The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday but find themselves mired in a three-game losing skid with an unhappy superstar.
Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant, who served a one-game suspension for comments directed to the Memphis coaching staff after Friday’s home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, returned to the court Monday and finished with 18 points and 10 assists in a 114-106 home loss to Detroit.
But Morant, addressing the issue after the game, seemed perturbed by the situation. He said he was having no joy playing basketball. Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo did not discuss the matter Monday, saying it was being handled internally.
Morant, in his seventh season with the Grizzlies, was somewhat vague when asked about the situation after Monday’s game with the Pistons.
When a reporter asked Morant in the locker room afterward if the matter had been resolved, he responded: “Yeah, they told y’all that, right? Obviously, they can’t go and tell y’all something I didn’t say.”
And he said his relationship with the franchise, despite the early issues, remains solid.
“If I didn’t have a good relationship with them, I wouldn’t talk to them at all,” he said.
Morant has struggled through injuries and league-issued suspensions since being named an NBA All-Star in 2022 and 2023. His two suspensions by the league — 33 games total — were from flashing guns on his social media account. He missed the first 25 games to start the 2023-24 season.
During his return Monday against the Pistons, Morant was instrumental in the Grizzlies mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter that fell short. Memphis trailed 99-86 midway through the period before Morant, along with Jaren Jackson Jr., spearheaded a rally that trimmed Detroit’s advantage to three points.
Rally highlights for Memphis included Morant’s dunk off a lob from Vince Williams Jr. that cut the deficit to 101-94 with 4:23 remaining, and Jackson’s three-point play made it 103-100 at the 3:09 mark.
The Grizzlies will need Morant to be engaged, as are they without reserve guards Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) and Ty Jerome (calf) because of injuries.
Houston, led by Kevin Durant and guard Amen Thompson, enters Wednesday on a four-game winning streak. The Rockets have outscored their opponents by an average of 20.3 points per contest during the streak.
Thompson has been impressive during the past three games, averaging 20.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists and shooting 55.8% (24 of 43) from the floor. He scored a season-high 27 points with five rebounds and four assists in the 110-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
“He’s done it all since he’s been here for three years: on the ball, pick-and-rolls, playing the corner, playing the dunker,” said Houston coach Ime Udoka. “And he’s really improved in all those areas.”
Udoka said Alperen Sengun, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds against Dallas, has aided Thompson’s stellar play.
“Alpe always seems to find him when he’s down (near the basket),” Udoka said.
Durant, an 18-year veteran and 15-time All-Star in his first season with the Rockets, is averaging a team-high 25.2 points per game in six outings.
