Ja Morant has 22 points and 10 assists in return, leads Grizzlies to season-opening win over Jazz

Ja Morant had 22 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds successful his return to action to powerfulness nan Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-124 triumph complete nan Utah Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY -- Ja Morant had 22 points, 10 assists and 5 rebounds successful his return to action to lead nan Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-124 triumph complete nan Utah Jazz connected Wednesday night.

Morant appeared successful conscionable 9 games past play aft serving a 25-game convention suspension earlier suffering a season-ending enarthrosis injury. Santi Aldama scored 27 points and Desmond Bane added 24 much for nan Grizzlies.

Lauri Markkanen had 35 points and 9 rebounds for Utah. Jordan Clarkson chipped successful for 17 points and 7 assists disconnected nan bench. Walker Kessler had 16 points and 14 rebounds.

The Jazz erased a double-digit shortage successful nan 4th fourth and tied it astatine 116 connected Kessler’s tip-in pinch 2:48 left. Aldama scored back-to-back baskets to put nan Grizzlies successful beforehand for good.

Grizzlies: Memphis cooked nan Jazz from nan perimeter for nan bulk of 4 quarters. Aldama, Bane, and Jay Huff mixed for 12 of nan Grizzlies' 17 3-poiners.

Jazz: Sloppiness connected discourtesy undermined Utah’s efforts to rally until nan 4th quarter. The Jazz committed 16 turnovers, starring to 22 points for Memphis, successful nan first 3 quarters.

After trailing by arsenic galore arsenic 17 points successful nan first half, Utah took a 105-104 lead pinch 6:45 near aft a 17-3 run. Taylor Hendricks and Markkanen mixed for 2 baskets and 4 free throws successful nan tally to group up a tight finish.

Huff had 13 points connected 4-of-6 shooting, marking conscionable nan 4th clip successful his NBA profession – and nan first clip successful 2 seasons – that he's scored successful nan double digits.

The Grizzlies sojourn Houston connected Friday, and nan Jazz big Golden State connected nan aforesaid night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba