Ja Morant hadn’t played at FedExForum since April 26, 2023, in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Should Memphis turn their season around, Morant’s comeback from a 25-game absence will likely be remembered as a historic achievement.
Joy and excitement had been missing from the FedExForum after the Morant-less Grizzlies went 1-11.
That all changed on Tuesday night for the 24-year-old ‘s first home game of the season.
From Derrick Rose’s introductory remarks to the introduction of Morant in the starting lineup, the energy in the arena was apparent.
“I can say it was tough, but I can’t at the same time because obviously the tough part was not being able to be out there and enjoy and have fun with my guys,” said Morant. “Now that I’m out there, I’m making sure that we’re all having fun, no matter what, so that was pretty much just my message.”
He went on to say, “You can just tell by the energy of the team. We catch a lob, you have the bench going crazy, you have the players screaming and yelling and dapping each other up. That’s our type of basketball. That’s how we are. That’s the team we are, people we are. We are very close knit. I just preach that man, regardless of what it is, we have to have fun and celebrate the opportunities we have day in and day out.”
The Grizzlies had plenty of reasons to celebrate and when the final buzzer sounded, it was Desmond Bane, Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. who pulled Memphis to a 116-103 win against the Indiana Pacers.
Bane led the way with 31 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Jackson Jr. added 21 points while going 8-of-10 from the field and a team-high 8 rebounds. Morant finished with 20 points, a team-high 8 assists and five rebounds.
The Grizzlies are 6-0 when Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. all score 20 or more points.
It was Vince Williams Jr. shutting the water off on Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton. Halliburton went 3-of-8 from the field when Williams Jr. was his primary defender.
“It’s great — he’s doing it every single night, and I’m happy for him, but we expect that out of him,” said Jackson Jr. of Williams Jr.’s defensive presence. “He relishes those things. He’s also a perfectionist. He wants to shut down every player on every point, and that’s not always going to happen, but the fact that he shoots for that is amazing. That’s the mentality you need going against these players to make it really hard on them. And he has all these key stops and key shots, and key ball moves and plays on stretches that we’re having that are super important.”
Ziaire Williams, Santi Aldama, and John Konchar were rejuvenated off the bench. Williams chipped in 16 points and 2 blocks, while Aldama had 13 points. Konchar ended with six points, six rebounds, and two outstanding blocked shots.
Memphis held the number one offensive team in the association to a season-low 103 points.
The addition of Morant improves many things for the Grizzlies, but they still recognize they have a long way to go before they can save the season.
Jackson Jr. shared his thoughts on the team’s newfound improvement with Morant in the lineup:
Strictly From the Fans
Long-time Grizzlies fan Bailey McCormick:
“It felt amazing! It felt like I was watching Memphis Basketball. The energy and support for Ja was off the charts. I could feel the vibe inside the forum from the fans, from his teammates, and it made for an amazing game! If I didn’t already know how the city felt about Ja Morant, last night would’ve made me believe that Ja is a superstar not only for the Grizzlies, but also for the city of Memphis as a whole!”
Season-ticket holder Frederique Worthy:
“From the moment fans started walking into the Forum, the energy felt completely different, and in the best way. Seeing Ja return to complete our big three, just felt like a weight lifted from our collective shoulders. Smiles, high fives, and shouts of joy were shared all around.”
Up Next
The Grizzlies head to Atlanta to take on Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, December 23, inside State Farm Arena at 7 p.m. CT.