Morant finishes with 22 points and 11 assists in his return as Grizzlies beat Trail Blazers 123-98

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 22 points and 11 assists in his return to the lineup after missing eight games with a hip injury, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 123-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

Morant shot 6 fo 12 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range. Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 21 points, and Santi Aldama finished with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.

Deni Avdija led Portland with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Shaedon Sharpe added 15 points for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the third time in four games.

Trail Blazers: Due to poor shooting, Portland trailed by double digits in the first half. The Trail Blazers closed within six points in he third quarter, but got no closer after a Memphis burst. Portland shot 34 for 102 (33%) overall.

Grizzlies: Morant's return increased the pace of the Grizzlies' offense, among the fastest in the league, even though they were limited in fast-break points.

Morant made a 3-pointer near the close of the first half, heaving a shot from three-quarters court that banked in. But the shot was after the second quarter horn, leaving Memphis leading 65-54 at the break.

Portland was 4 of 42 from 3-point range in a Nov. 10 loss to Memphis. Things weren't much better in Monday's loss as Portland made only three of its 20 shots from outside the arc in the first half. And finished the game 8 of 46 from beyond the arc.

Portland plays the Pacers in Indiana on Wednesday. Memphis hosts Detroit on Wednesday.

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Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) handles the ball ahead of Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) reaches for the ball ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, left, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) struggle for control of the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shows ahead of Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

BOSTON (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis was a spectator for the first month of the NBA season following offseason ankle surgery.

It didn’t take him long during his season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night to remind his Boston Celtics teammates what they’ve been missing.

Late in the second half, the Clippers were on offense when Kris Dunn drove the baseline and went up for a dunk attempt. He was met at the rim by the outstretched arms of the 7-foot-2 Latvian, who sent it back to the floor with a two-handed block.

A few trips later, Porzingis showed off that length on the offensive end, catching an alley-oop from teammate Jaylen Brown that garnered roaring approval from the TD Garden crowd.

“It was a good beginning. Good first game back,” Porzingis said.

He finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks over 23 minutes in Boston’s 126-94 win over the Clippers.

It was Porzingis’ first game action since undergoing left ankle surgery in June to fix a tear in the tissue that holds the ankle tendons in place. The issue limited him to seven playoff games during the Celtics’ NBA championship run last season.

He said he actually started to feel game ready about a month ago.

“I was always asking the medical staff to do more,” Porzingis said. "But we were really smart and completed all of the stages to get to this point.”

Porzingis' teammates got him involved early, going to him on each of their first two possessions. Porzingis fired up a 3 from the wing on Boston’s offensive touch, then drained one from the top of the key on the Celtics’ next trip up the floor.

He played nearly seven minutes of the first quarter, relieved at the 5:12 mark by Neemias Queta.

Boston is 15-3 this season, but has missed his presence on the inside, with teams routinely outscoring the defending champions in the paint.

Mazzulla acknowledged that how Porzingis plays on the offensive end, particularly how he operates sometimes out of the high and low post, will force some adjustment from how the team has played this season without him on the floor. But he was most pleased with what he added on the defensive end, where he helped everyone rally around the ball.

“We had 11 blocks tonight. It helps," Mazzulla said.

The original window for Porzingis' return following surgery was five to six months. But Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said before the season that they didn't want to hold to a specific timeline because of the uniqueness of the injury.

“We got here maybe a month early," Porzingis said. “Honestly, I felt better than I expected.”

Porzingis injured his ankle in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks and missed the next two games. He returned for Game 5, contributing five points and one rebound in 16 minutes as the Celtics beat Dallas 106-88 to clinch their record 18th title.

“To have big fella back, it makes us complete,” Celtics teammate Payton Pritchard said.

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Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is introduced for his first game of the season prior to an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

LA Clippers guard James Harden, right, passes the ball behind the back of Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) to Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) tries to block a shot by LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Injured Boston Celtics' center Kristaps Porzingis claps for his teammates in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)