Ja Morant made a standout return to the Memphis Grizzlies after missing eight games and almost three weeks due to hip and pelvic muscle injuries. In his first game since November 6, Morant scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half, tallied 11 assists, and played a crucial role in the Grizzlies’ 123-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
“It felt good. Felt like I played well. Looked good,” Morant said, smiling.
Although he had been listed as questionable, the Grizzlies confirmed about 45 minutes before tip-off that Morant would play.
The 2019 second overall pick is averaging 20.6 points, 9.1 assists, and five rebounds in eight games this season. His strong showing underscored how well he had regained his form after being sidelined.
“Just attacking my return process,” Morant said about being ready. “The ramp-up. Making sure I’m in rhythm when I’m out there.”
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins praised Morant’s immediate impact. “He works his tail off,” Jenkins said. “This past week was the best work I’ve seen from him in his return-to-play process.”
Morant also impressed the crowd with two standout assists. One was an alley-oop to Jaren Jackson Jr., who finished with 21 points and four blocks, while the other was a behind-the-back pass to Brandon Clarke for an easy basket.
Morant said his assist to Jackson was the better of the two, while Clarke noted that the pass to him felt routine due to their long-time chemistry.
“I just know from playing with Ja to be ready always,” Clarke explained. “It’s just about having your hands ready.”
When asked about Morant’s influence on the game, Clarke added, “Oh, it’s huge. It’s everything. He just knows how to find you and get our offense running. He makes it fun to play every night.”
Morant’s return gave the Grizzlies a significant boost, with six players scoring in double digits and 11 players seeing substantial minutes before the game wrapped up in the fourth quarter. This was also one of the few times this season that Memphis’ core trio—Morant, Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane—were all on the floor together.
“When we’ve got the big three, it’s different,” said reserve forward Santi Aldama. “It’s easier to play that way. Just having Ja back, the energy, the gravity—it’s completely different. Hopefully, we can start building chemistry with them.”