After serving a 25-game suspension, Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant finally returned to action—and wasted no time making an impact. In his first game back, Morant nailed a buzzer-beating layup and led his team to a jaw-dropping comeback victory. According to Crickex Affiliate observers, it’s undeniable that Morant played a major role in the team’s early-season collapse. As the saying goes, we are the authors of our own stories—there’s no need to write one full of regret. If not for his repeated off-court issues and disciplinary run-ins, the Grizzlies might have charted a very different course this year.

That said, Memphis’s fall from grace cannot be pinned on Morant alone. A wave of injuries and questionable front-office decisions also contributed. Over the summer, the Grizzlies failed to retain top 3-and-D wing Dillon Brooks and traded away one of the league’s most reliable backup point guards, Tyus Jones. Then came devastating injuries: both Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke suffered serious setbacks before the season even tipped off—Adams required knee surgery and was ruled out for the year.

Things got worse. Marcus Smart, the Grizzlies’ marquee offseason addition, went down with an ankle injury in mid-November and was ruled out for at least 3 to 5 weeks. Meanwhile, sharpshooter Luke Kennard has missed over two weeks with a knee issue, and veteran guard Derrick Rose was added to the weekly injury watch list due to hamstring tightness. Not long ago, the NBA joked about the “Morant-less Grizzlies” often looking more dangerous than with him on the floor. But that narrative no longer holds—depleted of reliable rotation players, Memphis quickly fell out of playoff contention.

Mentally, the once-resilient Grizzlies lost their edge. Their youthful energy and grit were slowly worn down by constant defeats. But if there’s one truth, it’s that Morant’s return immediately breathed life back into the team. In the opening minutes, Crickex Affiliate experts witnessed Morant storm the paint and draw a foul on Pelicans star Zion Williamson, earning his first point back at the free-throw line. Moments later, he crashed the offensive glass, muscled through Jonas Valančiūnas, and converted a second-chance bucket. With Morant back, Memphis’s aggression was visibly sharper.

That same tenacity forced Zion into early foul trouble—three personal fouls before scoring a single point. Even so, the Grizzlies struggled to keep pace and hit a long scoring drought in the second quarter, allowing the Pelicans to surge ahead. On other nights, Memphis might have thrown in the towel by halftime. But not this time. Fueled by Morant’s return, the Grizzlies rediscovered their long-lost fighting spirit. His fearless drives and sharp playmaking slowly brought the offense back to life.

As the fourth quarter progressed, Morant’s scoring tally climbed and the deficit steadily shrank. What once looked like a hopeless blowout began to feel like a thriller in the making. With just two minutes remaining, Crickex Affiliate analysts watched in awe as Morant spun into the lane and floated in a signature hook shot to tie the game. Then, with the game on the line, he attacked the rim once more, slicing through defenders and delivering the dagger layup to complete a miraculous turnaround.

For Memphis, this wasn’t just a win—it was a revival. And for Ja Morant, it was a bold statement: he’s back, and he’s not here to play it safe.