Insider Insights: Morant’s Game-Winner in Return Lifts Grizzlies over Pelicans

Christmas doesn’t come for a few days, but for the city of Memphis and fans of the Grizzlies, just about every soul was merrily fluttering about with the official beginning of Grizzmas. Why? The second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and franchise point guard, Ja Morant returned to NBA action after a 25-game suspension. 

Game time; 12 back on the floor. Almost instantly, Morant made his presence felt with a quick drive inside that led him to the free throw line, where he split a pair. Not long after, he would score his first NBA points this season off an initially missed putback underneath the basket.

Jaren Jackson Jr. was dominant early, getting to the charity stripe off straight-line drives multiple times; however, he struggled to hit free throws. Early on, it was a bit of a rough offensive stretch for Memphis as the team failed to hit shots, especially Desmond Bane. However, closer to the end of the quarter, they began to string together solid offensive possessions and posted a 9-0 run to open up the lead. A cross half-court pass from Morant to Santi Aldama leading to a corner three-point bomb was the final bucket of the period, 25-21.

DIMER pic.twitter.com/9qc70KyHSz

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 20, 2023

In the second, the Pelicans upped their physicality. New Orleans began finding its way to the line more easily and regained the lead a few minutes in; Memphis could not respond with baskets of its own as the Pelicans turned up the heat defensively.

The  Grizzlies’ offense started to break down further as sloppy play led to untimely turnovers. Midway through the period, the Pelicans opened up the floodgates, roaring out to a 12-0 run with about five minutes to go in the half. They extended their lead to double digits.

New Orleans continued to pour it on, building its lead behind an inconceivable 28-2 run, which shattered the Grizzlies’ confidence on both ends of the floor. Memphis would not score a basket for nearly six minutes as it stared down a 24-point deficit. They were outscored 39-16 in the second quarter, with things looking lost, but started to pick up steam at the end of the half, capped off by a buzzer-beating three from Vince Williams Jr. that cut their deficit to 19. 41-60.

The Grizzlies had something to say in the third. They got off to a quick 6-0 run to begin the quarter and started to claw back, only facing a 13-point hole a few minutes into the third. New Orleans responded with shots of their own, but then, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies started to get things going. Ja began attacking the teeth of the Pelicans’ defense, opening him up for looks inside while simultaneously allowing him to find teammates. The Pelicans did not go away, but neither did the Grizzlies. Memphis was only down ten points at the end of the third as it outscored New Orleans by 11 points in the period. 77-87.

Now, for the fourth quarter.

The big three of Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr started clicking and getting to the basket and the free-throw line. The magic happened when Memphis precipitated a 10-0 run about halfway through the quarter, also collecting stops on the other end.

Then came a driving paint shot from Morant with about a minute to go to give the Grizzlies their very first lead of the second half after having been down by as much as 24 in the first half. The “Morant show” then took Memphis home; Ja scored back-to-back buckets as the game winded down, and finally, after the Grizzlies called a timeout with a tied game and about 10 seconds left, Morant glided down the court and spun into the lane for a game-winning shot as the clock expired. Hammer.Nail.Coffin. The Memphis Grizzlies stopped a five-game losing streak right in its tracks.

It was a big night, so let’s dive in:

Ja Morant is Back To Doing Ja Morant Things

The point guard out of Murray State University is officially back to make his mark on the NBA, and he did it under the bright lights of national television. From the start, his signature aggression, motor, and high-IQ style of play electrified the Beale Street Bears. He consistently attacked the defense in traffic with his adept handles and speed, which elevated the offense and gave rise to opportunities for his fellow teammates all-around.

As has become pretty common during his time thus far in the league, he eased himself into initial game action and took more of a facilitator role in the first half as he slowly adjusted back to professional gameplay. He struggled to find his shot from beyond and would only have seven points at halftime to go along with three assists. Regardless, the impact he brings to the Memphis Grizzlies was already on full display with his ability to switch gears and break down defenses off the dribble.

But then, in the second half, Ja Morant did his thing. His offense started to come easier with his highlight-reel crossover moves and seemingly effortless speed dribbles to the rim that resulted in a variety of awe-inspiring finishes, floaters, and tough baskets while hanging in the air. It became very clear the Pelicans were simply no match for Morant’s prowess when it came to rapidly reading the floor and leveraging his groundbreaking agility to uncover his spots around the rim. He scored 13 points in the third quarter on 50% shooting and 14 points in the fourth on 63% shooting. With under a minute to go, he transformed into a one-man wrecking crew and scored Memphis’s final three buckets, including the shot that iced the game.

TWELVE. pic.twitter.com/m89Hsa8Ayk

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) December 20, 2023

No, it wasn’t perfect. Morant struggled from deep (0-5) and is working back into game shape, as he had to take a breath for a few moments during the game. But that’s the thing about superstars, they deliver when the pressure’s at its highest and can miraculously overcome their flaws when needed. Well, Memphis’s superstar player is back, and he’s here to stay. 34 points, eight assists, and six rebounds on 50% shooting in your first NBA action in half a year isn’t too shabby.

Winning the Rebounding Battle 

You might expect the Grizzlies to struggle on the glass against a team like the Pelicans who boast a frontcourt tandem of Zion Williamson and former Grizzly Jonas Valanciuas, two big men who can assert their dominance down low and collectively reel in about 17 rebounds a game.

When you’re missing two premier frontcourt players, you will struggle against big teams, and that’s been the story for much of the season, even against smaller teams. However, the Beale Street Bears were not fazed by a massive Pelicans team. At the end of the first half, they only found themselves out-rebounded by one, and they outright won the battle in the second 19-15 to come out on top, 42-39.

The offensive glass was a critical area of giving the Grizzlies a chance in this game. Memphis hustled to give itself crucial second-chance possessions amid their second-half comeback, finishing with 13 offensive rebounds to the Pelicans’ 11. They also did a nice job of sticking to fundamentals and boxing out on the defensive end to limit the Pelicans’ chances, especially late in the second half. Crucial contributions came from Vince Williams Jr and John Konchar, who finished as the team-leading rebounders with seven and eight boards, respectively. It’s early, but the Grizzlies may have found a worthwhile strategy for playing against larger squads, given their current roster deficiencies. 

Next Up

The Grizzlies are back at home Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers in Ja Morant’s return back FedExForum. It should be a matchup for the ages, as Morant will face off against a rising young star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton. The game tips off at 7 PM.

Quote of the Night

“I’m a dawg. I’m a dawg. I put work in day out” – Ja Morant.

talk dat talk @JaMorant pic.twitter.com/ExVw1QTSJp

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 20, 2023

I think the brilliant play speaks for itself.