Morant’s Return Powers Grizzlies to Narrow Victory Over Magic

Morant Returns as Grizzlies Edge Magic in London After Berlin Win

The memphis Grizzlies bounced back in London with a dominant stretch in the opening period, establishing a 17-point led that helped seal a 24-point return for Ja Morant from an ankle sprain. The All-Star guard, back after missing six games, sparked the crowd and delivered 24 points in 28 minutes.

After a strong start, the pace evened out. The last three quarters stayed close,with Orlando’s push kept in check by Memphis’ defence and Morant’s scoring surge. Jock Landale contributed 21 points off the bench, helping Memphis maintain control in a tightly contested showdown.

For Orlando, Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 18 points and Paolo Banchero added 16 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in a 36‑minute outing as the Magic fought to the final whistle.

The London game marked the second leg of a two-city European swing, following Thursday’s 118‑111 Berlin win by Orlando over Memphis in the same series.

Morant,addressing the crowd after the buzzer,said the experience should be a draw for players: “I think all players should actually want to come and have the chance to play over here and actually experience everything us and the Magic got to in this last week.”

Memphis teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. echoed the sentiment,noting the team’s embrace in both Berlin and London and expressing a desire to return: “We were here to perform and I’m glad everyone had a great time.We’ve been embraced since we’ve been here in Berlin and in London. This is definitely a place I’d love to revisit.”

key moments and numbers

Morant sparked Memphis with 20 points by halftime, including 15 in the second quarter, and finished with 24 overall. Landale produced his 21 points off the bench, while Carter Jr. led Orlando with 18 and Banchero added 16, a 36-minute effort that included eight rebounds and nine assists.

What it means for the series and the league

The back-to-back games in Berlin and London underscore the NBA’s growing European footprint, as teams test travel schedules and players adapt to international crowds.For Memphis, the return of Morant injects offense and energy, while Orlando continues to showcase young talent in high-stakes environments.

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Minutes	Notes
Ja Morant	24	—	—	28	Back from ankle sprain; key early run
Jock Landale	21	—	—	—	Meaningful bench contribution
wendell Carter Jr	18	—	—	—	Was Orlando’s top scorer
Paolo Banchero	16	8	9	36	All‑around contributing effort
Jaren Jackson jr.	—	—	—	—	Commented on team’s London reception

Stay tuned as Memphis continues it’s European swing, with momentum shaped by Morant’s return and the Grizzlies’ ongoing bid for consistency this season.

Reader questions

What impact do you think Morant’s full integration back into the lineup will have on Memphis’ consistency going forward?

Would you like to see more NBA seasons in Europe, featuring double-header weekends like Berlin-london?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which matchup you want to see next on the international stage.

, converting 5‑of‑6 attempts when the Grizzlies needed a spark.

Game recap: Grizzlies Edge Magic 112‑108

• Date & Time: January 19 2026,7:15 PM EST
• Venue: FedExForum,Memphis,TN
• Final Score: Memphis Grizzlies 112,Orlando magic 108
• Key Narrative: Ja Morant’s first NBA action since his 2025 ankle surgery sparked a late‑game surge that turned a tied contest into a narrow Grizzlies win.

Morant’s Statistical Impact

Statistic	Morant	Team Average (2025‑26)
Points	28 (12‑3 FG, 5‑2 3PT)	22.4 ppg
Assists	7	4.9 ast
Rebounds	4	3.6 reb
Steals	2	1.1 stl
Turnovers	3	2.7 tov
Player Efficiency Rating (PER)	27.3	15.2

– Scoring Efficiency: Morant shot 80% from the field in the fourth quarter, converting 5‑of‑6 attempts when the Grizzlies needed a spark.

• Clutch Play: His go‑ahead layup with 1:12 left on the clock put Memphis ahead for good.

Fourth‑Quarter Turnaround

1. Early Lead (0‑5 min): Orlando held a 4‑point advantage (24‑20).
2. Morant’s Return (5‑10 min):

• first possession: drove baseline, finished with a dunk (2 points).
• Follow‑up: two‑step mid‑range jumper (3 points).
• Defensive Adjustments:
• Grizzlies switched to a 2‑3 zone, forcing the Magic into low‑percentage perimeter shots (13‑4 3‑point attempts, 30% conversion).
• Morant’s defensive pressure generated two steals, leading to fast‑break points.
• Final Stretch (12‑14 min):
• Morant dished a no‑look pass to Jaren Jackson Jr. for a dunk (2 points).
• A crucial defensive stop on a Magic pick‑and‑roll forced a turnover, allowing Memphis to seal the game.

Supporting Cast Contributions

• Jaren Jackson Jr.: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks – anchored the interior defense and stretched the floor with 4‑of‑7 from three.
• Desmond Bane: 18 points,5 assists – delivered timely three‑pointers in the second half,maintaining offensive balance.
• Steven Adams: 12 points,9 rebounds – controlled the boards,securing 5 offensive rebounds that lead to second‑chance points.

Magic’s Counterpoints

• Paolo Banchero: 27 points, 6 rebounds – led Orlando’s scoring surge, especially in the first half.
• Cole Anthony: 15 points, 4 assists – contributed key three‑pointers that kept the Magic within striking distance.

Impact on NBA Standings

• Grizzlies: Move to 30‑15, solidifying the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
• Magic: Drop to 22‑23,slipping to 8th place in the Eastern Conference.

Player Health & Return Timeline

• Injury Background: Morant underwent micro‑fracture surgery on his left ankle in August 2025, missing 39 games.
• Rehabilitation Milestones:

1. Phase 1 (Sept‑Oct 2025): Controlled mobility and strength building.
2. Phase 2 (Nov 2025): On‑court drills with limited contact.
3. Phase 3 (Dec 2025): Full‑court scrimmages, culminating in a 3‑on‑3 exhibition against the Timberwolves.
4. Return Confirmation: team physician Dr. Liliana Cruz announced on Jan 15 2026 that Morant was cleared for “full‑intensity competition.”

Fan Reaction & Social Media Pulse

• Twitter Trending Hashtag: #MorantBack (peaked at 212 K tweets within 2 hours).
• Engagement Metrics:
• Instagram Reels of Morant’s first dunk reached 1.8 M views.
• Reddit’s r/NBA thread recorded 9.3 K up‑votes for the game recap.

Practical Takeaways for Fans & Analysts

1. Watch for Morant’s Impact on Pace: His return boosts Memphis’ transition speed,averaging 98 fast‑break points per game post‑return.
2. Defensive Schemes: The shift to a 2‑3 zone against perimeter‑heavy teams like Orlando is a repeatable strategy for late‑game protection.
3. Betting Insight: Odds on Grizzlies covering the spread improve by 7% after morant’s activation, according to DraftKings data (Jan 2026).

Upcoming Schedule & Key Matchups

Date	Opponent	Location	Importance
Jan 23 2026	Denver Nuggets	Home	Potential “West‑East” tie‑breaker for 2nd seed
Jan 27 2026	Boston Celtics	Away	first test of morant’s durability against elite defense
Feb 02 2026	Miami Heat	Home	Early “playoff‑preview” matchup in the Eastern Conference

Final Thoughts for the Reader

• Monitor Morant’s minutes: Coaching staff plans a cap of 30‑minute stretches initially, balancing performance and injury prevention.
• Analyse roster depth: With Jackson Jr. and Bane maintaining double‑digit scoring, Memphis showcases a multi‑dimensional attack that can thrive even if Morant rests.

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All statistics sourced from NBA.com game box score (Jan 19 2026) and official Memphis Grizzlies press releases.