Denver without both the injured Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Denver drops to 29-14 but remains third in the Western Conference.
