Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr lead Grizzlies past Knicks

Ja Morant had a few of his normal high-flying spotlight performs, attempting to placed on a present for a packed crowd at Madison Sq. Backyard and a nationwide TV viewers.

He gave it poor evaluations.

“I felt like I performed horrible,” Morant stated. “When you requested me that was in all probability one of many worst video games I performed in my profession.”

Irrespective of. These Memphis Grizzlies go effectively past their first-time All-Star.

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 26 factors and 10 rebounds, Morant added 23 factors and 9 assists and the Grizzlies beat the New York Knicks 120-108 on Wednesday evening.

Morant shot simply 9 for 27 from the sector and missed all six 3-point makes an attempt.

However rookie Ziaire Williams scored a season-high 21 factors on 9-for-11 capturing, whereas Jackson, Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton all hit 4 3-pointers.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau thought the Knicks defended effectively in opposition to Morant and Bane.

“So I assumed our perimeter protection was fairly good, the assistance was good, however then Jackson received free, Williams received free, Melton received free,” Thibodeau stated. “So we’ve to, like, end our protection.”

Morant had his streak of 30-point video games stopped at seven, however the Grizzlies bounced again from an extra time loss in Philadelphia on Monday evening to win for the fourth time in 5 video games.

“That was resiliency proper there,” Jackson stated.

Evan Fournier scored 30 factors for the Knicks, who misplaced for the seventh time in 9 video games forward of a tough five-game Western Convention journey that begins Saturday in opposition to the Lakers

Memphis led by double digits for an extended stretch earlier than the Knicks trimmed it to 95-90 early within the fourth when Immanuel Quickley made consecutive 3-pointers, the primary whereas being fouled. However the Knicks then by chance tipped in a Memphis miss and Jackson made a 3-pointer to revive a 10-point lead, and Bane later knocked down a 3 and Morant scored to cease one final New York push.

Melton scored 11 factors within the first quarter, sending Memphis to a 35-27 lead. The Grizzlies scored 10 straight to open the second and construct a 45-27 cushion.

The Grizzlies pushed the tempo late within the half, with Morant throwing a lob to Williams for a dunk in transition after which Williams returning the favor to arrange for Morant for a slam that finished a pretty fast break. Memphis led 64-52 on the break.

The Knicks received the Grizzlies slowed down considerably within the third and climbed again inside six factors halfway by the interval, but it surely was again as much as 92-79 after three.

TIP-INS

Grizzlies: Coach Taylor Jenkins stated C Steven Adams, who had been listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, was nonetheless feeling a bit of sore however had gone by remedy the previous couple of days to be prepared to begin Wednesday. Adams grabbed 13 rebounds. … Melton scored 14 factors and Bane 13.

Knicks: Julius Randle had 18 factors, 12 rebounds and 9 assists earlier than being ejected within the closing seconds for a second technical foul. … RJ Barrett scored 23 factors.

GRIZZLIES GAINS

Jenkins stated he has observed extra Grizzlies jerseys in highway arenas. Morant was seventh on the NBA’s most-popular jersey checklist final month, based mostly on gross sales on NBAStore.com for the primary half of the 2021-22 common season.

“Clearly, you see the swag he performs with, the power he performs with, the individuality together with his athleticism but in addition his distinctive playmaking means, too,” Jenkins stated. “Clearly, he’s a spotlight reel, however then I’d say he’s additionally a man that impacts successful. So he does all of it and hopefully the best way he handles himself on the courtroom, he handles himself within the media and group is simply inspiring to others and hopefully somebody who’s rocking the Ja jersey or rocking any of our Grizzlies jerseys on the market, it’s a testomony to what this staff stands for.”

ATHLETES IN THE ARENA

The group included Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and boxers Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, who will meet April 30 for Taylor’s light-weight titles in what organizers say would be the first girls’s boxing match to headline Madison Sq. Backyard.

UP NEXT

Grizzlies: Go to Orlando on Saturday.

Knicks: Go to Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.