The return of Ja Morant has had an impact on the Memphis Grizzlies who, since his return to the hardwood, have won two consecutive victories after losing five in a row.
The Tennessee team beat the Indiana Pacers 103-116 with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists from Desmond Bane. For his part, Morant contributed 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 basket passes, improving his shooting performance (7/16 attempts).
«The difficult part of all this has been not being able to be out there, and enjoy and have fun with my teammates. But now I’m out there and I’m making sure we have a good time,” Morant told the media. ESPN.
«That has been more or less my message. It was noticeable in the energy of the team. We caught an alley oop and the bench went crazy. The players screamed and shouted, and hit each other. That’s our type of basketball. That’s how we are. “That’s our team,” he explained.
This game marked the return of Ja Morant to the FeDex of Memphis after his debut against the Pelicans where he scored 34 points and the winning shot with a few seconds remaining. The atmosphere looked spectacular. Absolutely full, and the front row, packed with local rappers.
“It’s been great to feel all this,” admitted Desmond Bane. «We have had several games at home that have not been like that at all. Obviously getting Ja (Morant) back makes everyone super excited,” he acknowledged.
Despite all the euphoria experienced, it is worth remembering that the Grizzlies have hard work ahead of them. They are far from the first places in the West (8-19) and with Morant they must continue to come back if they want to reach the playoffs directly. Currently there are up to ten rivals with a positive record.
«You have to play with joy. And when you’re losing, it’s hard to find that spirit and that style. But regardless of whether you win or lose, you have to have that fire and that fight. And I think we have it right now,” Bane concluded.
Other highlights
Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. also added double-digit scorers with 21 points, 8 rebounds and a block; Ziaire Williams added 16 points in just 18 minutes, and the Spanish Santi Aldama finished with 13 points.
Pacers: The team led by Rick Carlisle has lost in five of the last six games, conceding an average of 130.6 points per night.
The top exponent was Obi Toppin with 22 points; Tyrese Haliburton added another double-double with 17 points and 14 assists; and Buddy Hield and Myles Turner contributed 15 each.
More NBAHow to watch NBA streaming online 2023 with League Pass on two devices?
(Cover photo: Justin Ford/Getty Images)
2023-12-22 09:00:00
#Morant #Memphis #adds #consecutive #victory
