Memphis, Tennessee, March 1 (BUS): Ja Morant threw a massive throw at 7-foot-tall Jacob Boeltel and scored a career high of 52 points, lifting the Memphis Grizzlies over the San Antonio Spurs 118-105 Monday night.
The arena was still rife with Morant’s quick shock late in the second quarter when Stephen Adams handed a long pass from the field to Morant, who picked it up in the air and flipped in strikes from the left baseline for a 68-58 lead at halftime, according to the Associated Press.
Morant also hit a triple pointer near the logo with the shot clock running downward, making plenty of highlights from an unforgettable night.
“It should be the 50 points,” Morant said when asked about what’s memorable, adding, “I’m grateful to my teammates, and my coach. They believe in me and have all the confidence in the world that I’m going to make the right plays.”
Morant added 13 consecutive points during the fourth quarter to break the game open, continuing his run with a best 46 points in Saturday’s win over Chicago by tying 22 of 30 from the field. He hit all four of his 3-point attempts as Memphis won second in a row.
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Diantoni Melton added 15 points for Memphis, while Teos Jones scored 13.
Morant’s performance was the first 50-point game in the history of the Grizzlies franchise. He said his teammates started feeding him the ball in the fourth quarter when a 50-point goal was in sight.
“He’s on the edge every night, but the way he put it together tonight, he’s been in attack mode from jumping in,” Milton said. “He got everything he wanted, and it looked so easy there. It was great being there and watching that.”
Lonely Walker led 4 Tottenham with 22 points, and Dejaunt Murray added 21 points and eight assists before he was sent off at the end of the fourth quarter. Boeltel finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Tottenham’s loss to manager Greg Popovich left them one game short of tying Don Nelson in the most regular season win by an NBA coach.
“He’s a beautiful player,” Popovic said of Morant. “What else can you say about him? Not only is he an athlete. Everyone says, ‘He’s an athlete.’ Someone says, ‘He’s a freak,’ because he’s so fast. … but he makes decisions. He knows what’s going on in court.
“So you can combine that brain part of his game with his athletic style and you’ll have a special kid.”
The Grizzlies built the lead to 13 early from fourth, their biggest lead of the game at that point, but Spurs were within 104-99 near halfway from fourth. That’s when Morant scored 13 in a row.
Hints
Tottenham: J-Doug McDermott, listed as a suspect with pre-match right knee pain, was available and finished with 14 points and five assists. …San Antonio went 4-4 on her annual Rodeo Road trip. Walker came off the bench and scored 11 points in six minutes of the first quarter. Boeltel and Keldon Johnson, who sat Saturday in front of the Heat with a sore lower back, returned to the squad.
Grizzlies: F Brandon Clarke, listed as suspect with a scrape in the left eye, was available. … won five times in a row over San Antonio. … Adams has 14 followers. … Morant’s 22 field goals was also a franchise record.
the pass
Morant said the pass from Adams that led to the 19-foot basket in the second half of the first half was “something I probably won’t be able to do again.” But he added that if Adams is the quarterback for this type of throw, there is little to no wide receiver in Morant’s ability.
“I’m just a red-zone guy,” Morant said. “Way fade away. jump ball.”
The last word
Milton was in awe of many things about Morant’s performance, but the dunk over the 7-foot-tall Poeltl captured most of his praise.
“That immersion was insane,” Milton said. “The way he did, staring at him and dunking in.”
next one
Tottenham: Sacramento entertainment on Thursday
Grizzlies: Fly to Boston to face the Celtics on Thursday.