Ja Morant Shines Through Injury as Grizzlies Storm Past Mavericks to Clinch Playoff Spot
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With the playoffs on the line and a sprained right ankle threatening to sideline him, Ja Morant delivered a clutch performance, dropping 22 points and dishing out nine assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a commanding 120-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
Morant wasn’t alone in the charge. Jaren Jackson Jr. powered in 24 points, while Desmond Bane matched Morant with 22 of his own, helping the Grizzlies hold off multiple Dallas comeback attempts in a fiery second half.
The win seals the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference for Memphis, setting the stage for a high-stakes first-round battle against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The series kicks off Sunday on the Thunder's home court.
However, Memphis enters the matchup as the clear underdogs, having lost nine straight to OKC with an average margin of 16.9 points—including four double-digit losses this season.
Despite the odds, the Grizzlies are fueled by grit, determination, and a fearless leader in Morant. If Friday’s game is any indication, they won’t go down without a fight.
Anthony Davis poured in 40 points and 9 rebounds for the Mavericks but exited late in the game with a right calf injury. Though he returned briefly, he didn’t finish. Klay Thompson chipped in with 18 points.
Meanwhile, Ja Morant, battling a sprained right ankle, put on a show. After receiving pain-relieving injections Thursday and again on game day, Morant exploded for 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals—including a soaring one-handed dunk that had teammate Desmond Bane shouting, “Showtime!”
Listed as questionable just hours before tip-off, Morant was a game-time decision after rolling his ankle Tuesday night against Golden State. Despite visible limping at times, he played 33 determined minutes, helping Memphis to a wire-to-wire victory.
With the win, the Grizzlies lock in the 8-seed and prepare to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
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