Ja Morant

The Los Angeles Lakers earned their first win of the season, topping the Memphis Grizzlies 121-118 at home on Sunday night.

Carmelo Anthony led the way with 28 points off the bench as Los Angeles improved to 1-2. Anthony also passed Moses Malone for ninth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

Anthony Davis added 22 points and eight rebounds while LeBron James had 19 points.

Ja Morant had 40 points and 10 assists in the loss. He had a chance to force overtime but missed the last of three free throws with 1.9 seconds left in the game as Memphis fell to 2-1 this season.

Notable Player Stats

F Carmelo Anthony, LAL: 28 points

F Anthony Davis, LAL: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks

F LeBron James, LAL: 19 points (7-of-19 shooting)

G Russell Westbrook, LAL: 13 points, 13 assists

G Ja Morant:, MEM 40 points, 10 assists

C Steven Adams, MEM: 14 points, 16 rebounds

Carmelo Anthony Turns Back the Clock for Los Angeles

With LeBron James and the rest of the Los Angeles starters having an off night shooting-wise, it was Carmelo Anthony who shouldered most of the scoring load for the Lakers.

Anthony was a spark plug off the bench, with his 28 points coming in 28 minutes on 10-of-15 from the field and 6-of-8 from deep in a vintage performance. 

When he signed with Los Angeles this offseason, Anthony was expected to provide a veteran presence and help the team compete for a championship. His hot-shooting performance Sunday came as a surprise.

Anthony leading the Lakers in scoring might be an anomaly, but his performance is still vital to the team's success. If Anthony can continue to shoot efficiently in his time off the bench, it would give the Lakers a reliable scorer who can take the pressure off the starters. 

Ja Morant Continues Torrid Start

Despite the loss, Memphis can take solace in the fact that Ja Morant's start to the season is no fluke. Morant has now had three straight games with at least 28 points and he has shot over 50 percent from the field in each of them.

The Lakers had no answer for Morant, who had it going from the outside and made some highlights at the rim. He went 5-for-7 from three-point range Sunday.

Morant is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA, and Sunday's performance was further proof of that. After back-to-back strong games against the Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, Morant has proved that he can go toe-to-toe the best players in the league.

Consistency is key for Morant, who has had poor shooting performances throughout his first two seasons in the league. If he can continue to score with efficiency while distributing to his teammates, Morant could reach an All-Star level this year.

Memphis is hoping to take the next step this season after losing in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. With Morant leading the way, the Grizzlies could be a surprise team to make a postseason run this year.

What's Next?

The Lakers will look to keep the momentum going when they travel to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. The Grizzlies will get a couple of days of rest and will return to action in a road matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Grizzlies star Ja Morant all but confirmed he will sign an extension next summer to stay in Memphis. 

The guard told The Athletic's Joe Vardon that he indicated he has no intention of leaving the Grizzlies when he's eligible for a rookie extension following the 2021-22 season.

“Me, I’m not a big fan on the leaving,” the 22-year-old said.

He added: "As long as I'm here, I'm here; that's my focus. Regardless, I'm going to make the best of any situation, continue to just go out with my teammates, win games, play in front of our fans and do whatever I can to continue to bring love."

Like many stars in the NBA, Morant could opt to join a Big Three like the ones with the Los Angeles Lakers or Brooklyn Nets. However, the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year said he feels the Grizzlies already have enough in place to contend in the Western Conference.

"I feel like the talent was always there. We just have to piece it together, and a lot of credit goes to our front office and our coaching staff giving us the right pieces to be good as soon as we started," Morant said.

Whether Morant is right on that remains to be seen. It's hard to imagine the Grizzlies competing with the likes of the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz for one of the top spots in the West.

Still, the Grizzles are buoyed by Morant, who has emerged as one of the NBA's best young players. He opened up the 2021-22 season in dominant fashion against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, notching 37 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 132-121 win, leading all players in scoring.

The Murray State product averaged 19.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game last season while shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from deep.

Morant is in the same elite category as Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, who both received five-year, $207 million rookie max extensions in August.

