What Ja Morant said after Grizzlies' loss to Hawks about final play

The Grizzlies’ first game back in Memphis after their two-game trip to Europe came down to what happened after the final buzzer sounded.

Ja Morant got off a step-back 3-point attempt that would have won the game Jan. 21, but the shot bounced off the rim. The Grizzlies fell to the Atlanta Hawks 124-122 in Morant’s first action at FedExForum since news broke on Jan. 9 that the team would consider trade offers for him.

It was an eventful game. Morant had 23 points and 12 assists. But he turned the ball over five times, something he said after the game was responsible for the Grizzlies’ loss. He also got a technical foul after a first-half skirmish with Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye.

Here’s what Morant said after the game.

Ja Morant on the last play

“I don’t think that last play is the reason we lost the game. It is what it is. I had a lot of turnovers that put us in that position. It’s a lot of other things we could’ve changed. If you want to talk about that possession, I could’ve let Jaylen (Wells) drive it up, we could’ve called timeout, I could’ve passed the ball, I could’ve found a better shot, but we’re on the other side of it. So it’s over.”

Ja Morant on what other issues led to the loss

“My turnovers.”

On what the Grizzlies communicated to him about the news that they would consider trade offers for him

“I’m sorry y’all that wasn’t able to come to London, but I’m done with those questions.”

On his two chase-down blocks

“I dunked twice, too. I know what I can do. Every dunk that I could’ve done when I was a rookie, I still can do. Easy. It’s if I want to jump that high or not.”

On why the Grizzlies have struggled to hold on to leads

“Basketball is a game of runs. You’ve just got to stay locked in for a full 48 minutes and play your style of basketball.”

On deciding to push the pace on the final possession

“Time and score, feel of the game . . . We were hoping they would shoot a little bit ahead of the late shot clock, and I mean me in the open floor is kind of where I excel. That’s just tough. But other than that, it’s just feel of the game. It’s what we wanted, it didn’t turn out how we wanted. We can’t be mad at ourselves for that. There was a lot more stuff we could’ve done as a team and me individually that could’ve won this game and we wouldn’t have even been in that position.”

On if he appreciated the reception from the Grizzlies fans

“I always do.”

Ja Morant on if something was said before the technical foul

“Nah, I just felt like I was kind of in a mini little headlock. And guys just be talking sometimes. I ain’t mind. Like I still have to see him every time. If it was something that serious, he would’ve did something again at the jump ball, probably would’ve come in the locker room or something. I don’t be worried about it.”

On the play after, where he got matched up with Gueye and drew a foul

“You got to see me again. Once I got the ball and I looked at who was in front of me, I think everybody in the arena knew that it was iso. My teammates spread the floor and just allowed me to get to my spot. Should’ve been an and-1, but I’m grateful to go to the line and knock ’em down.”

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What Ja Morant said after Grizzlies’ loss to Hawks

What Ja Morant said after Grizzlies’ loss to Hawks about final play

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