Memphis star Ja Morant led the Grizzlies to a 126-109 NBA victory over the Orlando Magic in London, where the pre-game US national anthem was interrupted by a heckler yelling “leave Greenland alone.”<\/p>\n
On a sparkling return from injury, Morant scored 24 points and handed out 13 assists in the showcase clash 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 the league’s 10th regular-season game in London.<\/p>\n
But 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 protest at President Donald Trump’s plan to seize control of the autonomous Danish territory.<\/p>\n
Videos posted to social media that showed some cheering and applause following the incident quickly went viral.<\/p>\n
In the game itself, 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
Morant 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.<\/p>\n
Asked after the game about reports that the Grizzlies had made it known they would entertain trade offers for him, Morant indicated that he had no interest in leaving.<\/p>\n
– ‘A very loyal guy’ –<\/p>\n
“If anybody in here knows me, I’m a very loyal guy,” he said “I’ve got a logo on my back, so that should tell you exactly where I want to be.”<\/p>\n
Aussie Jock Landale scored 21 points off the bench for the Grizzlies, who had six players score in double figures. They connected on 52.7% of their shots of the field, including 13 three-pointers.<\/p>\n
The Magic, meanwhile, struggled to get their offense firing, Anthony Black leading their scoring with 19 points.<\/p>\n
In other NBA games on Sunday, Kevin Durant moved into sixth place in the NBA\u2019s all-time scoring rankings as the Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 119-110.<\/p>\n
Durant eclipsed former Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki in the list with a free throw in the fourth quarter that took him past Nowitzki\u2019s 31,560 points.<\/p>\n
“Means a lot,” Durant said afterwards. “Dirk is somebody I looked up to and competed against. I\u2019m grateful to be among the greats. And to do it here at home felt amazing.”<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the Charlotte Hornets (16-27) scored an upset 110-87 win over the depleted Denver Nuggets in Colorado.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brandon Miller led the Charlotte scorers with 23 points against a Denver lineup missing both the injured Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. Denver fell to 29-14 but remain third in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
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