All- Star guard Ja Morant didnât need time to find his voice after returning to the lineup. He found it immediately and turned it inward. Back on the floor Friday night after missing 10 games with a right calf strain, Morant delivered production but not the result he wanted. The Memphis Grizzlies dropped a 130-126 decision to the Utah Jazz, a loss that lingered because of how avoidable it felt.
While Morant finished with 21 points and 10 assists in just over 25 minutes, the postgame conversation centered on accountability, particularly on the defensive end.
âWe should have won,â Morant said. âWe played soft. They outrebounded us. We let guys come off the bench make a difference. Iâve got to be better.â
Morantâs return immediately changed the rhythm of the game. The pace picked up, ball movement improved, and Memphis looked more comfortable generating offense in the half court. That wasnât surprising. Even during his absence, head coach Tuomas Iisalo praised Morantâs engagement and leadership from the sidelines, noting his voice and presence remained consistent despite being out of the rotation.
Offensively, the Grizzlies produced enough to put the game away. Memphis knocked down a season-high 19 three-pointers and had all five starters score in double figures for the first time since opening night. However, the defensive edge that had fueled recent success didnât carry over, especially once the game tightened.
Utah flipped the game in the third quarter, pouring in 42 points during the period and closing it on a decisive run. Defensive rotations were late. Box-outs slipped. What had been a controlled Memphis lead turned into a deficit built on second-chance points and dribble penetration. From that moment on, the Grizzlies were chasing rather than dictating.
Life Without Zach Edey Leaves Little Margin for Error
The absence of center Zach Edey loomed large. Edey, who recently returned from offseason ankle surgery, is now expected to miss the next four weeks due to lingering issues related to that same ankle. As a result, he and Morant have shared just five minutes on the floor together this season.
Without Edey anchoring the interior, rebounding becomes a shared responsibility instead of a built-in advantage. Help defense must be sharper, and rotations must arrive earlier. On Friday night, those margins werenât met. Morant acknowledged the reality postgame, joking that the arena might need to be saged given the timing of injuries, but his focus remained on execution rather than excuses.
âIâve got to help my bigs rebound,â Morant said. âIâve got to take care of the ball. Better decisions. Make shots.â
The numbers backed up the frustration. Morant shot 7-of-20 from the field and committed four turnovers, signs of rust after missing time since Nov. 15. He entered the night averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists this season, both below his career norms and his shooting percentages remain down across the board.
Morantâs Message Was Clear: Fix It Together
Still, Memphis had been thriving during his absence, going 7-3 over that stretch. As Kevin OâConnor of Yahoo Sports has noted, the Grizzlies have moved the ball more freely and posted stronger offensive efficiency without Morant on the floor. Integrating his downhill pressure without sacrificing defensive structure is now the balancing act.
Individually, Memphis received strong performances. Santi Aldama led the team with 22 points and seven rebounds. Cam Spencer delivered another spark off the bench with 20 points while hitting all six of his three-point attempts. Cedric Coward added 17 points and 12 rebounds. Collectively, though, the consistency wasnât there.
Utah capitalized on every lapse. Keyonte George erupted for a career-high 39 points, playing with confidence and control. Lauri Markkanen added 26, and Kevin Love swung momentum late in the third quarter with a critical stretch that fully tilted the game.
Iisalo praised Morantâs tempo and paint pressure while acknowledging the adjustment period ahead. Morant, meanwhile, returned to the same message.
âIâll correct mine,â he said. âAnd weâll correct ours together.â
That line matters. The Grizzlies arenât searching for belief or identity. Theyâre searching for control, physicality, and attention to detail. Friday night showed how close they are and how quickly defensive lapses can still undo progress.
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