NBA: Ja Morant, Grizzlies run away from outmatched Hornets
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts following a basket during the first quarter of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 04, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP
Ja Morant poured in 23 points to lead hot-shooting Memphis as the Grizzlies rolled up a 131-107 victory against the host Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Desmond Bane had 19 points, Dillon Brooks added 18 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. supplied 17 points as the Grizzlies shot 50 percent from the field (47-for-94). Steven Adams provided nine points and 15 rebounds.
LaMelo Ball had 23 points and 12 assists for the Hornets, whose defensive shortcomings were exposed throughout the game. He went just 7-for-23 from the field.
Terry Rozier (21 points), Jalen McDaniels (16) and P.J. Washington (15) added to Charlotte’s offense.
The Grizzlies reached the 100-point mark on an Adams basket in the lane with 1:20 to play in the third quarter, leading 100-71 at the time.
Tick tick tick tick 😂@JaMorant | #BigMemphis pic.twitter.com/T88N4Z8ftZ
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) January 5, 2023
The teams largely traded baskets in the third quarter, with each team scoring 26 points, making it 102-73 going to the fourth.
Memphis began the final quarter by scoring 11 of the first 14 points.
The Hornets, who lost for the eighth time in their last nine home games, couldn’t come back with long-range shooting by making only 11 of 38 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Grizzlies didn’t let up in the first half, bolting to a 64-37 lead with just under four minutes left in the second quarter.
Memphis shot 53.2 percent from the field on the way to a 76-47 halftime lead.
Charlotte received basically no production from its frontcourt players, as the Grizzlies controlled the post with ease.
It was another miserable defensive beginning for the Hornets, who trailed 40-26 after the first quarter. The Grizzlies made 14 of 24 shots in the first 12 minutes, while Charlotte was fortunate that five of its seven field goals were 3-pointers.
Memphis put its second whipping on the Hornets this season combined with a 130-99 result Nov. 4 at home.
