Ja Morant stats tonight: How did the Grizzlies star fare against Rockets upon injury return? (Jan. 9)

Ja Morant returned from a five-game absence on Thursday against the Houston Rockets. The Memphis Grizzlies superstar, who was questionable before the game, was cleared to play after dealing with a shoulder injury.

The Grizzlies limited Morant, playing him only in the first six minutes before returning late to close out the first quarter. He had nine points on 4-for-7 shooting, including 1-for-2 from deep.

Ja Morant went 1-for-6 in the second quarter but impacted the game with his playmaking. The Houston Rockets kept him in check behind Dillon Brooks' stellar defensive play. Despite Morant's rough-shooting night, the Grizzlies cut a 17-point deficit to trail 68-63 at halftime.

The high-flying guard carried the Memphis Grizzlies in the third quarter with 14 points and two assists. Despite Morant's eruption, the Houston Grizzlies still won the quarter 33-29 to pad their lead to 101-92 before the fourth quarter.

Houston's defense clamped down on Ja Morant in the final frame, limiting him to two points. The Grizzlies franchise cornerstone went 0-for-4 and converted 2-of-5 free throws. Morant's struggles paved the way for a 119-115 Rockets victory.

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
Ja Morant	27	3	3	1	0	4	9-22	1-5	8-11	-7

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The Memphis Grizzlies remain near the top of the Western Conference despite Ja Morant missing games

Ja Morant has already missed 18 games this season because of injuries. Despite his infrequent appearance, the Memphis Grizzlies hold a 24-14 record for third in the Western Conference. Memphis is 7.0 games behind the OKC Thunder (30-6) for the top spot in the conference. The Grizzlies are also 1.5 games adrift of the Houston Rockets (25-12) for second place.

The Grizzlies, though, need Morant to be healthy to keep their place in the standings. Following the loss to the Rockets, they start a tough four-game road trip, starting with a matchup on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After tangling with Ant-Man and Co. the Grizzlies get another shot at the Rockets in Houston.

Memphis will cap off the road swing with back-to-back showdowns against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. The Grizzlies could slide down the standings if their best player continues to miss games due to injuries.