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Memphis star Ja Morant made a sparkling return from injury Sunday, scoring 24 points and handing out 13 assists to lead the Grizzlies to a 126-109 NBA victory over the Orlando Magic in London.<\/p>\n
Morant, who clashed with the Grizzlies coaching staff early this season and found himself the subject of trade speculation this month as he nursed a calf injury, set all that aside in the showcase game at the O2 Arena.<\/p>\n
“It felt good,” he said of stepping back on court. “Especially to be able to do this — first time playing a real overseas game … I needed it.”<\/p>\n
Excitement was high for league’s 10th regular-season game in London, and the first since 2019, although transatlantic tensions flared when a lone heckler yelled “Leave Greenland Alone” during Vanessa Williams’s pre-game performance of the US national anthem in a dig at President Donald Trump’s plan to seize control of the autonomous Danish territory.<\/p>\n
The Grizzlies led by as many as 33 points, seizing control with 40 points in the first quarter.<\/p>\n
Memphis has lately made a habit of letting double-digit leads get away, including squandering a 20-point first-half advantage in a loss to Orlando in Berlin on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said Morant’s energy was a key to preventing the Magic a similar comeback on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“His speed, his intensity, his energy level, when he gets on the court he’s a tough guard,” Mosley said. “He’s a lightning bolt getting downhill.”<\/p>\n
Morant made his presence felt early, scoring 20 points and handing out 10 assists in the first half.<\/p>\n