Ja Morant is Back!

        After missing the first twenty-five games of the season due to suspension, Ja Morant returned to action. The Memphis Grizzlies have been terrible without Ja Morant, before the game they were 6-19 and the thirteenth seed in the Western Conference. They've also dealt with a number of injuries but even with a healthy unit, the team has just been bad. Ja Morant made his return against the New Orleans Pelicans. The match up could not have been better as Zion Williamson and Ja Morant were the top two picks in the 2019 NBA draft. 

        While the Pelicans have had an up and down season, recently they maintained some stability. The Pelicans had control for majority of the game, leading by as many as twenty-four points but in today's NBA no lead is safe. With Ja back there was more life and effort from the Grizzlies and eventually came back into the game. In the final seconds, the game was tied 113-113 and the Grizzlies had possession with a chance to win the game. In his first game back, Ja Morant got the ball, attacked the basket and Morant successfully makes the game-winning layup (Grizzlies 115, Pelicans 113).

        Ja Morant finished the game with 34 points shooting 12-24 from the field (50%), 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals. Getting Ja back is definitely a huge benefit for the Grizzlies given the awful start they've had to the season. The Grizzlies recently waived Kenneth Lofton Jr to able to to keep Bismack Biyombo as Ja Morant has now made his return. The Grizzlies are still waiting to get bodies back like Marcus Smart who has missed the last fifteen games due to a foot injury and Luke Kennard who has also missed the last fifteen games but due to a knee injury. With Ja back, the goal now for the Grizzlies is to get themselves out of the hole they are currently in and get back in the playoff/play-in picture.