Orlando, Fla. — In a thrilling finish, Ja Morant delivered an impressive performance by scoring 10 of his total 23 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Memphis Grizzlies secure a narrow 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Jaren Jackson Jr. played a crucial role by blocking a potential game-winning floater attempt from Orlando’s Paolo Banchero in the final moments of the game. Desmond Bane contributed significantly with 16 points and seven rebounds, including a pivotal free throw that provided the Grizzlies their winning edge with just 45.2 seconds left on the clock. Although Memphis’ Santi Aldama missed two critical free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining, the team managed to hold their ground for the victory following Banchero’s unsuccessful last-ditch effort.
For the Magic, Franz Wagner was the standout player, scoring 25 points, while Paolo Banchero had 21 points despite a challenging shooting night with a 5 for 21 performance. Cole Anthony also made a notable contribution with 17 points, alongside nine rebounds and seven assists. Jackson added to Memphis’ tally, finishing with 16 points and blocking three shots.
The Grizzlies faced a challenging start, missing 19 of their first 21 attempts from beyond the arc. However, a shift in momentum occurred during a 19-0 run in the third quarter, largely fueled by GG Jackson II, who sank three of the Grizzlies’ four three-pointers during that stretch, helping erase a significant 19-point deficit.
Observations from the game showed that the Grizzlies managed to avert what would have been their first three-game losing streak of the season, overcoming their own struggles with 7-for-33 shooting from three-point range and committing 15 turnovers. Notably, they have performed well on the second night of back-to-back games with an impressive 8-2 record.
On the other hand, the Magic continued to feel the absence of guard Jalen Suggs, who has been sidelined due to a left quad contusion, marking the 21st time in 22 games without him. They faced disappointment as they fell short by just one point in the opening game of an important seven-game homestand.
A key moment in the match occurred with 2:05 on the clock when the Magic held a two-point lead. A replay review resulted in a change of possession, awarding the ball to the Grizzlies after Morant had deflected it away from Wagner. Just ten seconds later, Morant tied the game with a crucial field goal.
A critical statistic from the game revealed that the Magic struggled at the free-throw line, missing a total of 10 attempts, with four of those misses occurring in the fourth quarter alone.
Looking ahead, the Grizzlies are set to face Cleveland on Sunday night, while the Magic will host Washington at home on the same evening.
