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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant shines after playing freely against the Bucks

The last two games did not make Ja Morant any more cautious.

No.

The Memphis Grizzlies star played like a player who had no conscience on Thursday night. But in a good way,

Morant drove to the basket with the ball in his left hand. Rookie Grizzlies center Zach Edey ran close behind in the middle of the court while all attention was on Morant. Suddenly Morant threw a pass across the board that slipped out of Edey's hands.

Do you think that was the wildest Morant pass of the day? No.

At the start of the game, Morant was lying on the floor surrounded by Bucks players trying to take the ball out of his hands. Morant did a few pump fakes before launching an alley-oop to Santi Aldama while sitting on the floor.

“I thought that was crazy,” said Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. “I don’t even know why he tried that.”

Pippen would not have attempted the second round. Maybe not even Edey's, but it's the plays that make Morant special.

The Grizzlies' star point guard shone at FedExForum on Thursday evening. He finished the game with 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, securing his 12th career triple-double.

The key to performance is “free play,” Morant said. He didn't question the pass to Edey, to Aldama or any of the stunning moments of Thursday's 122-99 victory.

“I play freely,” Morant said. “For me you take care of ball losses. I always try to make the right play.”

Morant's appearance came at the right time. The Grizzlies (3-3) had lost two straight games to teams they were favored to win.

The mood in the locker room was disappointing after Wednesday's defeat and the situation didn't get any better as injuries mounted. Starters Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart left early Wednesday, and neither was available Thursday. The Grizzlies are currently awaiting updates that will provide more clarity on their return schedule.

It was time for Morant to be the superstar. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins increased his minutes and gave him longer periods of rotation. The result was that Morant was plus-29 in 29 minutes.

“He prepared for it and that was kind of part of our plan that was implemented,” Jenkins said. “He missed a game a couple of nights ago. “That was six (games) in nine (days), so the way he responded…but at a great pace. “

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

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