Ja Morant was an All-Star for the first time in the 2021-22 NBA season, in which he averaged 27.4 points (topping his previous career-best mark of 19.4 points per game). And the 23-year-old point guard is already taking things to another level in Year 4.
On Friday night, Morant scored 49 points in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 129-122 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Scoring 49 points is ridiculous in any situation, but the way Morant did so was particularly remarkable.
Morant was extremely efficient, making 17-of-26 shots from the field, 10-of-13 free throws, and five-of-six three-point attempts. He also added eight assists.
Morant also had an unbelievable chasedown block — one of his two blocks on the night — late in the fourth quarter:
JA MORANT FLEW FOR THIS BLOCK 😱 pic.twitter.com/75TLXL6VCX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 22, 2022
Oh, and he did all of this in just 30 minutes. Amazing.
Ja Morant tonight:
49 PTS
8 AST
17-26 FG
5-6 3Pin only 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/OumHMMDos1
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 22, 2022
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Morant is fourth in 2022-23 NBA MVP odds at +900, trailing only the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (+440), the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (+700), and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (+700). Friday night’s performance is certainly a great start for Morant’s hopes of winning the award.
The Grizzlies improved to 2-0 with the victory, and they’ll take on Doncic and the Mavericks on Saturday night in Memphis.
Here’s a peek at how the hoops world is reacting to Morant’s mind-blowing performance:
With a 49 point performance over the Rockets, Ja Morant now holds the top-5 single-game point totals in Grizzlies history, including reg. season and playoffs. pic.twitter.com/CJplYTPeeb
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 22, 2022
JA is really THAT guy 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NBPEHPTQjB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 22, 2022
For God so loved Memphis he gave it Ja Morant.
— L. Jason Smith (@JasonSmith929) October 22, 2022
we are lucky to be alive to witness ja morant play basketball pic.twitter.com/VNXESeyNAa
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) October 22, 2022
Ja Morant has 40 Points in 23 Minutes…It’s still the 3rd Quarter. pic.twitter.com/GezZe818Z0
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 22, 2022
1/2 of NBA twitter called Ja Morant overrated all summer just for him to average 41 PPG through the first two games😂
— Bryson (@BrysonWright3) October 22, 2022
From now on, that dawg got that Ja in em pic.twitter.com/ERy7tdWDle
— Nathan Qualls (@MemGrizzHomer) October 22, 2022
