Ja Morant focuses on bringing fun back to Memphis in home debut MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant pushed the ball in transition and delivered a pretty lob pass over the top of the defense, setting up a dunk that prompted an Indiana Pacers timeout. Morant celebrated by skipping down the court, soaking up the adulation from the sellout crowd at FedExForum for his heavily anticipated, delayed season home debut, and then headed to the Memphis Grizzlies' huddle to deliver a message. "We're back having fun," Morant hollered to his teammates....

Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is. Ja Morant was back at FedExForum Thursday. But you know what else was back? Fun! It suddenly seems like a whole new season for the Grizzlies....

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant had 20 points and eight assists in his first home game following a 25-game suspension to help the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Indiana Pacers 116-103 on Thursday night. Desmond Bane led Memphis with 31 points and also had seven assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points and seven rebounds. Bane was 11 of 26 from the field and 5 of 12 from 3-point range, while Morant shot 7 of 15. Memphis was still relishing in Morant’s return Tuesday night in New Orleans when the...

Ja Morant nodded his head up and down while raising his hands as the FedExForum crowd cheered him on. In that moment, it felt like all of the Memphis Grizzlies' early season home struggles had vanished. The crowd chanted "MVP" as Morant continued to take in the moment while the Grizzlies led by 14 points in the final two minutes of the game. Morant's home debut didn't disappoint. The Grizzlies used a strong defensive effort and shooting to defeat the Indiana Pacers 116-103 on Thursday night. The Grizzlies (8-19) led...

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates with teammates in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. The Grizzlies won 115-113. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Two-time All-Star Ja Morant will have a chance Thursday night to try to top a “perfect ending.” The Memphis Grizzlies’ dazzling point guard plays his first game at home since the end of his 25-game suspension to start the NBA season because of his social media antics with guns. Memphis not only needs...

NEW ORLEANS — Ja Morant enthusiastically ran through the tunnel, heading for the Memphis Grizzlies locker room just after helping his team complete a 24-point comeback win against the New Orleans Pelicans. While jogging, Morant shared a message for the NBA world. "I kept receipts, too," he said. What could Morant be referencing in those receipts? Just let him tell you. "I feel like it's self-explanatory," Morant said after Tuesday's game. "I remember everything that was said." Eight months of mental notes led to a poetic finish Tuesday, but the...

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ja Morant ended his regrettable absence from professional basketball with a comeback for the ages. Morant capped a stirring, 34-point season debut with a spinning dribble in the lane to set up a game-winning floater as time expired in the Memphis Grizzlies' 115-113 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. The Grizzlies, who entered on a five-game skid and were 6-19 during Morant's 25-game suspension for his social media antics with guns, trailed by 24 in the first half but took a 113-111 lead...

NEW ORLEANS — Hollywood's best writers couldn't have scripted what was going to happen in New Orleans on Tuesday night at the Smoothie King Center. Ja Morant, one of the NBA's young stars, was making his season debut after a 25-game suspension. A mixture of cheers and boos during lineup introductions had drastically shifted to loud boos when he first touched the ball on the Grizzlies' opening possession. Two and a half hours later, the boos turned into complete silence as an audible gasp was let out through the arena...

NEW ORLEANS -- With 9.6 seconds remaining in his delayed season debut, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant fought fatigue after carrying his team back from a 24-point deficit to tie the score against the New Orleans Pelicans. As he used a massage gun on his calves, which he said he felt starting to cramp during the timeout, Morant suggested a playcall: a post-up for power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane, sensing the moment and having seen Morant take over down the stretch, immediately rejected that plan....