The Memphis Grizzlies hit the road to take on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, earning a hard-fought 109-103 win — their second straight victory following a concerning four-game skid that had fans worried.
Unexpectedly, the Grizzlies had to play without star guard Ja Morant, who was ruled out just before tipoff due to illness. Saturday’s game in Detroit was supposed to mark Morant’s return after being fined $75,000 by the NBA for repeatedly making finger-gun gestures during Thursday’s win over the Miami Heat.
The league had previously issued Morant a warning for a similar gesture during Tuesday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Despite that warning, Morant repeated the act multiple times in the next game, seemingly sending a message to the league.
Following Saturday’s win over the Pistons, Morant posted a brief message on social media amidst the ongoing controversy:
“keep going”
— @JaMorant, April 6, 2025
While the spotlight has recently been on Morant’s conflict with the NBA, his on-court performance has been stellar. Over his last nine games, he’s averaged 30.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.4 steals, shooting an impressive 53.4% from the field, 36.8% from three, and 79.1% from the line.
If Morant can stay healthy and avoid further discipline, he continues to show he has the tools to be one of the NBA’s elite. With the playoffs approaching, both he and the Grizzlies have a key chance to make a major impact.