Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies put on highlight mixtape in win over Detroit Pistons
Someone forgot to tell the Memphis Grizzlies that the NBA All-Star game isn't until February, and the festivities aren't being held in Detroit.
Ja Morant flew down the court full speed in the third quarter before taking off outside of the restricted area and winding back for an emphatic slam that would've gotten a high grade in the Slam Dunk Contest. Then Morant pulled out an array of dribble moves in transition before finishing a layup on one possession, and throwing an alley-oop to Santi Aldama on another. And then for good measure, Morant pulled up from the logo inside Little Caesars Arena for a deep 3-pointer near the end of the third quarter.
Morant's 21-point third quarter highlighted a dominant 122-112 Grizzlies win against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Morant led the Grizzlies (14-9) with 31 points and 10 assists. It was Morant's first game of at least 30 points and 10 assists this season.
Dillon Brooks added 22 points and five assists for the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. also had his sixth game of 20 or more points after finishing with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
The Pistons (6-19) got a big performance from Saddiq Bey off the bench that allowed them to keep making runs at a comeback. In the end, each time Detroit threatened, Morant, Brooks or Jackson responded.
Here are some takeaways from the game in which Memphis never trailed.
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Steven Adams out, Brandon Clarke in
Steven Adams was listed as questionable before Sunday's game because of hip soreness. He missed the game and was replaced in the starting lineup by Brandon Clarke. Adams being out led to Xavier Tillman Sr. getting rotation minutes.
Clarke got off to a quick start by scoring eight points in the first quarter. Tillman made a 3-pointer in the second quarter, but it was Clarke's impact that helped the Grizzlies win without Adams. He finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Ja Morant's explosive third quarter
For two quarters, it looked like Morant would approach his career high in assists with the way he was getting teammates involved. Then, a switch flipped in the third quarter. Morant scored 21 points in the third quarter after having seven points in the first half. Memphis ended the third quarter leading by 18 points.
Taking care of business
The Grizzlies came out with the best case scenario on Sunday off a back to back. Memphis went into the fourth quarter with a large enough lead to rest some of its key contributors. Not only are the Grizzlies on the first leg of a back to back, but they had to travel back to Memphis after the game.
The Pistons threatened to get within striking distance in the fourth quarter, but the bench along with Jackson and Brooks helped extend the Grizzlies' lead to 20 points. The Pistons made one last run, but the Grizzlies had too much offensive firepower.
What's next
Memphis will have one of its longest homestands of the season for the next 10 days. The Grizzlies will take on the Miami Heat (11-12) on Monday night at FedExForum. Don't let Miami's record fool you. Heat leader Jimmy Butler is back in the lineup after missing seven games, and that makes Miami an elite team. The Heat took down the Boston Celtics, who have the NBA's best record, in Butler's first game back on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ja Morant's third quarter leads Memphis Grizzlies to win over Pistons
