The Memphis Grizzlies evened up their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors with a 106-101 victory in Game 2 Tuesday night. And the story of the game — along with an ejection and injury, and Steve Kerr’s comments — was the brilliance of Ja Morant, as is frequently the case in Memphis wins.
Morant scored 47 points (matching his playoff-high), dished out eight assists, pulled down eight rebounds, and had three steals in the victory. He joins Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to have at least 45 points, at least eight assists, at least eight rebounds, and at least three steals in a playoff game.
45+ points, 8+ rebounds, 8+ assists, 3+ steals, NBA postseason history:
– Michael Jordan 1992 vs Heat
– Russell Westbrook 2017 at Houston
– LeBron James 2018 vs Celtics
– Kevin Durant 2021 vs Bucks– Ja Morant tonight vs Warriors pic.twitter.com/RJSHe8wFDd
— Law Murray 🐦🔥 (@LawMurrayTheNU) May 4, 2022
Ja Morant when asked if he could see out of his eye when he scored his team's last 15 points.
"Honestly, no."
Well, how did you score?
"I got another good eye over here."
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) May 4, 2022
Some of the buckets Morant got down the stretch were absolutely ridiculous.
This is a ridiculous take and bucket from Ja Morant for the lead! 🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/O5pR1NWruK
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 4, 2022
JA MORANT WITH A RIDICULOUS FLOATER! pic.twitter.com/XULU5b184Q
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 4, 2022
Here’s a look at how the basketball world is reacting to Morant’s remarkable performance:
Ja had a message for Steph 👀
“We’re gonna have some fun”
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 4, 2022
Like a said JA too special to be in a MIP conversation. Rising Super⭐️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 4, 2022
Like a said JA too special to be in a MIP conversation. Rising Super⭐️
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 4, 2022
Ja Morant joins LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as the only players with multiple 45-point games in the playoffs before turning 23 years old per @ESPNStatsInfo
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) May 4, 2022
Ja Morant tonight:
47 PTS (playoff career high)
8 REB
8 AST
3 STLThe most points in a game by anyone this playoffs. pic.twitter.com/GdVXVL7fHf
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 4, 2022
Ja Morant of the @memgrizz is the first NBA player to score his team's final 15 points (or more) in a playoff victory since LeBron James scored the final 25 points for the Cavs in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 4, 2022
47 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists with 18 points in the fourth quarter…Ja Morant my goodness 🤯
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 4, 2022