The South Carolina native is eligible for a five-year, $181 million rookie max extension this summer. Other players eligible for the same extension include New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson and New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett.   

Morant has led the Grizzlies in scoring in each of his last two seasons, so it would be no surprise if Memphis is ready to cough up the cash to keep its franchise cornerstone.  

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant powered his team to a 132-121 season-opening victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

During his 37-point performance, the home crowd chanted "MVP!" and he said afterward he was "almost shook" and that "they almost made me miss my free throws."

Morant scored 20 of his 37 points in the first half. He shot 17-of-29 from the field and added six rebounds, six assists and two blocks in the victory. He also managed to shake off his excitement over the MVP chants to make both of his free throws with 37.3 left in the fourth quarter to put Memphis up 130-118.

Morant was active on the defensive end and made highlights on the fast break:

Desmond Bane added 22 points, and De'Anthony Melton scored 20.

The Grizzlies led by as many as 16 in the first half, but the Cavaliers wouldn't go down easily. Morant and Melton were clutch down the stretch, combining for 14 points late as the Cavaliers got the lead down to one point on a couple of occasions.

Last season, Morant led the Grizzlies to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Memphis fell to the Utah Jazz in five games, but with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks (once he's back from a left hand fracture), Bane and Melton, the Grizzlies have a young core in place to make another run to the playoffs.

If you're wondering what Morant's MVP odds are, he opened the season on DraftKings at +4500.

Memphis will have a couple of days of rest before its second game of the season Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It's safe to say that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was not a fan of the officials' decision to eject Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic in the third quarter of Sunday's game between the MVP's team and the Phoenix Suns.

Morant called the league "soft" while suggesting Jokic should have been assessed a flagrant one instead.

He wasn't the only one who questioned the call:

While Denver's role players put up a fight down the stretch, it ultimately fell short in the 125-118 loss. Phoenix completed the sweep with Chris Paul and Devin Booker leading the way, and the Nuggets didn't have their go-to option to answer the Suns' backcourt down the stretch.

Denver likely would have lost even with Jokic on the floor considering it trailed by eight when he was ejected and was outplayed throughout the series, but the decision to throw him out left some of the league's brightest young stars confused.

Despite eliminating his son's team on Wednesday night, Tee Morant is pulling for the Utah Jazz to win the NBA championship. 

Speaking to Donovan Mitchell on the court after Utah's 126-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5, Morant expressed his appreciation for how the organization responded after fans made racist and vulgar comments toward his family during a game earlier in the series:

The Jazz announced on May 28 that three fans have been banned from attending events at Vivint Arena for their actions during Game 2 of the Western Conference playoff series against Memphis. 

Grizzlies star Ja Morant tweeted that his "family should be able cheer for me & my teammates without getting inappropriate s--t said to them."

Tee Morant told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that the fans' comments went "beyond heckling" and were "too far out of line."

Tee explained one fan made sexually explicit comments toward his wife, and another said he would "put a nickel in your back and watch you dance, boy."

Prior to Game 5, MacMahon and Malika Andrews reported Jazz owner Ryan Smith provided Ja's family and friends complimentary courtside tickets, hotel lodgings and car service to the arena. 

Tee told MacMahon and Andrews that his wife, Jamie, didn't attend the game because "her anxiety couldn't take it" following what happened in Game 2. 

The Jazz advanced to the second round of the playoffs with their win on Wednesday night. They will take on the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Dallas Mavericks series. 

The Utah Jazz won a playoff series for the first time since 2018.

Utah defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110 in commanding fashion in Wednesday's Game 5 of their first-round playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic led the way for the victors, who won four straight contests in the series after dropping Game 1 at home.

Solid showings from Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas weren't enough for the Grizzlies, who still have a bright future despite their early exit this season.

Notable Player Stats

• Donovan Mitchell, G, UTA: 30 PTS, 10 AST, 6 REB
• Rudy Gobert, C, UTA: 23 PTS, 15 REB, 3 BLK
• Jordan Clarkson, G, UTA: 24 PTS, 3 AST, 2 STL
• Bojan Bogdanovic, F, UTA: 17 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL
• Ja Morant, G, MEM: 27 PTS, 11 AST, 7 REB
• Dillon Brooks, G, MEM: 27 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST

Donovan Mitchell, Jazz Dominant from the Start

Nobody had a better record during the regular season than the Jazz, and anything short of a championship would be a disappointment after such an effort. Closeout contests at home are the type of games championship contenders win, so Utah had an opportunity to make a statement.

