Ja Morant’s highly anticipated return against his former squad, the Memphis Grizzlies, ended in a total disaster for him and the Portland Trail Blazers. What was supposed to be a “revenge game” or at least a big moment for Morant, turned into a brutal 124-103 loss for Portland, and worse, Morant left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.
Grizzlies Prove They’re No Rebuilding Project
Memphis absolutely stomped the Blazers, staying undefeated at a stunning 5-0 to kick off the season. This was Portland’s first loss, but honestly, you wouldn’t know it from how Memphis played. Everyone thought the Grizzlies were in rebuild mode this year, especially after Morant’s trade, but their 5-0 start screams “playoff bound,” not “rebuilding.” This team is one of the youngest in the entire league, and they’re already looking like a problem.
The standout performance came from rookie Cam Boozer, the No. 4 overall pick, who notched his first career triple-double. The kid put up 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, showing exactly why Memphis snatched him up. Cedric Coward added 17 points, 8 boards, and 4 assists, with Zach Edey chipping in 13 points and 7 rebounds. This young Grizzlies squad is for real.
Morant’s Bittersweet Return and Blazers’ Mixed Bag
Morant’s seven seasons in Memphis made him a franchise icon, but things got rocky in his final year, leading to his trade over the summer. Before the game, he played it cool, calling it “just another basketball game on the schedule.” He even said, “Nothing harsh from me for Memphis. At all.” But you know deep down, he wanted that win more than anything. Instead, he got 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists before the hamstring sidelined him. Ouch.
Damian Lillard also struggled, putting up just 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Not the kind of performance you want from your star guard in a game like this. The one bright spot for Portland was Deni Avdija, who’s been looking to establish himself this season and kept it going with a strong 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, even in the loss. The Blazers have had a strong start to the year overall, but this one definitely stings.
What’s next? Morant will get another shot at his old team when the Blazers face the Grizzlies again in February. That one’s slated as his “homecoming game,” and after this performance, you can bet he’ll be looking for some real revenge.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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