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Ja Morant returns with a bang, scores 17 points off bench to lead Grizzlies to victory
Memphis star guard Ja Morant returned to action and scored 17 points off the bench during the Grizzlies' 130-125 home win over the Houston Rockets
Ja Morant is back and better than ever! The Memphis Grizzlies star guard scored 17 points off the bench during their exciting 130-125 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Morant had missed the previous nine games, but his return to the court was highly anticipated. Even though he came off the bench for the first time in his four-year NBA career, Morant made an immediate impact, contributing five assists and four rebounds in just over 24 minutes of play.
Before the game, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins announced that Morant would play for slightly over 20 minutes, but the two-time All-Star stayed on the court a little longer than expected. Jenkins explained that Morant was on board with coming off the bench and they decided it was the best strategy for the first one or two games.
Morant's absence didn't stop the Grizzlies from playing well, as they went 6-3 during his suspension. Tyus Jones filled in as the point guard and played impressively, averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 assists. He even reached double digits in assists five times!
Morant's suspension came after he live-streamed a video in which he was holding a firearm in an intoxicated state at a club in the Denver area following a loss to the Nuggets. He was disciplined by the Grizzlies before the NBA issued the suspension on March 15. During his time away from basketball, Morant said he spent time in a Florida counseling facility.
Despite the disciplinary action, Morant's teammates still support him wholeheartedly. Shooting guard Desmond Bane said that Morant shouldn't shoulder all the responsibility and that the team, coaches, and the whole organization have his back.
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With an average of 26.9 points and 8.1 assists in 54 games this season, Morant leads the Grizzlies in scoring and assists. The Grizzlies have a short runway until the end of the regular season, but the team is optimistic and is taking things one game at a time. Welcome back, Ja!
