I Morant’s return plagued by stray bullets and clumsiness
After more than a month and ten games missed due to a calf injury, I Morant finally found a word against Jazz. An expected but difficult return for the two-time All-Star. In the first half, the leader struggled to find the right pace: at the break he scored only seven points, on a modest 2/9 shooting.
Returning from the dressing room, Ja Morant clearly raises his voice. He scored eight straight points, including a great turnaround against Lauri Markkanen and hero of the night Keyonte George, and then began to impose his rhythm. Despite this increase in power, his coach Tuomas Iisalo then took him out of the match. And Ja Morant reappears only at the beginning of the last quarter.
The fourth act, however, will be more strenuous. Ja Morant keeps losing turnovers, forcing shots and missing key moments. He missed a layup in the final minute that could have tied the game for the Grizzlies, then, seconds later, missed a 3-pointer that could have given Memphis the win.
A more complicated fourth quarter for Ja Morant, who multiplies ball losses and missed shots. In the final minute, he missed a layup that could have allowed the Grizzlies to tie the game, then seconds later missed a shot from behind the arc that could have given his team the win.
In his return, he still finished with a double-double (21 points, 10 assists), but with limited skill (7/20) and four turnovers. Above all, he could not prevent the defeat of his people, beaten 126-130.
Errors that need to be corrected
“I had to try a few shots”assures Ja Morant. “For some, I should have gone to the line. I hit a few and missed others. I can’t change anything, so I’ll manage.”
In addition to the results, Ja Morant particularly emphasized the collective attitude, which is considered too gentle. Memphis dominated in rebounds (58 shots for the Jazz, 49 for the Grizzlies) and could not contain the shot from Utah’s bench.
And if the playmaker had a good third quarter, his good sequence was overshadowed by an inspired Kevin Love: at 37, he single-handedly sparked a 9-0 run at the end of the period, putting the Jazz back six points ahead.
“We should have won”assures the spirit. “We were soft. They beat us on the rebound and we let their bench guys take over the game. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to help my interior get rebounds. I’ve got to take care of the ball, make better decisions and get my shots. I’m going to fix my mistakes and we’re going to fix ours together.”
Memphis will have a chance to respond on Monday when they travel to Los Angeles to face the struggling Clippers this season, having already lost to the Grizzlies in late November.
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| I Morant | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | MEM | 67 | 30:57 | 47.7 | 33.5 | 77.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 17.8 |
| 2020-21 | MEM | 63 | 10:35 p.m | 44.9 | 30.3 | 72.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2021-22 | MEM | 57 | 33:08 | 49.3 | 34.4 | 76.1 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 27.4 |
| 2022-23 | MEM | 61 | 31:56 | 46.6 | 30.7 | 74.8 | 1.0 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 26.2 |
| 2023-24 | MEM | 9 | 35:20 | 47.1 | 27.5 | 81.3 | 0.7 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 8.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 25.1 |
| 2024-25 | MEM | 50 | 30:23 | 45.4 | 30.9 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 23.2 |
| 2025-26 | MEM | 12 | 28:45 | 35.9 | 16.7 | 94.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 0.1 | 17.9 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2025-12-13 08:30:00
