SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ja Morant’s ability to take over a game hasn’t diminished.
Morant didn’t miss a beat in leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-124 season-opening victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. The two-time NBA all-star finished with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 10 assists and five rebounds in only 28 minutes. It was the 24th game of his career where he had at least 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds.
“My job as a point guard is to control the game,” Morant said. “I hate if I let the other team’s point guard control the game. Whatever I can do to make sure it’s in our favor, I try to do.”
His performance comes on the heels of a 2023-24 season marred by controversy and injury. The NBA suspended him for the first 25 games for flashing a gun on his friend’s Instagram account. Then, after appearing in just nine games, Morant suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
The long rehabilitation process he went through following shoulder surgery made Morant appreciate how much basketball meant to him while it was gone. Once he was cleared for full basketball activities again in mid-July, he looked forward to stepping back out on the court on Wednesday.
The moment was everything he expected and wanted.
“I was just excited to be back out there,” Morant said. “These guys trust and believe in me every time I’m out there on the floor, so it’s only right I go out there and play free.”
Morant’s activity on both ends of the floor helped the Grizzlies weather a fourth-quarter rally from the Jazz. He came up with timely baskets or assists whenever Memphis needed an answer. Defensively, he worked to be disruptive and keep the Jazz from permanently seizing momentum down the stretch.
Morant made every minute he was on the floor count.
“He only played 28 minutes tonight,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “But those were hard-playing 28 minutes.”
Morant’s goal is to be even more productive and efficient as he gets continued reps. It’s an extension of the work he put in over the summer to improve his game and heighten his impact on the floor.
“That was the biggest takeaway from this summer is the investment in his body, knowing we’re going to continue to push him even more than we’ve done in the past,” Jenkins said. “He responded in game one. We’re going to need it for many, many more games moving forward.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant prepares to shoot a free throw in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant handles the ball against the Miami Heat in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) dribbles the ball while Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) holds the ball against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Bradley Beal added 24 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Clippers 116-113 in overtime Wednesday night, spoiling Los Angeles' Intuit Dome debut in the opener for both teams.
James Harden had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers. He had a chance to send it to double overtime, but missed the second of two free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining.
Jusuf Nurkic gave the Suns a three-point advantage with a pair of free throws. The Clippers had one last chance to send it to another extra session, but Grayson Allen forced a turnover near midcourt after the inbounds pass.
Ivica Zubac had 21 points for the Clippers, but fouled out with 2:15 remaining in overtime.
Suns: Mike Budenholzer picked up the victory in his first game as Phoenix's coach and improved to 12-9 in his career against the Clippers.
Clippers: Norman Powell will go down as the player who made the first basket at Intuit Dome with his jumper 17 second into the game. ... LA had a 62-42 advantage in points in the paint and outrebounded the Suns by nine (51-42), but Zubac's foul trouble in overtime played a huge role.
The Clippers had a 99-90 lead before the Suns scored 11 straight points to go back on top. Devin Booker had four points during Phoenix's rally, but fouled out with 1:27 remaining. Harden scored four straight points to give LA a 103-101 advantage, but Durant tied it with a 15-footer with 21.2 seconds remaining.
The Suns were 1 of 4 from the field in overtime, but made all 10 of their foul shots. Nurkic and Beal were 4 of 4 and Durant made a pair.
The Suns remain in Southern California to face the Lakers on Friday night, while the Clippers are at Denver on Saturday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal, left, drives against LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac, center, and guard James Harden during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) and LA Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) vie for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale celebrates after a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Fans line up at the Intuit Dome before an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, reacts next to Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale after being called for a travel during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, shoots against Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
LA Clippers guard James Harden, left, celebrates his and-one foul with guard Terrance Mann during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, reacts while speaking to head coach Mike Budenholzer during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
LA Clippers guard Kris Dunn, left, guards Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The oculus at the new Intuit Dome is seen during tip off during an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
