They forgot about him. That is the only explanation Ja Morant needed.
Just 48 hours after returning from an ankle injury with a career-high 52 points, the Memphis Grizzlies superstar proved it wasn’t a fluke. In a nationally televised showdown against the Phoenix Suns last night, Morant erupted for 45 points, 12 assists, and a game-winning floater that silenced the Footprint Center and officially secured the #2 seed in the Western Conference for Memphis.
“I kept receipts,” Morant told reporters post-game, wearing a shirt that simply read DOUBTED. “Everyone was talking about the new guys, the rookies, the trade rumors. I just wanted to remind everyone who runs the West.”
The “Revenge Tour,” as fans are calling it, has been nothing short of historic. Morant has scored 97 points in his last two games, shooting a blistering 58% from the field. But more importantly, he has elevated the Grizzlies from a playoff hopeful to a legitimate title contender. With the Thunder slipping and the Nuggets battling injuries, Memphis has surged up the standings, winning 12 of their last 14 games.
The performance has also thrown a wrench into the MVP conversation. While Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have been the frontrunners all season, analysts are rapidly pivoting.
“If Ja keeps this up for the next two months, you can’t deny him,” said TNT analyst Charles Barkley. “He isn’t just scoring; he is controlling the entire pace of the league. He looks faster, stronger, and angrier than I’ve ever seen him.”
The Grizzlies are now just 2.5 games back from the #1 seed. If Morant continues this “scorched earth” campaign, the road to the NBA Finals might just run through Memphis.
