Ja Morant returns, scores 22 to lead Grizzlies past Blazers

Ja Morant returned to the lineup after missing eight games with a right hip injury and scored 22 points with 11 assists to lead the host Memphis Grizzlies to a 123-98 victory Monday night over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points, six rebounds and three blocks, Santi Aldama posted a double-double of 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds and Brandon Clarke contributed 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Grizzlies, who won their third straight and seventh in the last 10 games.

Deni Avdija paced Portland with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Shaedon Sharpe scored 15, but Anfernee Simons, who led the Trail Blazers with 25 points in Saturday's win over Houston, was 2-for-14 shooting and finished with only five points. Portland was limited to 33.3 percent shooting and made only eight of its 46 3-pointers.

Morant was hurt in the Grizzlies' Nov. 6 home win against the Los Angeles Lakers, but, from the outset Monday, he played as if he hadn't missed any time. He scored or assisted on six of the team's first seven field goals as the Grizzlies built an early double-digit lead. He also dished behind-the-back assists and threw down a windmill dunk on a fastbreak off an assist from Scotty Pippen Jr. in the opening minutes.

At the half, Morant was the only player on either team in double figures. He had 20 points and six assists. Memphis shot 49 percent in the opening half, including 53.3 percent from beyond the arc. Portland struggled in the first two quarters shooting 36 percent and making only three of 20 shots from 3-point range.

The Grizzlies, who never trailed in the game, boosted their advantage to 27 points early in the fourth quarter following a driving left-handed dunk from Jackson. Memphis won its second consecutive game in wire-to-wire fashion for the first time since November 2022.

The victory was the second lopsided win against the Trail Blazers this season. Memphis defeated Portland, 134-89, Nov. 10 in Portland without Morant.

Portland played short-handed. Donovan Clingan, who had 19 rebounds in the Trail Blazers' 104-98 win over Houston Saturday, did not play because of a left knee injury he sustained in that victory. Portland also was missing several other key players, including DeAndre Ayton, Scoot Henderson and Kris Murray. Ayton missed his seventh straight game with a right finger sprain.

Marcus Smart returned for the Grizzlies after missing the past four games with an illness. He came in off the bench in the opening quarter, his first time playing as a reserve since March 16, 2021.

--Field Level Media