Ja Morant Delivers Another Clutch Moment: Grizzlies Edge Suns 114-113
The clock was winding down. The tension in the arena was suffocating. And then, as he’s done so many times before, Ja Morant took over.
With just 7.6 seconds left on the clock, Morant rose up and drained an 11-foot floater over Phoenix’s Grayson Allen, giving the Memphis Grizzlies a 114-113 lead. Moments later, Devin Booker’s desperate three-pointer clanged off the rim at the buzzer, sealing the win for Memphis. It was clutch. It was classic. It was pure Ja.
This wasn’t just another game-winner. This was a statement. A reminder that when the game is on the line, there are few players in the league you’d rather have the ball in their hands than Ja Morant.
Morant’s Clutch Gene Is Unmatched
Let’s talk about what makes Ja Morant special in these moments. Since entering the league, he’s made eight go-ahead shots in the final 10 seconds of games. Eight. And he’s doing it at a blistering 50% field goal percentage in those situations. For context, Jayson Tatum has nine such shots, but he’s hitting them at just 27.3%. The difference? Morant doesn’t just take the shot—he makes it count.
“One thing Ja will do is clutch up in the last 15 seconds,” one fan wrote on social media, and honestly, they’re not wrong. Whether it’s a step-back fadeaway like the one he hit against the Miami Heat last season over rookie Kel’el Ware, or this beautifully executed floater over Allen, Morant has ice in his veins when it matters most.
Real Sports highlighted just how rare this kind of efficiency is in crunch time. To shoot 50% on go-ahead buckets in the final seconds? That’s not luck. That’s skill, preparation, and an unshakeable belief that the moment belongs to you.
The Game That Had Everything
This wasn’t an easy win for Memphis. Phoenix clawed back from a 99-89 deficit late in the game, tying things up at 108 and refusing to go away quietly. Mark Williams gave the Suns a 113-112 lead with 51.4 seconds remaining, and for a brief moment, it looked like Phoenix might steal one on the road.
But then Santi Aldama found Ja Morant cutting to the basket, and the rest is history. Morant rose up, released the floater with Allen draped all over him, and watched it kiss off the glass and through the net. Game. Blouses.
Morant finished the night with 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including three triples. He also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out seven assists, and posted a +13 plus-minus in 32 minutes of work. It was an all-around performance that reminded everyone why he’s one of the most electrifying players in the NBA.
Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in 18 points, but make no mistake—this was Morant’s night. He scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half, taking over when his team needed him most.
The MVP Conversation Is Heating Up
After the game, fans and analysts alike started buzzing about Ja Morant and the MVP race. “Ja Morant needs to get back into that MVP convo,” one user posted, and it’s hard to argue. Through the early portion of the season, Morant is averaging 23.4 points and 6.6 assists per game, leading a Grizzlies team that’s quickly becoming one of the most dangerous squads in the Western Conference.
Another fan compared him to Austin Reaves, who hit his own game-winner against the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier. “Ja 🤝 Reaves. They play each other Friday 👀,” they wrote, teasing the upcoming showdown between the Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers. That game, set for Friday night at 9:30 p.m. EST on Prime Video, is shaping up to be must-watch television.
What’s Next for Memphis?
The Grizzlies will return home to Memphis to host the Lakers on Friday evening, and the storylines are already writing themselves. Morant vs. Reaves. Two clutch performers. Two teams with championship aspirations. And a national audience watching on Prime Video.
Memphis is building something special this season, and Ja Morant is at the center of it all. His ability to deliver in the biggest moments, combined with his explosive athleticism and undeniable charisma, makes him one of the most compelling players in the NBA today.
TheScore summed it up perfectly on social media: “JA MORANT SAYS GOOD NIGHT.” And really, what else is there to say? When the lights are brightest and the pressure is highest, Ja Morant doesn’t flinch. He delivers.
As the Grizzlies continue their push through the season, one thing is clear: when the game is on the line, you want the ball in Ja’s hands. He’s proven it time and time again. And on Wednesday night in Phoenix, he proved it once more.