It wasted absolutely no time making that statement.

The Jazz poured in 47 points in the first quarter alone behind a blistering 9-of-15 shooting from three-point range with Mitchell, Bogdanovic, Royce O'Neale and Mike Conley all finding their stroke from outside. Throw in Gobert controlling the boards and Clarkson scoring, and the game seemed over from the start.

Yet it was Mitchell who stood out the most, as he set the tone from the opening tip by aggressively attacking the basket and challenging Brooks. Just for good measure, he drilled two triples in the final minute of the half to electrify the crowd and put a stamp on a dominant 24 minutes.

He was also a willing facilitator when the Grizzlies collapsed on him, which is a championship formula for Utah. If he plays like he did Wednesday, and the supporting cast is knocking down shots from the outside, any team will have difficulty stopping the Western Conference's top seed.

The only thing that could damper the evening was injuries, and that happened when Conley was ruled out with right hamstring soreness. The silver lining is he will have additional time to heal thanks to the quick five-game victory, which made closing the series out in such convincing fashion all the more important.

As long as Conley is alright, the version of the Jazz on display in this game with Mitchell proving unstoppable and the secondary options hitting shots can win the title.

Memphis' Fight Comes to an End

It's not often a team trailing a series 3-1 through four games actually surpassed expectations, but that was the case for the Grizzlies.

After all, they took games to the wire as the No. 8 seed, stole one on the road against a Jazz squad that was 31-5 at home and have one of the league's brightest young stars in Morant leading the way.

Unfortunately for Memphis, Wednesday felt like the end of the road from the start with Utah completely dialed in on the offensive end. It wasn't for a lack of trying from the primary playmakers, though, as Morant did what he's done all series by slashing through the lane and facilitating.

Valanciunas extended his game beyond the arc, and Brooks remained in attack mode and didn't hesitate to shoot from the outside when opportunities presented themselves.

That trio didn't have nearly enough firepower around it to keep up with the potent Jazz, especially since the Grizzlies were in comeback mode throughout the game. Perhaps no team in the NBA would have defeated this version of Utah, and Memphis not receiving more than six points from anyone outside of Morant, Brooks, Valanciunas and Jaren Jackson Jr. meant it had no chance.

Still, the future is bright, and Morant and Brooks in particular proved they can hang with some of the league's best on a postseason stage.

What's Next?

Utah is headed to the second round, where it will face the winner of the series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks.

Ja Morant's father, Tee, and other members of his family will be in attendance at Vivint Arena for Wednesday's Game 5 between the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies thanks in part to Jazz governor Ryan Smith.

Tee Morant told Malika Andrews and Tim MacMahon of ESPN that Smith provided tickets, lodging and car service for some of Morant's family and friends following an ugly incident during Game 2 of the series.

"It was a nice gesture from the Jazz," Tee Morant said. "It was unfortunate. It was just a few fans—most of them were great and cheering right alongside with us."

Andrews and MacMahon explained the Jazz banned three fans indefinitely after they targeted Morant's parents with racist and vulgar comments. Morant's mother, Jamie, will not attend Game 5.

Morant and Jazz star Donovan Mitchell took to Twitter after the game and commented on the incident:

It was one of many incidents involving fans that have marred the first round of the playoffs.

A fan in Philadelphia dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook, a fan in New York spit on Trae Young, a fan in Boston threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving and a fan ran on the court in Washington D.C during a game between the Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.

In terms of the actual basketball, the top-seeded Jazz lead the Grizzlies 3-1 following three straight wins after losing Game 1 at home.

Morant has been largely brilliant in the series despite the deficit and is averaging 31.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while going play-for-play with the team with the league's best record this season.

He will look to preserve Memphis' season on the road in Game 5 in front of some family members and friends.