MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ja Morant made a strong comeback with 22 points and 11 assists in his first game back after sitting out eight matches due to a hip injury. His performance was instrumental in guiding the Memphis Grizzlies to a convincing 123-98 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

Morant showcased his scoring ability by shooting 6 of 12 from the field, which included a notable 2 of 3 from long range. Supporting him in the scoring department, Jaren Jackson Jr. contributed 21 points, while Santi Aldama impressed with 13 points and a career-best 17 rebounds.

On the other side, Deni Avdija was the standout performer for Portland, recording 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Shaedon Sharpe added another 15 points to the Trail Blazers’ tally. This loss marked Portland’s third defeat in four games as they continued to struggle for consistency.

Key takeaways from the game for the Trail Blazers included their ongoing shooting woes, which placed them in a double-digit deficit during the first half. Although they managed to cut the deficit to six points during the third quarter, a surge from Memphis quickly widened the gap again. Ultimately, Portland struggled offensively, shooting only 34 out of 102 attempts (33%) overall.

For the Grizzlies, Morant’s return notably revitalized their offense, making it one of the most dynamic in the league, even if they were somewhat restricted in their fast-break opportunities.

A pivotal moment in the matchup occurred when Morant sunk a deep 3-pointer just before halftime, a shot that seemed like a miracle heave from three-quarters court, but it was ruled to be after the second quarter horn. Consequently, Memphis held a 65-54 lead at halftime.

One key statistic to highlight is that the Trail Blazers struggled significantly from beyond the arc, managing just 4 of 42 from that range in a previous defeat to Memphis on November 10. Unfortunately for Portland, Monday’s game did not see much improvement as they hit only three of their 20 three-point attempts in the first half, concluding the game with a dismal 8 of 46 from long distance.

Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers are set to face the Indiana Pacers in Indiana on Wednesday, while the Grizzlies will welcome the Detroit Pistons to their home court on the same day.