Sunday night in primetime on ABC, the Memphis Grizzlies fell short against the Golden State Warriors, 123-109.
It was the first Christmas Day game in franchise history. The Grinch stole Grizzmas from Memphis in a decisive fashion.
Ja Morant seemed as if he was the only one ready to make a statement on national TV. Morant was the game-high scorer (near triple double) with 36 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.
To round it out, Dillon Brooks and Tyus Jones finished with 13 points each.
Desmond Bane struggled, plus Jaren Jackson, Jr. was in foul trouble and on the bench most of the night. Steven Adams was relegated to the bench after the Warriors started fouling him to send him to the line.
It seemed as if Memphis really wasn’t ready for the game.
In essence, the Warriors beat the Grizzlies at their own game: Trash-talking, the supporting cast playing out of their minds, and having fun.
This wasn’t a championship game that eliminated them from contention. It was a regular season game that the Warriors were more than ready for.
There’s no need to put the blame on players for their struggles. Memphis is still 20-12 on the season and sits third in the Western Conference.
The team will make adjustments and not let this loss linger in their minds. The team will still trash-talk and have fun. It’s who they are, and nothing will change anytime soon.
The Grizzlies will have their chances for revenge on January 25th, March 9th and March 18th. This has the makings of a good rivalry that will have everyone talking.
Ja Morant Signature Shoe
Despite the loss, Christmas was good to Morant as he fulfilled a lifelong dream of a signature shoe. Nike unveiled the Ja 1 shoe prior to the game.
Morant’s daughter Kaari helped him with the unveiling.
“It’s a shoe for underdogs who have the dog in them, kicks for anyone who has been underrated or overlooked, who’s been told they’re too small, or their dreams too big,” Morant said in the announcement.
“Now, I know everyone wearing my shoes isn’t going to posterize a 7-footer,” Morant concluded. “But I want everyone to feel like they could. Tap into that underdog inside of them.”
Morant paid homage to the cities that shaped him on Twitter.
This means so much for the city of Memphis. To have its adopted son put the city on the map is rewarding. No other player in franchise history had as much popularity as Morant. He’s a generational talent that will be talked about for years to come.
Up Next
Grizzlies return to Memphis to take on the short-handed Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies throttled the Suns 125-100 this past Friday night in Phoenix without Devin Booker. The Suns were embarrassed at home and look to return the favor.
