Ja Morant on Monday returned from a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, scoring 18 points and adding 10 assists in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 114-106 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
In his post-game comments, Morant added little response to the friction that boiled over for him and the franchise at the weekend. Many of his answers were short and involved the theme of following the organization’s statement when the suspension was announced.
“Y’all asked that question of them, huh?” he said. “So y’all know the answer to that.”
Photo: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
There were few details about the disagreement between the organization and its star guard. The team-imposed punishment was issued based on actions by Morant, the team’s leading scorer, in Memphis’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday last week. Morant served the suspension on Sunday during a loss at Toronto.
Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo avoided details of the disagreement with Morant before Monday’s game, saying it was “an internal matter” and would not be discussed in public.
“We had a discussion, and we’re all looking to move forward and beat the Pistons,” said Iisalo, who is in his first full year as Grizzlies coach.
Photo: AP
He took over on an interim basis late last season after the organization fired Taylor Jenkins.
Morant was in the Grizzlies’ locker room before the game, but ignored reporters’ questions before getting dressed for warmups and leaving without saying a word.
Morant, who had only eight points in Friday’s loss, seemed disengaged during the second half and was less aggressive throughout. Normally one of the league’s best finishers in the paint, Morant settled for jumpers, attempting almost as many three-pointers as he did shots in the lane.
Photo: AFP
Morant answered each question after that game with a variety of “go ask the coaching staff.”
At one point, he was asked what the team could do differently, replying: “According to them, probably don’t play me, honestly. That’s what basically the message was after. It’s cool.”
With Morant struggling, the Grizzlies let a 69-55 halftime lead evaporate quickly in the second half.
There was little advancement in Morant’s comments after Monday’s loss compared to Friday. He continued to refer back to the organization’s statement.
“Obviously, they can’t go and tell y’all something I ain’t said,” Morant replied to a question, later adding: “If I didn’t have a good relationship with [them], I wouldn’t talk to them at all.”
In Indianapolis, Indiana, Giannis Antetokounmpo made a 17-foot buzzer-beating jumper to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 117-115 victory over the short-handed Indiana Pacers.
Antetokounmpo had 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists on a night he went 14 of 21 from the field.
Kyle Kuzma added 15 points to help the Bucks win for the third time in four games, taking the first of four scheduled matchups against a Central Division rival they have faced 22 times since the start of the 2023-2024 season.
This time, though, longtime Pacers center Myles Turner was dressed in a Bucks jersey after signing a free-agent deal in July. Fans serenaded him with boos all night, starting with a pregame video tribute that played even before player introductions.
Turner had nine points, seven rebounds and five blocks while connecting on three of seven shots and scoring only two points in the second half, a short, tiebreaking basket with 2 minutes, 22 seconds left.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 32 points and eight assists.
Turner’s replacement, Isaiah Jackson, had 21 points and 10 rebounds. It was Jackson’s highest scoring total since a 26-point game in January 2022.
Indiana eliminated Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two years and this one had the same kind of feel, with the score close throughout.
It looked the Pacers might steal another one when they charged back from an 11-point deficit with 6:08 to go, finally tying it on Aaron Nesmith’s driving layup with 14.6 seconds left.
After calling a timeout, Milwaukee inbounded the ball to Antetokounmpo, who never gave it up before hitting the winner.
Elsewhere, the Timberwolves trounced the Nets 125-109, the Knicks mastered the Wizards 119-102, the Nuggets dethroned the Kings 130-124, the Jazz edged the Celtics 105-103, the Rockets downed the Mavericks 110-102, the Lakers beat the Trail Blazers 123-115 and the Heat defeated the Clippers 120-119.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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