Ja Morant stats tonight: How did Grizzlies star fare vs injury-riddled Mavericks? (March 7)

With Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined, the Memphis Grizzlies turned to Ja Morant to snap their four-game losing skid on Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Though playing on the road, the matchup presented a prime opportunity for the Grizzlies to bounce back, as the Mavericks were also dealing with injuries to several key players.

Memphis was desperate for a win after a rough stretch that saw them not only lose Jackson but also suffer three consecutive losses on game-winning shots before getting blown out in their most recent outing against the OKC Thunder.

Morant answered the call, taking over in the second half with 24 points to cap off a stellar performance of 31 points and eight assists, delivering when it mattered most.

Below are Ja Morant’s full stats.

PLAYER	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	FGM	FGA	FG%	3PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OREB	DREB	STL	BLK	TO	PF	=+/-
Ja Morant	35:20	31	4	8	13	29	44.8	1	5	20.0	4	5	80.0	1	3	1	0	3	3	16

Despite their own injury struggles, the Mavericks came out strong, surging to a 31-22 lead after the first quarter behind Brandon Williams’ eight-point performance. Morant, who opened the scoring for Memphis, was held to just one field goal in the period.

In the second quarter, the Grizzlies tightened things up, outscoring the Mavericks by six, but Dallas still held onto a slim advantage at halftime, 53-50. Williams led all scorers with 17 points, while Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 10 each for the Mavericks.

The third quarter turned into a shootout, with Dallas managing to keep its lead intact. However, Memphis took over in the fourth, dominating 33-17 behind the efforts of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

Bane finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds, while Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams Jr. combined for 29 in the victory.

For Dallas, Brandon Williams led the charge with 31 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Naji Marshall put up 29 points and grabbed 17 boards.

Taylor Jenkins wants more out of Ja Morant

With Ja Morant enjoying his healthiest stretch of the season, Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins is relying heavily on his star — especially in Jaren Jackson Jr.’s absence.

“(The run of good health) is great. I mean, Ja is playing extremely well right now, having a huge impact, and we just want to continue to lean into that (process),” Jenkins told ClutchPoints. “We know what he can do over the course of a game. It’s great to see what he is doing and I know there is more to come from him.”

The Grizzlies face a challenging road ahead, as they have the 13th toughest remaining schedule, featuring matchups against the Cleveland Cavaliers, OKC Thunder, Boston Celtics and LA Lakers.