NBA: Morant likely to be game-time decision for Grizzlies

LOS ANGELES — Memphis guard Ja Morant has bruised his already-injured right hand and his status for Wednesday's NBA playoff contest will be a "game-time decision," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Tuesday.

An MRI exam showed the soft-tissue injury was aggravated by Morant late in the fourth quarter of the Grizzlies' 128-112 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Sunday's opener of their first-round best-of-seven series.

"Symptoms are slightly improving from the other night," Jenkins said. "He's going to be a game-time decision."

Morant, whose hand was already taped after being injured the week before, leaped into the air driving to the basket against Lakers big man Anthony Davis and after their collision fell awkwardly, injuring his hand.

Morant rose, grabbed his hand and ran off the court to the locker room.

Morant dribbled and took some shots with his right hand during a Tuesday workout, but the practice offered no clear answers on Morant's availability for the rematch with the Lakers.

"He's progressing," Jenkins said. "He is dribbling and shooting as much as he can.

"He has got some pain he's dealing with, so it's kind of a tolerance thing. He has got some stiffness in his hand that he's kind of slowly getting through."

Morant said after the game that his ability to play in game two was "in jeopardy" with Jenkins saying x-rays were negative but Morant was in pain.

Morant scored 18 points against the Lakers before his early exit.

Agence France-Presse

Ja, dominant Grizzlies cruise past Magic

Ja Morant had 25 points and 7 assists, Desmond Bane scored 24 points and the host Memphis Grizzlies completed a season sweep of the Orlando Magic with a 124-96 victory on Saturday night.

Memphis shot 50 percent in the 1st half, highlighted by an 11-for-20 effort from 3-point range as Morant and reserve guard Tyus Jones each had 3 triples, en route to a commanding 68-45 halftime lead. The Grizzlies pulled ahead by 32 points in the 4th quarter as the Magic lost in Memphis for the 17th time in 21 overall meetings.

Morant played 28 minutes and went 9-for-17, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc. Jones finished with 14 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. converted 9 of 11 free throws and scored 13 points for Memphis, which also defeated Orlando 135-115 on February 5.

Saturday's rematch saw the Grizzlies shoot 50 percent from the floor and 14 for 34 (41 percent) from long range. Brandon Clarke contributed 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals and Kyle Anderson, who was questionable because of left foot soreness, scored 7 of his 9 points in the 1st quarter.

The Magic, who fell to 2-12 playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back, were led by Cole Anthony's 19 points and Franz Wagner's 15 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Mo Wagner totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench after missing 9 consecutive games with a left rib contusion.

Ignas Brazdeikis scored 12 points, Mo Bamba had 10 points and Markelle Fultz came off the bench for six points and three assists in his third game of the season.

Orlando was without starters Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. Suggs did not play after spraining his right ankle late in the fourth quarter of Orlando's 103-97 win at Toronto on Friday, while Carter was out for the second straight game due to a non-COVID illness.

Franz Wagner, Chuma Okeke, R.J. Hampton, Anthony and Bamba made up Orlando's starting unit for the second time this season. The Magic trailed 31-29 after the first quarter, but Memphis outscored Orlando 37-16 in the second stanza highlighted by a Ziaire Williams one-handed dunk in transition off Morant's alley-oop pass.

-reuters

NBA: Lakers get by Grizzlies to avoid 0-3 start

Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points off the bench to help lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 121-118 win against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday evening.

Anthony Davis had 22 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, LeBron James finished with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Russell Westbrook had 13 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, who avoided starting 0-3 for the second time in four years.

Ja Morant had 40 points and 10 assists, Desmond Bane scored 17 points and Steven Adams contributed 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who were trying to start 3-0.

Morant had a chance to tie the score with 1.9 seconds left after getting fouled on a desperation 3-point attempt. He made the first two free throws, but missed the third.

Anthony grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He sank both free throws to seal the win. Anthony, who went 6-for-8 from 3-point range, passed Moses Malone for ninth all-time in NBA scoring.

Anthony made a high-arcing 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 97-94 lead with 9:03 left in the game. He was left alone on the next possession and made a wide-open 3-pointer to make it 100-94 with 8:22 remaining.

Morant and James traded 3s before Malik Monk made a 3 for a 106-97 lead with 7:03 to go.

The Lakers had a chance to extend the lead back to double figures, but Monk missed a driving layup with 6:26 left and Melton capped a 5-0 run with a 3-pointer to cut the lead back to 106-102 with 5:37 left.

Both teams held double-digit leads in the first half before the game stayed tight in the third quarter. The Grizzlies eventually took a 90-87 lead into the fourth.

The Lakers fell behind by 10 points five minutes into the game, but found their touch with help from Anthony, who replaced starting center DeAndre Jordan and scored the final five points in a 7-0 run to close the opening quarter and give the Lakers a 29-24 lead.

Anthony then sank a 3-pointer on the first possession of the second quarter to extend the Lakers' run to 10-0 and give them a 32-24 lead.

-reuters

NBA: Grizzlies win 2nd straight to open season, defeat Clippers

Ja Morant took his high-flying act on the road, as the visiting Memphis Grizzlies ran past the host Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 on Saturday night.

Morant finished with 28 points and eight assists as the Grizzlies improved to 2-0 this season. The Clippers dropped to 0-2 in losing their home opener.

De'Anthony Melton added 22 points and seven rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 21 points and seven rebounds. Steven Adams posted 17 points and nine board.

All five starters finished in double figures for the Grizzlies, rounded out by 19 points from Desmond Bane.

Paul George paced the Clippers with game highs of 41 points and 10 rebounds, and he added four assists.

Reggie Jackson got back on track after finishing with just 11 points, none in the first half, in the Clippers' season-opening loss at Golden State Warriors. Jackson totaled 17 against the Grizzlies.

Eric Bledsoe finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Luke Kennard added 10 points off the bench. The Clippers shot just 43.4 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line.

Los Angeles took a 34-25 lead in the opening quarter on the strength of 10 points by George. The Clippers shot 6-of-12 from the 3-point line and finished the first quarter on a 10-0 run.

Los Angeles led by as many as 13 in the second quarter, but Memphis cut the deficit to 62-59 at halftime.

Memphis took its first lead since the first quarter on a Morant drive in transition, giving his team a 68-66 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter. The Grizzlies extended that lead to 16 points, but the Clippers finished the quarter on a 14-6 run, cutting the Grizzlies' lead to 97-89 at the end of the third.

Los Angeles would get within two points with under a minute left in the fourth quarter on driving George lay-in, but the Grizzlies closed it out with a Jaren Jackson 3-pointer from the wing.

The Clippers finish their homestand with games against Portland and Cleveland. Memphis continues a four-game road trip out West with games against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors.

-reuters-