Ja Morant was absolute warrior and had insane resolve. Even with a sprained right ankle, he was still able to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 120-106 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The underdog victory resulted in Memphis’s first-ever trip to the NBA playoffs. Morant, who cemented his status with a sled of determination and skill on the court, finished with 22 points and nine assists in only 33 minutes of action.
Morant’s weekend was even more impressive when considering the sophomore’s recent injury. Just before the game, he had an MRI and was given pain-killing injections to fight through the pain. Even with his still-fresh injury issues, Morant felt like the game-changing X factor. He might have limped to the free throw line at times, but he was never intimidated by the moment.
“I feel like this [injury] was more difficult than others,” Morant said after the game. He went into detail about the mental and physical obstacles he had to overcome in the days before the bout. Obviously, regular-season games, it’s not win or go home. Wow this challenge was WAY harder than I thought it would be. There was a steep learning curve for me in terms of everything it would actually take to get out there and REALLY make it.
The Grizzlies’ win could not have come at a better time, as they’re looking to solidify their playoff position. With this win, Memphis sealed their place as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They’ll face the long-time top seeds of their Northwest Division rival in an opener, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The series opens on Oklahoma City’s home floor, where the Grizzlies will have to face their greatest challenge yet.
Showed his competitive streak Despite the circumstances, Morant’s will to compete was evident from the jump. He provided a rousing opening act with a soaring, one-handed slam dunk that jump-started his teammates and ignited the stands. “From that point, it was pretty much easy. I wanted to be on the floor. I wanted to play this game and get the win,” he stated, reflecting on his commitment to his team.
Anthony Davis was a monster on the floor to the Mavericks. He scored 40 points and pulled down nine rebounds. What Davis faced was pretty scary when he limped off the court in the fourth quarter. His right calf injury last night forced Dallas to play without a key catalyst as they tried to hold off a furious rally to finish the game.
Even with his injury issues, Morant’s mindset was on winning. “That’s a question for somebody else. I’m going to be out there regardless,” he asserted when asked about his condition before the game. His will could be felt by teammates and fans, inspiring hope and confidence as his team heads into the playoffs.
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