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Welcome back to your Grizzlies Insider, where we deliver the latest NBA news and analysis straight from Daily Memphian staffers Drew Hill, Chris Herrington and Geoff Calkins right to your inbox.
It wasn’t just any triple-double.
It was a “quiet” triple-double for Ja Morant Wednesday night, as Grayson Allen put it. That might be the most impressive part.
After a slow start, a few missed “bunnies” and a back-and-forth first half, Morant still inched closer to the top of the franchise record books.
Drew Hill: Ja Morant records triple-double as Grizzlies beat Thunder
He’s now two triple-doubles away from tying Marc Gasol for the franchise’s most all time. And it’s not farfetched to believe that could happen by the end of the season.
Still, his performance flew mostly under the radar against the Thunder.
That’s because it was overshadowed by two of his teammates, Allen and Kyle Anderson, who each had spectacular nights of their own. Allen drained six 3s, which tied a career high. Anderson recorded 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, the first time a Grizzlies player has done that since Mike Conley did so in 2013.
And most importantly, the Grizzlies won.
“I feel like we are playing pretty good basketball,” Morant said. “To have six guys in double figures is big time for us. It shows we have plenty of guys who can make plays.”
So why is Morant’s triple-double on 4-of-14 shooting a big deal, exactly?
Well, it’s because it’s Morant. He’s the franchise star and the beloved talent that Memphis fans cannot look away from.
All of Grizz nation was Kaari Morant, his 1-year-old daughter, last night. Here she is watching her “da da.”
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Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans thumped Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies for a fifth straight time Tuesday. And, yes, it’s frustrating, in part because it is not at all a reflection of reality.
Dillon Brooks can’t wait to make snow angels in Memphis. Ja Morant wants no part of it.
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