Ja Morant showcased his resilience and skill on Friday night, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a decisive victory that secured the eighth seed in the upcoming playoffs. Despite battling a sprained right ankle, Morant left an indelible mark on the proceedings. He pumped in 22 points, dished out 9 assists, and grabbed 9 rebounds in that pivotal game.
Morant’s injury created plenty of pre-game drama. Ingram was originally listed as questionable for most of the day. Tobias Harris stepped on his ankle late in the third quarter of a prior game against the Golden State Warriors. That’s what happened when he landed on Buddy Hield’s foot and rolled his ankle. This misstep threw his status for Friday’s contest into jeopardy. About a half an hour before tip-off, Morant’s status was finally resolved.
As soon as the game started, Morant had the crowd buzzing with his soaring, one-handed follow-up slam dunk. That exciting opening laid the foundation for Memphis, as the Grizzlies stayed on top for the duration. Despite occasionally limping to the free throw line due to his injury, Morant played a total of 33 minutes, demonstrating his determination to contribute to his team’s success.
Morant was fantastic in the first three quarters. He faltered in the fourth quarter, managing just four points in that frame alone. Even still, his all-around impact—including three steals—led Memphis to a wire-to-wire victory. The Grizzlies, as usual, finished strong, clinching home court as they head into the postseason.
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