Ja Morant's dunk on Jalen Smith highlights Memphis Grizzlies' dominant win vs. Pacers
The third quarter has been kind to the Memphis Grizzlies this season. A big reason why is Ja Morant's ability to take over after halftime.
The Grizzlies were up 16 points against the Indiana Pacers at halftime, but Memphis still managed to do damage in third quarter. Morant had one of the best chase-down blocks and poster dunks of his career while his teammates tried their best to hold each other back on the bench.
Morant's big night highlighted a dominant 130-112 Grizzlies win against the Pacers on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Desmond Bane returned close to his native home of Richmond, Indiana, and had one of his best scoring nights since returning from a sprained right big toe. He finished with 25 points and eight rebounds. Morant added 23 points and 10 assists.
The Pacers (23-21) played without key starters Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner. The Grizzlies (29-13) did a solid job of limiting Indiana's other big offensive threats. Buddy Hield is one of the NBA's top 3-point shooters, but he missed all three of his attempts.
Memphis has now won nine consecutive games. It is the longest active winning streak in the NBA. The Grizzlies have also won four consecutive road games.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
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WATCH JA: Ja Morant soars through the air for electric block, then adds dunk of the year on Jalen Smith
The Ja Morant show
You never know what Morant is going to do, but the best thing to do is never take your eyes away from the action when he is on the floor. Morant's poster dunk and chase-down block stole the show, but he also added no-look passes and found teammates for alley-oops.
Morant's aggressiveness led to 12 free-throw attempts. He made nine.
Ziaire Williams gets first start of season
Dillon Brooks and John Konchar were out against the Pacers. Brooks was out due to right ankle soreness, and Konchar's absence stems from a non-COVID illness. Ziaire Williams got his first start of the season in place of Brooks and rookies Jake LaRavia and David Roddy.
It didn't take long for Williams to catch an alley-oop from Morant. His presence in the lineup helped the Grizzlies thrive in transition. Running the floor is one of Williams' best skills. When he's in the game, the transition attack is tough to stop. He finished with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
Brandon Clarke also returned after missing the last six games due to left hip soreness. Xavier Tillman Sr., who played well in Clarke's absence, wasn't in the rotation with Clarke's return. Clarke didn't look rusty while racking up 11 points and making all four of his shots.
Homecoming Grizzlies
Bane came out aggressive, hoping to put on a show in front of the 225 kids and chaperones from Richmond, Indiana, who came to see him play. The third-year guard was aggressive in getting downhill and attacking the Pacers defense. He had his best stretch of play when he scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter for the Grizzlies.
It was also a homecoming game for LaRavia. The rookie forward knocked down a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter and added three assists in his return to the rotation. He finished with five points before being ejected after his second flagrant foul late in the fourth quarter.
What's next
The Grizzlies will return to the floor Monday for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game. Memphis will host the Phoenix Suns (5 p.m. TNT). The Suns and Grizzlies have split their first two meetings this season, with each team winning on the road.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies defeat Pacers, Ja Morant dunks on Jalen Smith
