After missing eight games with a hip injury, Ja Morant officially returned to the court Monday night in Memphis.
The Grizzlies point guard looked back to his old self almost immediately.
Morant dropped 22 points with 11 assists to lead the Grizzlies to a dominant 123-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at FedExForum. Morant threw behind-the-back passes, and even though it was a dunk attempt that got him out of the game last time, he didn’t hesitate to make a massive one-handed jam.
Morant, a two-time All-Star, has missed the Grizzlies’ last eight games with a hip injury. He first suffered the injury in the fall on November 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers and was initially listed as week-to-week. He tried to finish an alley-oop against the Lakers, but it shot over the rim and landed awkwardly on the side.
Morant suffered a posterior hip subluxation without dislocation, which allowed for a quicker return despite what was scary. The injury marks a setback for Morant after he missed all but nine games last season due to suspension and injury. Fortunately for Morant and the Grizzlies, the injury did not lead to an extended absence.
In the eight games prior to his absence, Morant averaged 20.6 points, 9.1 assists and five rebounds while shooting 44.8% from the field and 25.8% from 3-point range.
The Grizzlies led all the way on Monday night for a 25-point win. They opened the game with a 15-4 run and then easily built a 20-point lead just a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Jaren Jackson added 21 points and six rebounds and Jay Huff had 12 points off the bench. The Grizzlies are now 11-7 on the season with the win marking their third straight.
Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 15 points and Deni Avdija added 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench. The Trail Blazers shot just 8 of 46 from beyond the arc as a team. They have now lost three of their last four and are 7-11 on the year.
Morant and the Grizzlies will host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.