Ja did

PLUS: The problem with Boston is still a problem.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

---

Scores

Grizzlies 115, Pelicans 113 — In Ja Morant’s first game of the season, the Pelicans took a 22-point lead into halftime. This is familiar territory for the Grizzlies this season, and it looked like it might take some time for the team to reintegrate its star guard. In the first half, Morant had seven points on eight shots. Desmond Bane was 4/12 from the floor. Jaren Jackson Jr. had — surprise, surprise — three fouls. Brandon Ingam, C.J. McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas were dominating the game.

But that was all the time the Grizzlies needed to remember who they are. They are Ja Morant’s team, and when he’s on the court, he is a superstar.

27 in the second half, 34 for the game. And the buzzer-beating game-winner over one of the (many) teams Memphis is trying to catch in the standings. Let’s take another look at that one.

Herb Jones — a spectacular defender — on an island. Drives middle, spins right away from the Dyson Daniels help, jumps left to avoid Jones’ outstretched hands and hits the patented floater. Jones did just about everything you can do to stay in front of Morant, but because of Ja’s ability to use space in all its forms, he still can’t stop him.

The looks on McCollum and Ingram’s faces after the shot falls says it all. The West suddenly has another problem.

1-0 since the return. 6.5 games out of the play-in.