Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives around Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 26, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—It may have been in a losing effort, but Ja Morant’s 47-point outburst in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 141-129 setback to the Utah Jazz in Game 2 remained just as impressive.
Even Donovan Mitchell, who got the last laugh as the Jazz tied their playoff series at 1-1 behind his team-high 25 points, couldn’t help but admire Morant’s efforts.
Ja Morant goes off for a @memgrizz #NBAPlayoffs franchise record 47 PTS in Game 2!
Game 3: Saturday at 9:30pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/qmk1meXBBk
— NBA (@NBA) May 27, 2021
“Give credit to Ja, he almost had 50,” said Mitchell in the post-game interview. “He’s a hell of a player, and I respect the hell out of his game. He fought but we also fought.”
Morant it up the boards with 47 points on 15-of-26 shooting to go along seven assists.
Ja Morant (21 years, 289 days) is the 2nd youngest player in NBA history to record 45+ points in an #NBAPlayoffs game. The youngest was LeBron James (21 years, 124 days) with 45 points on 05/03/2006. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/zbuc7Ay7yT
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) May 27, 2021
That made him the second-youngest player in NBA history to score 45+ points in a playoff game at 21 years and 289 days just behind LeBron James who had 45 points on May 3, 2006 at 21 years and 124 days.
Morant, who is now averaging 36.5 points in the two games he’s played in the playoffs, also set a post-season franchise record for points in a game.
In a tweet, last season’s Rookie of the Year rued how his efforts weren’t “enough” but the Grizzlies have a chance to re-take the lead in the playoff showdown in Memphis for Game 3 on May 30.