Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was feeling confident after beating the New Orleans Pelicans
Things are finally starting to fall in line for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies recently went three consecutive games with losing on an opposing game-winner, but Memphis successfully closed a game on Sunday night.
Despite the New Orleans Pelicans doing all they could to defend their home court, the Grizzlies clawed out a gritty 107-104 win behind incredible performances from their star backcourt. Desmond Bane showed out with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists on 13-23 shooting, but star guard Ja Morant stole the spotlight.
Morant dropped 32 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals on 11-23 shooting from the field, and once again, stepped up when it mattered most.
Morant has been exceptional in the clutch throughout his career and scored Memphis’ last three points to ice the game on Sunday. Following the win in New Orleans, Morant explained how comfortable he is in late-game situations.
“I’m always comfortable in those moments,” Morant said. “I’m always the one who wants to be in that position to take those shots. My teammates know… My job is just go deliver and get a win. That’s what I do.”
Morant has taken his game to another level over the past five games, averaging 28.2 points, 7.0 assists, and 1.6 steals, looking more like himself after an underwhelming start to his 2024-25 campaign.
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If Morant can stay healthy and continue playing at this level, the Grizzlies will have a much better shot at competing in the postseason.
Memphis Grizzlies closing in on Nuggets, Lakers in race for No. 2 seed in west after Pelicans win
An underwhelming five-game homestand did not carry over into the weekend for the Memphis Grizzlies.
After losing four straight, the Grizzlies went on the road and won games on Friday and Sunday. The latest game was a 107-104 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ja Morant and Desmond Bane continued to lead the way. The duo combined for 62 points and 14 assists.
While the Grizzlies (40-24) went undefeated over the weekend, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers both loss games. That development is important since the Nuggets and Lakers both recently overtook the Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings after a four-game losing streak.
The Houston Rockets, who own the regular season tiebreaker over Memphis, also remain in close pursuit as well.
Each of those four teams are in the race for the No. 2 seed. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a 12-game lead for the No. 1 seed. Barring a historic collapse, the Thunder are a safe bet as the one seed.
Securing the second seed guarantees homecourt advantage through the Western Conference semifinals. With as competitive as the west has been, that spot should be coveted.
Here’s an updated look at the Western Conference playoff picture.
Where Grizzlies stand in the west
The Grizzlies are currently the No. 4 seed. They are one game behind the Nuggets, and two behind the Lakers.
Memphis has split its two meetings so far this season with the Nuggets. The two teams will play one more time in the regular season on April 11 to determine a winner in the season series. That game could factor into a potential tiebreaker.
The Grizzlies are 1-2 against the Lakers. Memphis can tie the season series on March 29, but catching the Lakers will be a more difficult task. If the season series is tied, the next tiebreak between the Grizzlies and Lakers is Western Conference record. With a 27-12 record, the Lakers have a four-game lead over Memphis in that category.
Strength of schedule comparison
Memphis will play its next two games at home on Monday and Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, respectively. The Grizzlies are likely to be favorites in both of those matchups.
The Grizzlies have the 12th most difficult schedule remaining by win percentage. The Lakers and Nuggets are fifth and sixth, respectively.
Houston, which sits a game behind the Grizzlies, currently has the 16th toughest schedule remaining.
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