Ja Morant Says He ‘Kept Receipts’ After Hitting Game-Winner in Grizzlies Return
In his first game back after serving a 25-game suspension, Morant had 34 points (and the game-winning bucket) in the Grizzlies’ 115-13 win against the New Orleans Pelicans
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Morant (right) told reporters he had been preparing for his return “for almost eight months.” Chris Graythen/Getty Images
It was quite the return to the court for Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant on Tuesday.
Morant, in his first game back after serving a 25-game suspension for displaying guns on social media, racked up 34 points — including the game-winner — in Memphis’ thrilling 115-113 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans.
Morant, who was booed during the contest at the Smoothie King Center, seemed to relish in the win on his way back to the Grizzlies’ locker room.
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“I kept receipts, too. I kept receipts,” Morant boisterously yelled en route to the Memphis locker room postgame.
“It’s a lot of people that don’t like me,” Morant told reporters after the game. “See what that got ’em. I feel like the surprising part was, I got called in the starting lineup, it was loud cheers, and then when the game started, it went to boos.”
Without Morant, Memphis (7-19) struggled throughout the first quarter and change of the season. Even after the win against the Pelicans, the Grizzlies sit in 13th place in the Western Conference, 6.5 games back of the play-in.
The All-Star floor general, though, is ready to help Memphis turn its season around. He showed it on Tuesday.
“Obviously, I’ve been prepping for this for almost eight months,” Morant added.
“It’s been eight months since I played a game. I’m confident in the work I was putting in, and trying to be in the best shape possible to go out there and be able to be out there for the guys.”
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