The Memphis Grizzlies, spearheaded by Jaren Jackson Jr.'s 28 points and 10 rebounds, mounted a thrilling comeback against the Phoenix Suns to earn a 121-115 victory on Sunday night, even with their star player Ja Morant on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, according to FOX10 Phoenix. Marcus Smart chipped in with 25 points, while Desmond Bane's critical 3-pointer with 90 seconds remaining helped seal the deal for Memphis; Vince Williams Jr. also delivered a career-high 19 points off the bench.
Morant, who had previously missed the Grizzlies' first 25 games due to a league suspension, was a game-time decision due to soreness in his right shoulder from a previous game against the Lakers but was ultimately ruled out and observed the game with his shoulder in a sling, the team's coach Taylor Jenkins mentioned the necessity of continuing to evaluate the player’s condition. Despite the adversity and an 11-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, Memphis ignited a 14-1 scoring run and overpowered the Suns 35-18 in the final 12 minutes, a performance backed by Jackson Jr.'s emphasis on defense which made the Suns "run a little bit, work a little harder," he commented in a statement obtained by AP News.
Kevin Durant, returning from a hamstring issue that sidelined him for three games, contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, while Devin Booker led his team with 24 points, on a night where Phoenix struggled without guard Eric Gordon and backup center Bol Bol due to injuries, their absence declared day-to-day by Suns coach Frank Vogel. The defeat left Phoenix to reflect on a mixed homestand that concluded with a 4-2 record.
The Grizzlies' resilience has been on full display as they've improved to a 7-4 record since Morant's return from suspension a punishment stemming from conduct detrimental to the league related to displaying handguns on social media as reported by both sources. Morant, a two-time All-Star, had been previously suspended for eight games last season for similar behavior. Memphis will be visiting the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night as they continue to build momentum in the absence of their key player.
